INTERMEZZO
Sweden, 1936, 93 minutes, Black and white.
Ingrid Bergman, Gosta Ekman, Inga Tidblad.
Directed by Gustav Molender.
Intermezzo is a stylish Swedish drama of 1936 and an introduction to Ingrid Bergman. The film is made with great skill by Gustav Molender. He was to direct Bergman two years later in A Woman's Face.
The film is the popular story of the middle-aged violinist, his surface marriage, the attraction towards the accompanist and his ultimate decision-making. As with the symbol of the title, it is an intermezzo. The film treats the theme seriously and with some dignity. The musical score is attractive - with much repetition of the title theme.
Ingrid Bergman made several films in Sweden and was then invited by David 0. Selznick to the US. She went in 1939 and remade Intermezzo with Leslie Howard and began her international career.
1. The quality of this Swedish drama? Acting, editing? Re-creation of period? A star vehicle for Ingrid Bergman?
2. Black and white photography, style in film-making, editing? Musical score?
3. The title, the playing of the piece, the symbol of Holger Brandt's life?
4. The portrait of Holger Brandt: violin artist, on tour, his artistic sensitivity? Relationship with Thomas, his accompaniment, his retirement? Charles as his agent? The love for Margit? For Ann-Marie? and Ake? In himself, self-preoccupation, age? Tensions with his wife, return? His wanting to go to? Ann-Marie's party, playing with her? Absorbed by Anita's playing? Meeting her at the concert, the walk, the beginning of the affair - and its suggestion? Tension with Margit? Delight with Anita? The imitation to the tour, the scene with the breaking off? Tension with h-is family, with Ake? His decision to-leave his wife, go on the tour, his skills? Support of Charles? Anita and the lyrical episodes? Zurich, Marie and her zither? His not signing the divorce papers? Anita's leaving, his return? Going to see Ann-Marie?, buying her the camera? The accident? hospital sequences? Forgiveness? An intermezzo in his life?
5. Ingrid Bergman as Anita: her beauty, youthfulness, skill in playing? Trained by Thomas? Teaching Ann-Marie?, relationship with the family? Admiring Holger? Overcome, playing at the party? Meeting him at the concert, the affair, her dilemma? Discussions with Thomas about the tour, going to Denmark, the question of the grant? her going on tour, accompanying Holger, the lyrical time, happiness? The letter with the grant? Her own ambitions? Arranging the farewell? Her future?
6. Margit, her relationship with her husband, alone at home, love for the children, not going out, essential to their training, her hurt, the papers for the divorce, forgiving him at the end?
7. Ann-Marie? and her delight with her father, music, piano, with Anita, the birthday party, the end and her going to her father? Ake and his age, resenting his father, wanting to stay home with his mother, angers, the request for forgiveness?
8. Charles as agent, on the tours, seeking an accompanist, helping Anita for her farewell to Holger?
9. Thomas and his work, age, retirement, garden? Love for Anita, his upset, the reconciliation at the end?
10. Margit reminding Holger of Ann-Marie? The zither?
11. The professional life, tours and their repercussions?
12. Marriage, age, loyalties and love, fidelity, infidelity?
13. The accident and its seeming to be punishment on Holger? The recovery?
14. Stylish Swedish drama? Comparisons with the remake?
