Oscar Levant
Watched this film again tonight. I'd rather watch Oscar Levant play piano more than anybody else. What a character! Under appreciated nowadays, I think. He was good in An American in Paris, also.
shareIndeed! The piano concerto Levant performs in 'Barkleys', (Classically-trained pianists were the instrumental stars of popular music in '49, much as electric rock guitarists such as Steve Vai are now), is still astounding to this day. 1949's before my time, so I'm not guilty of nostalgia when I say that the kids today don't know what they're missing: Levant makes today's rock virtuosos seem infantile by comparison.
shareA very good point!
But I'm also amazed at how he seemed to be a natural at acting, and he had a biting wit. I read both his autobiographies, and they're very funny. It was
he who said, "I knew Doris Day before she was a virgin." :D
while i appreciate that his piano playing is wonderful, i can't stand the sabre dance and as the scenes following are my fave in the film i generally fast forward, his second performance is however much better and i love the line that follows
"Thank you. I'm touched, the piano's touched, and Tchaikovsky's touched"
You're right lazur-2. Kids today don't know what they're missing. The most youngster doesn't know how many good (old) movies and artist, dancer, singer we had.
Myself I'm born in 1976 but love and prefer those old movies.