Ophuls tries to give this piece of music context through editing, moving camera, the use of veils, etc. The beginning is the most successful showcase of Ophuls skill.
Elizabeth Schumann's (1888-1952) singing is not as beautiful as I would have hoped... perhaps the print of the film I saw was not kind to her.
There are some lovely backgrounds and foregrounds, but somehow I don't think that these things enhanced the experience. This sort of thing eventually led to Disney's Fantasia... so it is interesting to see how a director of genius could enhance the music. Ophuls did a much better job with a piece of music in Valse Brilliante... which is a true tour de force.
Elizabeth Schumann's (1888-1952) singing is not as beautiful as I would have hoped... perhaps the print of the film I saw was not kind to her.
There are some lovely backgrounds and foregrounds, but somehow I don't think that these things enhanced the experience. This sort of thing eventually led to Disney's Fantasia... so it is interesting to see how a director of genius could enhance the music. Ophuls did a much better job with a piece of music in Valse Brilliante... which is a true tour de force.
