Prelude to Fame (1950)

While vacationing in Italy, Nick Morell, son of John Morell, a famous English philosopher and amateur musician and his wife Catherine, becomes friendly with young Guido, and Morell ... See full summary »

Director:

Fergus McDonell

Writers:

Aldous Huxley (story), Robert Westerby (screenplay),

Stars:

Guy Rolfe, Kathleen Byron, Kathleen Ryan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Guy Rolfe	...	John Morell
Kathleen Byron	...	Signora Anne Bondini
Kathleen Ryan	...	Catherine Morell
Jeremy Spenser	...	Guido Ferugia
Henry Oscar	...	Signor Mario Bondini
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Carlotta Ferugia
John Slater	...	Dr. Lorenzo
James Robertson Justice	...	Sir Arthur Harold
Ferdy Mayne	...	Carlo Ferugia
Robert Rietty	...	Giuseppe
Robin Dowell	...	Nick Morell
Hugo Schuster	...	Dr. Freihaus
Michael Balfour	...	Lucio
Christopher Lee	...	Newsman
David McCallum Sr.	...	Leader of orchestra, Royal Albert Hall (as David McCallum)

Storyline

While vacationing in Italy, Nick Morell, son of John Morell, a famous English philosopher and amateur musician and his wife Catherine, becomes friendly with young Guido, and Morell discovers the boy has an extraordinary instinct for orchestration and a phenomenal music memory. A neighboring couple, Signor and Signora Boudini become aware of the boy's talents, and she appeals to his parents to let her educate him musically. Torn by their love for their son and, they feel,the duty to let the world hear his talent, they consent. The boy is tutored by Dr. Lorenzo. Signora Bondini denies the boy all contact with his parents and everyone else except her. She also has neither sent his letters to his family, nor let him see the ones they've sent to him. He becomes phenomenally successful and makes the grand tour of Europe as Signora Bondini is enraptured by the acclaim given her through her "discovery" of the boy. She prepares to take him to America and also prepares adoption papers.

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Plot Keywords:

boy | musician | conductor | childhood | selfishness | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 1950 (Austria)

Also Known As:

Alvorada de Glória

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Two Cities Films, Aquila Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the last film to be made using Rank's "Independent Frame" production system. The system proved a costly flop.

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Soundtracks

"Portofino Moon"
(uncredited)
Written by L. Biscardi
Arranged by Eric Rogers

User Reviews

quite interesting but overlong

Guido is just an average little boy whose father jokingly says has the musical ear of a goat, but the truth is in fact the opposite, as Guido's friend Nick's father finds out. Guido actually has an astonishing musical ear, and when neighbour Signora Bondini finds out, she insists that the boy be taken to Naples and taught musical properly. Guido ends up realising her dream and becomes an astounding success, and the world's youngest conductor, but at great toll on his personal life. The signora's intentions start of well enough, but before long it is obvious to all but her that she is pushing the little boy too far, and the consequences could be dreadful..

Not a bad movie, though there are far too many scenes of just the boy conducting his orchestra. OK, so he's a genius, but do we really need about a half hour of just the music? ;-)