Song Without End
VHS cover
Directed byCharles Vidor
George Cukor
Written byOscar Millard
Produced byWilliam Goetz
StarringDirk Bogarde
Capucine
Geneviève Page
CinematographyJames Wong Howe
Edited byWilliam Lyon
Music byMorris Stoloff
Harry Sukman
Franz Liszt
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • August 11, 1960 (1960-08-11)
Running time
141 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3.5 million[1]
Box office$1,500,000 (US and Canada rentals)[2]

Song Without End, subtitled The Story of Franz Liszt, is a 1960 biographical film romance made by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by Charles Vidor, who died during the shooting of the film and was replaced by George Cukor. It was produced by William Goetz from a screenplay by Oscar Millard, revised (uncredited) by Walter Bernstein and based on screenwriter Oscar Saul's original 1952 script (uncredited).[3] The music score was by Morris Stoloff and Harry Sukman with music by Franz Liszt, and the cinematography by James Wong Howe and Charles Lang (uncredited).[3] The film also features music of those contemporaries of Liszt whom he unselfishly championed by featuring them in his numerous performances (e.g., Richard Wagner, Hector Berlioz, among others).[4]

The film stars Dirk Bogarde as Liszt, Capucine (in her acting debut) as Princess Carolyne zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, and Geneviève Page as Marie d'Agoult, with Patricia Morison as George Sand, Alexander Davion as Frédéric Chopin, Lyndon Brook as Richard Wagner, Albert Rueprecht as Prince Felix Lichnowsky, Erland Erlandsen as Sigismond Thalberg, Ivan Desny, Martita Hunt, Lou Jacobi, and Marcel Dalio.

Background

Columbia Pictures had plans to film The Franz Liszt Story back in 1952. Studio head Harry Cohn hired his friend, acclaimed screenwriter Oscar Saul (A Streetcar Named Desire), to produce his own original screenplay with William Dieterle set to direct. When the studio delayed going forward with the project due to production and casting issues for three years, Oscar Saul backed out, and Columbia announced in 1955 that Gottfried Reinhardt had been commissioned to write a new screenplay. In 1958, veteran producer William Goetz took over the project with Oscar Millard as his screenwriter. Charles Vidor, who previously directed A Song to Remember (1945), a biopic of Frédéric Chopin, was assigned to direct using elements of all three screenwriters' scripts.

As nearly 40 musical selections were heard in the film, Morris Stoloff, head of Columbia's music department, began immediate work on the soundtrack. After selecting the pieces to be played, he engaged piano virtuoso Jorge Bolet, the Roger Wagner Chorale and the Los Angeles Philharmonic to perform the score. Harry Sukman was in charge of the music editing and adaptations that were required for the musical score. Musicologist Abram Chasins was a musical consultant on the film.[4] The recording of the music (by Earl Mounce) was completed before the start of production so that Bogarde could learn the finger movements necessary to make him appear to be playing the piano realistically in the film. Musical adviser Victor Aller spent three weeks rehearsing Bogarde in proper piano technique.

As for the image of the composer, the filmmakers made Dirk Bogarde look more like Elvis Presley, sticking not to historical accuracy, but to popular trends of the late 1950s.[5]

Plot

Franz Liszt is living in seclusion with Countess Marie D'Agoult, the mother of his children, when Frédéric Chopin and George Sand visit him. They tell him about all the things he has missed since he left Paris, and how a new piano virtuoso, Sigismond Thalberg, is captivating audiences. The Countess wants him to remain in seclusion and compose. She views performing as a tawdry occupation.

Liszt cannot stand the lack of an audience and agrees to a recital in Paris, which is a sensation. In the audience is Princess Carolyne Wittgenstein, and Liszt is smitten. He travels to Russia to perform for the Czar. He resumes his performing career and avoids the Countess while he pursues the married Princess.

Richard Wagner approaches Liszt after a performance with a score for Rienzi. Liszt brushes him off, but when he later hears a rehearsal of the overture, he becomes a champion of his music. He agrees to premiere Lohengrin for Wagner after the composer has to flee an arrest warrant. Liszt is shown conducting the finale of Tannhäuer.

The composer begins an affair with the Princess. She asks her husband for a divorce. After it is granted the couple are happily on the verge of marriage. When the Church discovers the Princess lied about her husband marrying her when she was underage, they prevent her divorce. Liszt wills his estate to his children and retreats to a monastery.

Cast

Soundtracks

Two notable soundtracks were recorded in 1960, one by each of the composers of the Oscar-winning score. Colpix Records, a division of Columbia Pictures released Song Without End: Original Soundtrack Recording featuring the pianist Jorge Bolet playing seven of Franz Liszt's compositions. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra was conducted by Morris Stoloff. Orchestral selections included four selections from the film's repertoire, and two selections reminded listeners of Liszt's organ virtuosity (uncredited performer..accompanied by "The Song Without End" chorus). CP-506 (LP). The Franz Liszt Story featured the piano and orchestra of Harry Sukman. Liberty Records, LST-7151 (LP). Harry Sukman recorded ten of the Liszt compositions featured in the film. Eight of those selections were adaptations by Harry Sukman composed especially for the album.[6]

Reception

New York Times critic Bosley Crowther praised the music: “A little bit of everything reflective not only of the talent of Liszt but also of most of the great composers of his highly romantic age—Wagner, Paganini, Beethoven, Verdi, Chopin—artists whose work he respected, assisted, embellished and often played, is packed into this picture. And it is brilliantly and beautifully performed...” However, he observed that “the host of characters were brushed in so superficially that they carry little conviction or emotional strength, and the performances of the actors are, by necessity, more elaborate than they are deep... However, as we say, the music thunders; the settings and costumes are superb—such Viennese concert halls and palaces and lush romantic trappings have never been surpassed in a color film—and, indeed, the sheer posing of the actors by the late Charles Vidor and George Cukor is so suave that anyone moved by musical richness and pictorial splendor should go quite nutty over this film.”[7]

Academy Awards

The film won the Best Music score Academy Award for Morris Stoloff and Harry Sukman and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture (Musical).

References

  1. ↑ Beronius, G. (Jul 19, 1959). "Death triggers drama". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167454385.
  2. ↑ "Rental Potentials of 1960". Variety. 4 January 1961. p. 47. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  3. 1 2 Turner Classic Movies Website, accessed March 31, 2009
  4. 1 2 Abram Chasins, "Song Without End", Colpix Records, 1960,(LP), Liner notes.
  5. ↑ Mankiewicz, Ben. Introduction to The Song Without End. Turner Classic Movies. September 7, 2023.
  6. ↑ William Goetz, The Franz Liszt Story, Liberty Records LST-7151, 1960, (LP), Liner Notes
  7. ↑ Crowther, Bosley (1960-08-12). "Screen: An Excess of Musical Riches: Song Without End,' Life of Liszt, Bows (Published 1960)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
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