Biography of the famous Italian violinist Nicola Paganini which focuses as much on the musician's romances as it does on his craft. Phyllis Calvert plays Jeanne de Vermond, the aristocratic French woman who captures Paganini's heart, and real-life violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin supplies the breathtaking Paganini solos.
Stewart Granger
Nicolo Paganini
Phyllis Calvert
Jeanne
Jean Kent
Bianchi
Cecil Parker
Luigi Germi
Dennis Price
Paul de la Rochelle
Marie Lohr
Countess de Vermond
Felix Aylmer
Frank Cellier
Henry Edwards
Mary Jerrold
Betty Warren
Anthony Holles
David Horne
Robert Speaight
Charles Victor
Eliot Makeham
O.B. Clarence
Director
Bernard Knowles
Novel
Manuel Komroff
Writer
Roland Pertwee
Writer
Norman Ginsbury
July 7, 2022
6
Stewart Granger as Niccolò Paganini? Not an obvious choice, I'd have said - but he actually carries it off quite well; especially since much of his scenes involve quite a lot of fairly sophisticated violin playing and his rather tousled locks get in his eyes once too often, too! Sadly, though, the rest of this rarely ascends beyond the mediocrity of a period melodrama - a love story between him and Phyllis Calvert ("Jeanne") whose mother has aspirations for a far more advantageous marriage for her daughter than this mere musician. Enter a very dapper Dennis Price as her suitor "Paul de la Rochelle" who rarely looks comfortable either with his spray-on uniform or his rather stilted lines. It's rescued, as is so often the case, by Cecil Parker as Luigi Germi, his manager/friend who somehow manages to keep Paganini on the straight and narrow as his rise to international stardom coincides with his rather complicated love life. The musical score is marvellous - though the sound mixing on this does rather drown out any dialogue - and the costumes all look the part excellently. At times it is all just a bit too theatrical, but as an introduction to the music of this particular maestro, it is well worth a watch (or maybe just a listen...?)
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00