Piccolo Solo


Do we ever find out why Woolley stomps on the woman's harp solo with his own piccolo solo at the beginning of the movie ? Or is it simply understood that he's just an old curmudgeon, who will do just exactly whatever he wants, whenever he feels like it ?

"J'ai l'oeil AMÉRICAIN !"

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I think that was the point of it. He wanted to show that he was talented enough to deserve a soloing opportunity, so if he wasn't going to be given one, he was going to take the initiative and forge one for himself. It's a charming introduction to him and establishes his raison d'etre for the rest of the film.

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But it's an incredibly rude thing to do to another musician. The harpist sounded quite capable and deserving of the solo written into the piece they were playing. How childish and self centered not to be able to restrain himself until they played a piece with a piccolo solo. I guess it was just supposed to be quirky and funny. Maybe only musicians would be bothered by it. I like the movie though.

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True in both respects (rudeness, film likability). I certainly wouldn't have wanted to be that harp player.

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