1h 55min | Drama, Musical, Romance | 11 March 1954 | Color
Director: Charles Vidor
Stars: Elizabeth Taylor, Vittorio Gassman, John Ericson, Louis Calhern, Michael Chekhov.
Watched online, blurry.
3 pieces of music in the Soundtracks. It seems like more was played than that. Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Sarasate.
3rd film for JE; his 1st credit is actually in TV ('50), with a total of 3 TV credits before this film.
ET is modulating her voice here to sound softer, not so shrill as it can get.
The music is well done, but a little overused in the history of film, including the future.
The quality of this film is its story, and the credible execution of it. We have 2 men striving to become good enough musicians to perform as featured guest soloists with major orchestras, and ET plays the love interest in a complicated way. She wants the violinist, VG, who is very focused on his craft, much to her dismay. When he shuts her out, housemate JE steps in to console and capture her. Will he abandon his craft? Which way will she pull him? Is she done with VG?
I won't say more, only that I was very satisfied with the journey and the ending.
Why not a higher rating? The cast. Although they did a good job, I would rather see other players. I don't know who that would be in '54. You need young actors in these roles.
MGM, dir. Vidor; 7+
