Song Without End
- Dirk Bogarde: Franz Liszt
- Capucine: Carolyne Wittgenstein
- Geneviève Page: Marie d' Agoult
- Patricia Morison: George Sand
- Ivan Desny: Nikolaus zu Sayn -Wittgenstein
- Martita Hunt: Grand Duchess
- Lou Jacobi: Potin
- Albert Rueprecht: Felix von Lichnowsky
- Marcel Dalio: Hippolyte Chelard
- Lyndon Brook: Richard Wagner
- Walter Rilla: Archbishop
- Hans Unterkirchner: Tsar Nicholas I.
- Erland Erlandsen: Sigismund Thalberg
- Alexander Davion: Frédéric Chopin
- Katherine Squire: Anna Liszt
- Lester Matthews: emissary of the Grand Duchess
Only few are chosen is an American love story from the year 1960. History The film releases the love story between Franz Liszt and Carolyne zu Sayn -Wittgenstein again.
Action
The Comtesse Marie d' Agoult had once sacrificed their lives and their reputation in Paris to escape the star pianist Franz Liszt and their children to Germany. This scandal and other victims she took gladly accept it, because she knows that in her great love is not only the best pianist of his time, but also a great composer. He quarrels nor with the decision and is pleased to receive the visit of George Sand and Frédéric Chopin, who report to him that now Sigismund Thalberg was the celebrated Parisian pianist. This can not be allowed to sit on Liszt. Against the advice of his Marie, he traveled to Paris and competes with Thalberg. It is a celebrated return. In the celebrations, he was invited by Prince Felix Lichnowsky as guest of honor. He meets the Russian Prince Nikolaus zu Sayn -Wittgenstein- Berleburg -Ludwigsburg and his charming wife Carolyne Wittgenstein that he will return to Geneva at a benefit concert of the Hungarian flood victims of 1838.
During the trip Liszt at odds with itself one hand, he wants to meet the wishes of his Marie and finally become a composer and on the other hand his love for the piano is too big that he could just give up. After he again plays a bejubeltes concert in front of the eyes Carolyne, in which he einspielt 15 576 crowns, begins a large-scale European tour through Dresden, Berlin and Brussels, but before he goes to an invitation Carolyne to Moscow before the Russian Tsar Nicholas where he I. plays. Then he travels through Europe and earned enough money for Marie and the kids. But Marie is not interested in the money. You do not want that Liszt is the easy way. He should finally become a composer. Finally, they have also brought so many sacrifices for him, as he could but bring at least one of them. But Liszt it is sorry to hear this again and again. Furious, he leaves behind Marie and discovered during a walk a concert rehearsal of Richard Wagner. He is thrilled. Wagner plays, none as usual, and as he has never heard of it.
Liszt accepts an invitation Carolyne in her hometown of Kiev, where he gives a concert in which it is, however, absent. He finds it only in the Cathedral and discovered that she shared his deep religious faith, unlike his Marie. They draw closer and Liszt confesses that he played at all the concerts never to the public, but only for them. They kiss, but her tears she turns away. You can not give love. Finally, she was married. Instead, she follows him to Odessa, where he gives another concert. When he announced on stage in front of the shocked audience that he cease as a pianist and this was his last concert, also Carolyne finds the courage to tell her husband that she wants to let a divorce. Since Nicholas does not want blackmails him. Then she wants to travel to the Russian Tsar to consummate the divorce. Meanwhile, to move to Weimar, where he will find not only an orchestra, but also an opera that will be useful to him for his compositions Liszt. Although Liszt would rather to Paris, but for her sake, he lives and works now on, sometimes with Hippolyte Chelard, in Weimar, waiting for her to return from Russia. But it does not come so quickly. During the Vienna Uprising of October 1848, it bored precisely in Vienna. Liszt sets out all the stops in order to free them from the danger zone, and learns that she is finally divorced.
However, you still want his mother's blessing. Therefore, both travel to France, where the mother gives her blessing and Carolyne meets Marie. Marie had once as Carolyne given up everything just to live with Franz to be allowed. What could there Carolyne already offer, even if they gave up all their possessions in the course of divorce for Franz to be sacrificed at the next leisure? When Marie hear that it is the impending marriage, world falls apart for them. They live together from now on in Weimar, where Liszt tries to merge the music of Wagner. Liszt helps him when he is after the May uprising in Dresden on the run, whereas he receives newest piece with Wagner's Lohengrin. Meanwhile, Carolyne must agree with the refusal of the Archbishop of marriage receive a rejection letter. Rather, they should be reflected in future together with Franz never publicly alone to avoid another scandal. This is finally too much for her. She moved to Rome, where they henceforth not only lives, but also tried with the Pope to let her divorce before the Catholic Church are legally in order to get married to.
After a while, Liszt received the letter from his beloved Carolyne from Rome. She has done it. Finally, the wedding is coming up. He travels after her and stops on the day before the wedding, a concert. Even as he wants to be close to his Carolyne in the cheers of the crowd, get both official visit to the Vatican. Carolyne request for divorce was rejected. You accuse her serious offenses. Someone has revealed she once extorted Nicholas for divorce. Since this now agree, Carolyne is made profoundly. You can not marry her beloved Franz. At this moment, the biggest pain she recognizes God's will. They are just not meant for each other. While Franz wants to convince her to change her mind, she has long been accepted. Instead, she has devoted her hence life of the Church and the faith. Liszt also occurs after his return to Weimar in a monastery and devoted his music now God.
Criticism
Bosley Crowther said of the New York Times, the film is two hours long " wonderful and exciting harmonies, virtuosic piano and symphonic vocal accompaniment " that are "brilliant and beautiful" carried forward. Thus, "elegant", the music but also was so " violently [ ... ], detailed and at the end also distressing " were the major biographical episodes. After all the settings, the feelings, the magnificent costumes and excellent performer, it was just too much of a good thing. You just do not get it all.
The lexicon of the International film said: " An intricate, beautifully photographed and splendidly equipped Künstlermelodram that processes the historic fabric of good Hollywood fashion tended to bombast "
Background
The idea to make a film about Franz Liszt circulated, almost 16 years in Hollywood. As early as 1952 Columbia Pictures hired screenwriter Oscar Saul and the director William Dieterle for the film project. After this failed, Gottfried Reinhardt was hired to write a new script. But only when the producer Goetz took the project and Millard committed as a screenwriter, the project could be filmed. Morris Stoloff was cast in the musical line. He could commit the pianist Jorge Bolet for piano scenes. The song is from the Roger Wagner Chorale and the orchestration of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Director Charles Vidor died suddenly on June 4, 1959 during the filming in Vienna of a heart attack. The film was just completed about 15 percent. His friend George Cukor took over, to be allowed to remain anonymous on the condition, the remaining Director. He let the script, which many thought was embarrassing and stupid, revise by Walter Bernstein and replaced the cameraman Howe by Charles Lang.
The film premiered on August 11, 1960 in New York City had its world premiere. In Canada and the U.S., he played a little more than 1.5 million U.S. dollars. In the Federal Republic of Germany, he started on 21 October 1960 in the cinemas. The film was previously released only as a German -language VHS.
Awards (selection)
- Best Original Score: nomination for Morris Stoloff and Harry Sukman
- Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
- Best Actor - Comedy or Musical: Nomination for Dirk Bogarde
- Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: Nomination for Capucine