A SONG TO REMEMBER
US, 1945, 113 minutes, Colour.
Cornel Wilde, Merle Oberon, Paul Muni, Stephen Bekassy, Nina Foch, George Colouris, Sig Arno, Howard Freeman, George Macready.
Directed by Charles Vidor.
A Sone, to Remember was a very popular film of 1945 - at the box office and with Oscar nominations. It is a popular biography of Chopin, very popular, the type of potted biography that became popular in succeeding decades. However, it gives some outline of Chopin's life and career, highlights sone of the characters in his life and, of course, gives an opportunity for a great deal of his music to be played.
Cornel Wilde was emerging as a popular star at this time and reached a peak of popularity as Chopin. Paul Muni gives an exaggerated performance as Chopin's music teacher. Merle Oberon is suitably glamorous as Georges Sand. The film
looks lush and the music carries it. It was directed by Charles Vidor (Gilda, The Loves of Carmen). Liszt makes an appearance in this film. Vidor's last film was a biography of Liszt with Dirk Bogarde, Song without End.
1. Popular biography? The outline of Chopin's life? Characters? His music? The pattern of film biographies on a popular level?
2. Colour photography, the re-creation of the 19th century, costumes and decor? Oscar nominations and wins?
3. The importance of the music, the score and its insertion into the biography?
4. The biographical treatment of Chopin, the sketch, the lush '40s treatment? Understanding Chopin as a character? The influences on his music? His career? His Polish background? France?
5. The sketch of Chopin as a boy, life in Poland, his relationship with his parents, their neediness, his teacher, his being pushed? The child prodigy? His own compositions?
6. The young Chopin, Polish nationalism, the revolution and his involvement, meetings, the dire results with the Russians and the executions, the focus on him playing the piano for the Russians and the tracking back to reveal his was accompanying their meal? His parents and the professor outside? His arrogant stances against the Russians? His having to leave the country?
7. His life in Paris, being pushed by the professor, the encounter with the music-seller, Liszt and the duet, the build-up to his concert, the news about Poland and his failure, the professor's conversation with the music critic, Liszt and Georges Sand and their friendship, the arrangement for him to play in the dark? His success and the collage of his success, the great number of compositions? His infatuation with Georges Sand? Going to Majorca, the relationship and its decline, his compositions, his achievement, death?
8. The professor and Paul Muni's ham-fisted performance? Eccentric? His interest in Chopin, his coaching him, the comments on his composition, with the music-seller, with the critics, the concerts? His anguish about his relationship with Georges Sand? The letters home?
9. The sketch of his parents, the family, friends? Their visits to Paris? His break with them?
10. Liszt and his achievement, reputation in Paris, promoting Chopin?
11. Georges Sand and her reputation, novelist, her dress, manner, helping him, the concert, the relationship, Majorca? The failure of their relationship?
12. The sketch of the music critics and their influence?
13. An insight into music composition in Europe in the 19th century? Composition and performance?
