Rhapsody (1954)

A rich, young beauty, Louise Durant, follows the man she loves and hopes to marry to Zurich where he studies violin at the conservatory. A piano student at the conservatory falls madly in ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Vidor

Writers:

Henry Handel Richardson (novel), Ruth Goetz (adaptation),

Stars:

Elizabeth Taylor, Vittorio Gassman, John Ericson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Louise Durant
Vittorio Gassman	...	Paul Bronte
John Ericson	...	James Guest
Louis Calhern	...	Nicholas Durant
Michael Chekhov	...	Prof. Schuman
Barbara Bates	...	Effie Cahill
Richard Hageman	...	Bruno Fürst
Richard Lupino	...	Otto Krafft
Celia Lovsky	...	Frau Sigerlist
Stuart Whitman	...	Dove
Madge Blake	...	Mrs. Cahill
Jack Raine	...	Edmund Streller
Birgit Nielsen	...	Madeleine
Jacqueline Duval	...	Yvonne
Norma Nevens	...	Student Pianist

Storyline

A rich, young beauty, Louise Durant, follows the man she loves and hopes to marry to Zurich where he studies violin at the conservatory. A piano student at the conservatory falls madly in love with Louise. The violinist loves his music first and Louise second. The pianist loves Louise first and his music second. Louise must ultimately choose which man she wants.

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Plot Keywords:

melodrama | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 April 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rapsodia

Filming Locations:

Florhofgasse, Zürich, Kanton Zürich, Switzerland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show: Burnses and Mortons Choosing Movie to Attend (1954)

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Soundtracks

"Gypsy Airs"
Music by Pablo de Sarasate

User Reviews

Tedious but an interesting period piece

Yes, Rapshody is somewhat tedious and quite melodramatic, but let me mention the positive offsets:

1. The dazzlingly beautiful, voluptuous Elizabeth Taylor.

2. Adult themes, and must have been considered quite risqué at the time.

3. Emotionally charged classical music.

4. Generally quite well acted.

5. Good direction, cinematography, settings, and costumes.

Whether or not the positive offsets overcome the somewhat tedious, melodramatic plot depends on one's tolerance for melodrama and how strongly one values the various offsets.