A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

US, 1977, 124 minutes, Colour.
Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Rigg, Lesley- Anne Down, Len Cariou, Hermione Gingold.
Directed by Harold Prince.

A Little Night Music is an elaborate version of Stephen Sondheim's celebrated musical. While produced on the stage by Harold Prince, his direction of the film is fairly heavy. It needs a much lighter touch. Some of the songs have been dropped and re-arranged tor this film version.

A surprising leading star is Elizabeth Taylor - who sings 'Send in the Clowns' with Len Cariou. More effective is Diana Rigg in the role of Charlotte. Lesley Ann Down is charming as Anne. Hermione Gingold repeats her stage role as Madame Armfeldt. The colour photography is attractive with Austrian locations.

The film was based on Ingmar Bergman's 1955 comedy Smiles of a Summer Night. The influence of both Shakespeare in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Bergman are in Woody Allen's A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy.

Unfortunately, not a musical must.

1. The impact of the musical? its stage success? Transference to the screen? Success or no?

2. The work of Stephen Sondheim? His reputation, skills? The quality of the musical score? Lyrics? Music adapted to situation, character, mood and themes?

3. The influence of Ingmar Bergman and Smiles of a Summer Night? The influence of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream? light, magical, sex comedy? The influence of La Ronde? a story of lovers told in circle fashion? Austria, Vienna, the atmosphere of Mozart and Strauss? A world of magic, the seasons? Romance, love? Human foibles, charm? Reality and unreality? A blend of the serious and the humorous? A wisdom in the observation of human behaviour and foibles?

4. The visual impact of the film: the Austro- Hungarian empire in 1905, Vienna? Decor, elaborate costumes, homes? An affluent world? The world of the theatre? Elegance, style, colour?

5. The music and its use in the film? opening with a theatrical performance, the curtain raised, the performance by the stars, staging, choreography? The opening up of the theatre to the world of Vienna? The ending in the theatre? The importance of the editing for such songs as 'A Weekend in the Country'? For voice harmonies?

6. The theme of the summer night, the smiles of the stars, the stars and fortunes? The three movements of the stars on the summer night?

7. The introduction, stage effect, love and mistakes, the formality of the opening and the ending? Helping the audience to appreciate the conventions of the film?

8. Fredericka - her style, letters and cards, relating to her grandmother, her grandmother's memories, caution, bringing Fredericka up, the invitation to the country, the grandmother presiding?

9. Desiree and the three generations of women? Their experience? Fredericka's future influenced by her grandmother and mother? Desiree and her lite, Camille and her performance, the theatre, her work with the troupe? Her growing older? Visiting her home town, her performance, her discovering Frederick in the audience and playing to him, the encounter at home, memories of the affair, the arrival of Carl-Magnus? The dragoon and his style, creating a scene? Her going to her mother, the guests, the duel? Meals? The clash with Charlotte? The singing of 'Send in the Clowns' and its significance in relation to Frederick? Her change?

10. Frederick: lawyer, the theatre and his going to see Desiree, his marriage to Anne and her youthfulness, virginity, his frustrations? His visit to Desiree, the memories, the clash with Carl Magnus, Carl Magnus' story? His exhilaration tor the weekend in the country? His concern about his son Erich? His seriousness? The meal, the flirtation with Charlotte, the duel? His growing older? Fredericka as his daughter? 'Send in the Clowns'?

11. The contrast with Carl Magnus and his pomp and pomposity, honour, relationship with Desiree, with Charlotte? Gossip? His melodramatics, the weekend, the encounter with Anne? The meal, the flirtation? The clash with Frederick? His defeat? The dragoon and his honour? Manipulation, strength, weakness?

12. Anne and her charm, youth, marriage to Frederick, girlishness, virginity? The theatre and her reaction to Desiree's performance? Her being hurt? Confiding in Charlotte? The weekend? The encounter with Erich, his attempted suicide, her falling in love? The meals? The smiles of the summer night? The sexual encounter, the elopement?

13. Erich and his study for the clergy, the intense clergyman, puritanical, relationship with his father, the sexual encounters with Petra, his speech, the denunciation at the meal, his wanting to kill himself, his infatuation with Anne, the elopement?

14. Petra - the jolly maid, her place in the household, relationship with Erich?

15. Charlotte and her place in the town, relationship with Carl Magnus, friendship with Anne, comparisons with Desiree, her setting up the flirtation to win back her husband?

16. The elements of farce - farcically presented, with point satirising human foibles?

17. The presentation of another age, values - comparisons with the present