SONG OF NORWAY

US, 1970, 141 minutes, Colour.
Toralv Maurstad, Florence Henderson, Christina Schollin, Frank Poretta, Harry Secombe, Robert Morley, Edward G. Robinson, Oscar Homolka.
Directed by Andrew L. Stone.

Song of Norway is a long, spectacular biography of Norwegian composer, Edvard Grieg. Written and directed by Andrew L. Stone, who made a variety of films for 'popular consumption', including such a disaster film like The Last Voyage. Critics were not kind to Song of Norway. The dialogue frequently sounds trite and the style is 'pretty'. This style was used for Stone's next musical biography, The Great Waltz.

1. Popular as a 'family' film? How good, in the sense of 'worthwhile' is this film? Why?

2. Did the colour photography, scenic travelogue, songs and dances blend well with the narrative or not? What did the film leave you with as your foremost impression - Grieg, music, Norway? Why?

3. Was Grieg an interesting person - struggles, talent, love for Theresa, marriage to Nina, friendship with Nordraak, failure in Kristiana, success in Rome? Did he make a good subject for such a lavish looking film? Did he emerge as the great Norwegian nationalist composer?

4. What role did Theresa play in his life - emotions and love, patronage? which were more important? Why did she not disobey her father?

5. Why did Grieg marry Nina? Did he love her? Did she help him with his music? Inspire him? Why did she become jealous? Did she react unreasonably?

6. Did Nina support Grieg in Kristiana when he needed support?

7. Why was Grieg not accepted as a musician?

8. How important for his life was his friendship with Nordraak - support, vision for Norway? Why did he refuse to go to his death bed? Was he wrong in not going? was Nordraak's father right?

9. How did Bjornson change Grieg's life? Did Harry Secombe's performance add to the film?

10. Were the introductions to Hans Christian Andersen and Henrik Ibsen into the film effective?

11. was the overall impact of the film good? What was its basic values? Was it too pretty and sentimental for the average audience?