MovieChat Forums > Carnegie Hall (1947) Discussion > Interesting curiosity

Interesting curiosity

posted 18 years ago by bradford-1
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The storyline here is from hunger, though I find Marsha Hunt engaging anytime I see her. Oddly, Frank McHugh seems to be made up to look like Joseph Stalin as the film progresses through roughly 30 years.
But the prize is having the musical performances preserved. The New York Philharmonic in full cry; Jan Peerce, Stokowski, Piatigorsky, Lily Pons (is it my imagination, or could she and Imogene Coca pass for twins?), Jascha Heifetz and Ezio Pinza. Pinza has a wonderful comic scene that he tops off with a snatch of "Don Giovanni." Wonder if Rodgers & Hammerstein saw this flick and thought about him for the lead in "South Pacific"? At least Pinza, a star at the Met, could handle dialogue. It's a scream to watch Heifetz and Fritz Reiner come off like Weber & Fields in their scene.
I wonder if this film made any money? It's pretty long for a '47 flick, so I assume it didn't get shunted to a double bill with Tim Holt Westerns!

[–] AlanSquier 17 years ago

This is definitely worth seeing not only for the superb
performances, but for the great German expressionistic style, the use of shadows and film noir like techniques although it obviously isn't film noir. But it is German Expressionism. It's sort of an art film from poverty role, and a great showcase of Edgar G. Ulmer's style.

I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me.