Films about composers (mozart, beethoven, liszt)

[Chrysalis]

What are your opinions about movies about famous composers, like the films

Amadeus (mozart) Or Immortal Beloved (beethoven)..

I think they are nice to watch

I also found a horrible film about liszt!! Liszt's Rhapsody... On imdb.com it gets a 3.2 ...
that guy doesnt even look like liszt.. and he is irritating in the film... damn that was shitty...




utter craP!!! dont watch it!

[Dazzer]

i remember richter acted as liszt in a movie.

lol.

[Toivot]

Amadeus is quite good, but I doubt Mozart was so exaggeratedly childish..

[Siberian Husky]

I actually rented and watched Amadeus and Immortal Beloved on friday..and let me tell you..

Immortal Beloved: BEAUTIFULYY put together..of course ideas have to be converted into hollywood-ish interpretations..but nonetheless...they succeeded in capturing Beethoven's full character and temperment...they didnt twist the plot of his life too much...only a tiny bit to focus the movie  on the "love story"....but other than thaat...the makers of the movie werent ignorant to many truths..they didnt stretch truths too much..nor did they portray lies and myths...surely one cannot use this movie as a reference for his life...but it made me better understand him, and his music...all the actors were great, i had no complaints..i was thoroughlt pleased....

Amadeus: A great movie, but not as great as Immortal Beloved for a pianist. Dont watch this one expecting piano or symphony emphasis. We all know that Operas were one of Wolfgang's strongest specialties...so thats where the focal point was...a nicely put together plot..again..realism was captured pretty well, except for Mozart's character himself...maybe they just added that little fun spin on him...anyways...overall it was a pretty good movie, but i dont think i'd watch it twice as i would with Immortal Beloved.....

[thalbergmad]

I once saw a film about Liszt called " A song with no end". Dirk Bogard was Liszt.

If anyone wants a good laugh, they should try and finda copy. Historical accuracy not.

[kghayesh]

Have anybody seen the film "Chopin: Desire for Love". THIS IS A MUST SEE!!! Wonderful music and acting. The guy looks so much like Chopin and the music was wonderful.


The movie is about Chopin's life and focusing on his relationship with George Sand (Aurora Dupin). This was one of my favorite movie i have ever seen.

[gkatele]

As to Immortal Beloved:

While the actual performances of Beethoven's piano pieces in this film were not played by Gary Oldman, the actor practiced five hours a day so that his movements would be in time with the performances of Murray Perahia, which were done off-camera.

In the movie, Beethoven dedicates his Fifth Symphony to Napoleon and then scratches out the dedication in disgust - in fact, it is Symphony No.3 in E-flat major, Op.55 (The "Eroica"), to which this honor fell.

I found the music inspiring, and Oldman good, really good as Beethoven. After the death of his brother he had a terrible and painful fight over the custody of his nephew (Karl). This film gives us a reason why Ludwig wanted custody so badly.


George

[gkatele]

Oh, I forgot.

The totally forgettable Lisztomania (by Ken Russel) of 1975. Just to give you a hint of how utterly horrible this film is, look at the cast:

Roger Daltrey    ....   Franz Liszt
Ringo Starr    ....   The Pope

and others.

The real-life Franz Liszt had an incredibly bizarre life, with plenty of erotic encounters. He also wrote gorgeous music. This should have been a great movie.

Unfortunately, Ken Russell goes even more nuts than usual with his Ken Russellisms. Gratuitous breasts? Check. Sparkly crosses? Check. Sexy nuns? Check. Phallic symbols? Check. Adolescent girl behaving shockingly? Check.

A travesty..

George

[thalbergmad]

I once saw a film about Paganini. The lead role was stewart Grainger. Surely this is the worst ever. 

Did see a good one about clara schumann. Can't remember what it was called. Does anyone know?

[ted]

The two by Ken Russell on Delius and Elgar are well worth seeing. The one on Elgar is more of a documentary while "Song of Summer" is a dramatisation. In respect of this latter, Eric Fenby has stated that it is a very accurate portrayal of its subject.

[Derek]

I can't believe nobody mentioned Impromptu! Its wonderful. It stars Hugh Grant as Chopin and Judy Davis as Sand. Its very funny and features Chopin's music throughout.

[Chrysalis]

liszt's rhapsody , the bad liszt film i have came up with ownz all...

he wants to irritate his spectators thus he goes HEADBANGING behind the piano the entire time,

this irritated one spectator

ME!

oh yeah and btw

[gkatele]

Did see a good one about clara schumann. Can't remember what it was called. Does anyone know?

Is this it? A German film starring Nastassja Kinski as Clara Wieck Schumann
"Spring Symphony"

 “Whatever it is about 19th century composer Robert Schumann and his pianist wife Clara Wieck that fascinates filmmakers, it is a strong enough fascination to prompt a retelling of the Schumanns’ lives every few years. First, there was the 1947 Katharine Hepburn/Paul Henreid film vehicle Song of Love. Then there was a well-received 1950s episode of The Loretta Young Show. And in 1983, we were treated to the German-made Spring Symphony (originally Fruehlingssinfonie). This time around, Nastassja Kinski is Clara and Herbert Gronemeyer is Robert; the story of how fame can destroy the relationship between a sensitive woman and a workaholic man remains the mixture as before. Oddly, given the usual “warts and all” movie mentality of the 1980s, Spring Symphony is even more fanciful and romanticized than earlier versions of the Schumann saga.” ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide, from Blockbuster.com.

[mound]

Just the other day I saw 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould - it was excellent.
-Paul

[thalbergmad]

Is this it? A German film starring Nastassja Kinski as Clara Wieck Schumann
"Spring Symphony"

 “Whatever it is about 19th century composer Robert Schumann and his pianist wife Clara Wieck that fascinates filmmakers, it is a strong enough fascination to prompt a retelling of the Schumanns’ lives every few years. First, there was the 1947 Katharine Hepburn/Paul Henreid film vehicle Song of Love. Then there was a well-received 1950s episode of The Loretta Young Show. And in 1983, we were treated to the German-made Spring Symphony (originally Fruehlingssinfonie). This time around, Nastassja Kinski is Clara and Herbert Gronemeyer is Robert; the story of how fame can destroy the relationship between a sensitive woman and a workaholic man remains the mixture as before. Oddly, given the usual “warts and all” movie mentality of the 1980s, Spring Symphony is even more fanciful and romanticized than earlier versions of the Schumann saga.” ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide, from Blockbuster.com.

Thanks George. I will try and get a copy.

[rafant]

There is also a film by Ken Russell about Mahler. But I found it a bit boring.

Not about a composer, but my favorite musical film continues being "The Music Teacher", that where the bass Jose van Dam and the main actress sing wonderfully the duet  La ci darem la mano.

[anda]

i don't remember the title, but i saw a horrid movie about tchaikovsky (focused on his sexual orientation, of course  ) staring richard chamberlain.

[thalbergmad]

i don't remember the title, but i saw a horrid movie about tchaikovsky (focused on his sexual orientation, of course  ) staring richard chamberlain.

Yes it was awful. Called The Music Lovers i think. Glenda Jackson was in it as well if i remember correctly.

[gkatele]

i don't remember the title, but i saw a horrid movie about tchaikovsky (focused on his sexual orientation, of course staring richard chamberlain.

Interesting casting, considering that Chamberlain came out of the closet a few years ago. I can never watch the "Thorn Birds" again without thinking that.

George

[apion]

Oh, I forgot.

The totally forgettable Lisztomania (by Ken Russel) of 1975. Just to give you a hint of how utterly horrible this film is, look at the cast:

Roger Daltrey    ....   Franz Liszt
Ringo Starr    ....   The Pope

and others.

The real-life Franz Liszt had an incredibly bizarre life, with plenty of erotic encounters. He also wrote gorgeous music. This should have been a great movie.

Unfortunately, Ken Russell goes even more nuts than usual with his Ken Russellisms. Gratuitous breasts? Check. Sparkly crosses? Check. Sexy nuns? Check. Phallic symbols? Check. Adolescent girl behaving shockingly? Check.

A travesty..

George

Yeah, I watched that movie based on a friend's ardent recommendation -- needless to say we're no longer friends ........

[Teddybear]

Amadeus is quite good, but I doubt Mozart was so exaggeratedly childish..

Oh? I thought he was. I read somewhere that he was fond of toilet humour.

T

[gkatele]

I read somewhere that he was fond of toilet humour.

He certainly was fond of more scatological humor, but that doesn't necessarily make him immature and childish! From the biographies I've read/listened to, he was quite mature, with a wicked sense of humor. There was no hesitation in Wolfgang to say "Kiss my posterior."

He actually wrote a letter to his father, and if you take the first letter of each word, you will spell out "The archbishop of Salzburg can lick my a#*$(!"

Hardly childlike, but certainly creative (duh!)


George

[anda]

Yes it was awful. Called The Music Lovers i think. Glenda Jackson was in it as well if i remember correctly.

that's it! i wouldn't see that film again!

reminded me of a joke i heard a long time ago:
q: is it true that mr. tchaikovsky was gay?
a: yes it is, but that's not why we all love him.

[Teddybear]

He certainly was fond of more scatological humor, but that doesn't necessarily make him immature and childish! From the biographies I've read/listened to, he was quite mature, with a wicked sense of humor. There was no hesitation in Wolfgang to say "Kiss my posterior."

I think posterior oriented humour is childish, but that's just my opinion. I didn't say he was dumb or didn't take anything seriously and neither does the movie. He took his work seriously, and that's the main thing, eh?

Besides, one can't qualify as a genius without childish behaviour!

So I'll just fart everyone to death.

I have to get some sleep.

[00range]

Just the other day I saw 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould - it was excellent.
-Paul

I saw this film a few months ago as well; I definitely agree with you, it was extremely well done.

[Daevren]

Why can't very smart people behave childish or have vulgar sense of humor?

[Barbosa-piano]

 The movies that I know based on composers lives are:
Amadeus- Mozart (good)
Harvest of Sorrow- Rachmaninoff (Documentary- Photos-Memoires-Films) Very good
The Blue Note- Chopin  (very good)
Immortal Beloved- Beethoven (very good)
I once saw one on Elgar, but I can't remember the name...

 Those were the first ones that came up to my mind...
I guess my favorite one was The Blue Note... Very good, although the guy didn't look like Chopin... And it is in French.

My opinions...

                                                                            Mario Barbosa

[Teddybear]

Why can't very smart people behave childish or have vulgar sense of humor?

Hmm? Who said they couldn't? Smart isn't the same as mature.