Moonlight Sonata (film)
| Moonlight Sonata | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Lothar Mendes |
| Produced by | Lothar Mendes |
| Screenplay by |
Edward Knoblock E. M. Delafield (Additional dialogue) |
| Story by | Hans Rameau |
| Starring |
Ignacy Jan Paderewski Charles Farrell Marie Tempest Barbara Greene Eric Portman |
| Cinematography | Jan Stallich |
| Edited by | Philip Charlot |
Production company |
Pall Mall Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Moonlight Sonata is a 1937 British drama film directed by Lothar Mendes and written by E. M. Delafield and Edward Knoblock.[1] The film stars Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Charles Farrell, Marie Tempest, Barbara Greene and Eric Portman. The film was released on 11 February 1937, by United Artists.[2][3][4]
Plot
In Sweden, Eric Molander (Charles Farrell) professes his love for Ingrid (Barbara Greene), the beautiful young granddaughter of baroness Lindenborg (Marie Tempest). Meanwhile, in the nearby countryside, a plane with Paderewski and other passengers on board is forced to land due to adverse weather. The travellers take refuge on the baroness's country estate; one of them, worldly Mario de la Costa (Eric Portman), steals young Ingrid away from her lover. With Paderewski's help, Eric exposes de la Costa as a fortune hunter, and young hero and heroine are reunited.
Cast
- Ignacy Jan Paderewski as Himself
- Charles Farrell as Eric Molander
- Marie Tempest as Baroness Lindenborg
- Barbara Greene as Ingrid Hansen
- Eric Portman as Mario de la Costa
- W. Graham Brown as Dr. Kurt Broman
- Queenie Leonard as Margit
- Laurence Hanray as Mr. Bishop
- Binkie Stuart as Eric and Ingrid's Child
Critical reception
The New York Times wrote, "LONDON has at last seen "Moonlight Sonata," the film which Paderewski made at Denham last Summer for Lothar Mendez. It is an elegant little picture, set in a beautiful villa among the Swedish firs, and made with a dignity and simplicity worthy of the great figure for whom it was composed. The film begins with a concert at which Paderewski plays the whole of Liszt's Second Hungarian Rhapsody and the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata. Later in the film he plays his own Minuet. The recording of these pieces is excellent and the close-ups of the great pianist and of his hands are fascinating. For the rest he fits simply and unobtrusively into a simple story, speaking with slow precision and acting as naturally as if he were playing his part in real life" ;[5] while Leonard Maltin gave the film two and a half out of four stars, and noted "Well-made but stodgy romance, set in household of Swedish baroness, is excuse for screen appearance by famous concert pianist."[2]
References
- ↑ http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b0c2147
- 1 2 "Moonlight Sonata (1937) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ↑ "Moonlight Sonata". TV Guide. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ↑ "PADEREWSKI BECOMES A MOVIE STAR". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9E06E3DE1739E733A25755C0A9609C946694D6CF