Intermezzo

A funny thing I've discovered, by browsing through their respective filmographies, is that neither Greta Garbo nor Ingrid Bergman had a particularly amazing American screen debut, yet both went on to become great beauties of the silver screen, as well as highly regarded actresses. It was lucky that their screen debuts didn't show their full potential, and that they would go onto better films, otherwise they would have been run out of Hollywood. Intermezzo has nothing going for it, really. I'm told the Swedish version (from 1936, also starring Bergman) is better, so I'll have to watch the two and compare. You can tell that it was Bergman's first English-language film, and she can't help this, but her performance is poor and she seems to be struggling with the language (to mention my comparison above, Greta Garbo made her American film debut in silent films, and was able to become fluent in English before Anna Christie). Leslie Howard has no excuse. He was good in other films, but not here, here he seems to be struggling with the English as well. Both performances by both the leads are stiff and lacking emotion, which is odd, because Leslie Howard would make GWTW this same year. And Ingrid Bergman had made En Kvinnas Ansikte the year before. Neither of them had any excuse to be lacking in acting ability. And don't get me started on the supporting actors. The story is rather weak, and the dialogue seems more stilted than if this were an early talkie. A male violinist (thanks to the movies, I've learned that you can never trust these guys) falls in love with his daughter's piano teacher, they run away and have an affair, despite the man being married and loving his daughter. The rest of the movie is them being selfish and only caring about their love affair, until the man's daughter is run over by a car and they're forced to be moralistic and break up- thank you, Production Code! Only the people who wrote this film could make a 69 minute melodrama seem like ten seasons of a soap opera. The music isn't even nice- it's just bland classical stuff. Don't diss the stars based on this film- both made better films before and after this one.

At 70 minutes, the movie doesn't even seem forced at all, it goes by pretty quickly. My main problem with the movie is that there is no chemistry between Leslie Howard and Ingrid Bergman. Since their relationship is the entire movie, it shouldn't work, but somehow i actually liked it in spite of that. At the start, Bergman is giving piano lessons to Leslie's daughter and when he finds out she's really talented herself, they begin to have an affair. Leslie is separated from his wife and he goes on tour with Bergman. His wife wants a divorce and when she is accepted into some music school, she doesn't want to leave him. Leslie Howard does a good job and Ingrid Bergman is gorgeous.

source: Intermezzo

(Some Spoilers) Touching 1939 tear-jerker that introduced to the movie going public here in the USA the beautiful and stalely 23 year-old Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman as Anita Hoffman. Who's the piano teacher for the young Ann Marie, Ann E. Todd, the daughter of famed concert violinist Holger Brandt, Leslie Howard. After being a smashing success in America ending his concert tour at Carnegi Hall in New York City Holger tell his star struck admirers that he's leaving for his home in Sweden together his mentor and fellow musician Thomas Stenborg, John Holliday, to be with his family and get a long and well deserved rest from his grueling string of public performances. Back home with his loving wife Margit, Edna Best, and his two beautiful children Ann Marie and Eric, Douglas Scott, everything is wonderful for the Brandt family. Thats until Holger lays his eyes on Ann Marie's piano teacher, and also Thomas' music student, the stunning Anita Hoffman and it's love at first sight, or at first sound. Holger actually fell in love with Anita's music before he fell in love with her looks. In no time at all Holger and Anita fall in love and both leave together for Europe as a duet, him playing the violin and Anita the piano, on the concert circuit. The two musical dynamos tear up the continent with record-breaking crowds attending their performances as Margit and the children are left behind in Sweden. With the only contact from their estranged husband and father being the radio that broadcasts his and Anita's musical acts. Taking time off from their Europen tour the two lovers spend some time on the French coast where they run into Thomas who has, well both good and bad, news for them. The good news is that Anita has been awarded a scholarship to a major music academy and the bad news is that he has the divorce papers from Margit's lawyer for Holger to sign, which he doesn't. This bring a touch of reality into Holger and Anita's life where she realizes what she's done to the Brandt family by being the "Other Woman" in Holger and Margit's divorce papers. At the same time Anita tearfully leaves poor Holger all by himself by going back to Sweden to the music academy to accept her scholarship. Holger soon becomes a man without a country, or family, as he bums around Europe afraid to go back home to face his family that he so selfishly destroyed by having an affair with Anita. Getting up enough courage to bring himself to go back to Sweden to give Ann Marie a birthday present, a camera, that he promised her soon turns out to be a tragedy. The happy Ann Marie, after seeing her dad, runs across the street from the school yard only to get hit by a speeding car and left in a coma. Completely destroyed by his actions with his wife and son not even speaking to him and little Ann Marie on the brink of death or ending up crippled for life Holger, now for the first time, sees what a heel he was. Holger also sees how his love for another woman, who later left him, blinded him of all the good and wonderful things that he had in life. That he so foolishly threw away in the pursuit of his love, forbidden as it was, for Anita. The movies contrived ending is a bit far-fetched but it's just how you would want it to end.Leslie Howard is perfect as Holger the tortured soul who was torn between the beautiful piano teacher Anita and his loving wife Margit. You could understand his actions even though you wouldn't agree with them. As for Ingrid Bergman as Anita? she was simply beautiful.

The picture deals with a young pianist (Ingrid Bergman) who acts as piano teacher of a child (Ann Todd) whose father( Leslie Howard) , happily married (Edna Best) , is a violinist . They fall in love and is originated the standard and eternal loving triangle . The movie has romance , tearjerker , drama, tragedy, a love story and is very entertaining . The film is a remake in Hollywood style of a Swedish film directed by Gustaf Molander in 1936 and equally interpreted by Ingrid Bergman ; here plays his first US role , in fact , is best known as Bergman's American debut and became her in world star . Bergman is splendid and enticing , stunningly photographed by the maestro Gregg Toland (Citizen Kane) and she obtained extraordinary reviews . Leslie Howard is agreeable and sensible as the lover who bears a guilty feeling . Fine support cast is formed by Ann Todd as the daughter who strongly loves her daddy , Cecil Kellaway in one his usual roles as likable and comical friend and John Halliday . Excellent black and white cinematography and magnificent musical score by the master Max Steiner , nominated for Academy Award and being added classic music composed by Provost , Rachmaninov and Tchaykowsky . The motion picture will appeal to romantic films buffs and vintage cinema enthusiasts . Rating : Above average . Outstanding and enjoyable.

I normally don't gravitate toward melodramas nor would I approve, frankly, of a film that centers around adultery. However, this film has such much going for it that I wound up loving this movie the first time I saw it, and still do six viewings later. Off the cuff, here are seven reasons why: 1) There IS a good message here: that a married person having a fling with a pretty young woman might be an exciting prospect but in the end, "you reap what you sow" and if either of the two parties has a conscience, the illicit romance will be doomed, especially if there are kids involved. 2 ) For male viewers, Ingrid Bergman, making her English-speaking debut, is a real feast for the eyes. She was one of the more naturally gorgeous women to grace the silver screen, I think. 3) Gregg Toland's photography. To fully appreciate his work, get the DVD for this film. Toland was one of the best ever, and this is a beautifully shot piece of work. 4) At 70 minutes, the film flies by, which also makes it easier to watch and enjoy multiple times. 5) Leslie Howard and John Halliday also were excellent in here as the two male leads. I thought Halliday, in particular, had some great words of wisdom. 6) For those who appreciate how difficult it is to forgive people, this ending contained another nice message. 7) Classical music lovers will very much appreciate the soundtrack to this film.

source: Intermezzo

Trailer—Intermezzo: A Love Story

Intermezzo: A Love Story

At 70 minutes, the movie doesn't even seem forced at all, it goes by pretty quickly. My main problem with the movie is that there is no chemistry between Leslie Howard and Ingrid Bergman. Since their relationship is the entire movie, it shouldn't work, but somehow i actually liked it in spite of that. At the start, Bergman is giving piano lessons to Leslie's daughter and when he finds out she's really talented herself, they begin to have an affair. Leslie is separated from his wife and he goes on tour with Bergman. His wife wants a divorce and when she is accepted into some music school, she doesn't want to leave him. Leslie Howard does a good job and Ingrid Bergman is gorgeous.