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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9786302424850 Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC ISBN: 6302424852 Label: Sony Pictures Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Sony Pictures Release Date: January 23, 1996 Running Time: 141 minutes Sales Rank: 12626 Studio: Sony Pictures Theatrical Release Date: 1960
Amazon.com: Fifteen years after directing the florid and commercially successful Chopin bio-pic, the 1945 A Song to Remember, director Charles Vidor headed up this lush, Technicolor production about Franz Liszt--only to die a few weeks into shooting and be replaced by George Cukor. (Cukor insisted the credit remain with Vidor, and indeed there is little of Cukor's touch visible in this film.) Song Without End stars Dirk Bogarde as Liszt, and while the actor's stints at the piano are effectively dubbed by Jorge Boyet, the story really concerns the composer's entangled love life. Much, much less flamboyant than Ken Russell's Lisztomania, Song Without End is, in its own way, just as indulgent, extravagantly presuming that love is the major inspiration for the creation of music. No film about a composer would be complete without a few of his famous contemporaries, and Song Without End makes a point of bringing George Sand and Chopin himself to the proceedings. The sets are impressive, and the cinematography is by James Wong Howe. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Transfer to Video and DVD quite imperfect
I was really impressed with all the reports I have read on Song Without End. I notice it is not being offered on DVD at present. But I did buy it on Video originally and when I saw I could get it on DVD; a while back I thought it might have improved in quality of sound.
Alas; the DVD has the same faults as the Video so obviously no technical re recording was attempted.
I am not very versed in the history of Lizst and his affairs and the ones with whom he had his affairs.
I mainly was disappointed at some of the technical flaws in the Movie BOTH on Video and then again on DVD. ... Read More
Rating: - If only the song WOULD end...
Get this straight before coming any closer: this is NOT a documentary on Franz Liszt. The Hollywood goons must have been flipping through a book of musicians' biographies (ooh! tormented, soul-searching MUSICIANS!), incidentally stumbling onto Liszt's particularly marketable name. Knowing professionals respect the name, aware that the revolutionary pianist-composer's profound contributions to 19th century music are to be taken seriously. The aforementioned goons, however, took their cue from some funny sentences about Marie D'Agoult, Carolyne Wittgenstein, George Sand, and a few other candidates ... Read More
Rating: - A Perfect Time Killer
I have gone through this film twice and still find this interesting.
This is not a documentary and as such don't expect too much depth or insight from this portrayal of Liszt, or else most of audience might be bored to death. Who cares about his study with Czerny or his religious faith in such a film anyway?
Instead, we have quite a lot of romances with pretty faces, elegant dresses and magnificent palaces. There was even a brief mention about Chopin and Wagner in the background. Visual effect was excellent and even the actor on the piano was so remarkable.
Rating: - A Perfect Time Killer
I have gone through this film twice and still find this interesting.
This is not a documentary and as such don't expect too much depth or insight from this portrayal of Liszt, or else most of audience might be bored to death. Who cares about his study with Czerny or his religious faith in such a film anyway?
Instead, we have quite a lot of romances with pretty faces, elegant dresses and magnificent palaces. There was even a brief mention about Chopin and Wagner in the background. Visual effect was excellent and even the actor on the piano was so remarkable.
Rating: - Dazzling Piano
I fell in love with Dirk Bogarde in "The Night Porter". I was fascinated by his acting, his expressions that revealed a dark, intrinsic tortured soul. With this film, I discovered another Dirk Bogarde, younger and handsome, lively and passionate. I grew tired of Liszt, but this film, with the superb piano sound, played by young Jorge Bolet, has renewed my interest for the composer. The most enjoyable moments for me watching this film is obviously Bogarde's acting as a pianist. There are many piano recital scenes that made me realize how difficult it is to play Liszt's compositions. Read More
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