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IMDbPro

Prelude to Fame

  • 19501950
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 18m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
136
YOUR RATING
Prelude to Fame (1950)
Drama
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... Read allWhile 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 ... Read allWhile 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 ... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
136
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Fergus McDonell
  • Writers
    • Aldous Huxley(story "Young Archimedes")
    • Robert Westerby(screenplay)
    • Bridget Boland(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Guy Rolfe
    • Kathleen Byron
    • Kathleen Ryan
  • Director
    • Fergus McDonell
  • Writers
    • Aldous Huxley(story "Young Archimedes")
    • Robert Westerby(screenplay)
    • Bridget Boland(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Guy Rolfe
    • Kathleen Byron
    • Kathleen Ryan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Prelude to Fame (1950)
    Guy Rolfe and Jeremy Spenser in Prelude to Fame (1950)
    Jeremy Spenser in Prelude to Fame (1950)
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    Top cast

    Edit
    Guy Rolfe
    Guy Rolfe
    • John Morell
    Kathleen Byron
    Kathleen Byron
    • Signora Anne Bondini
    Kathleen Ryan
    Kathleen Ryan
    • Catherine Morell
    Jeremy Spenser
    Jeremy Spenser
    • Guido Ferugia
    Henry Oscar
    Henry Oscar
    • Signor Mario Bondini
    Rosalie Crutchley
    Rosalie Crutchley
    • Carlotta Ferugia
    John Slater
    John Slater
    • Dr. Lorenzo
    James Robertson Justice
    James Robertson Justice
    • Sir Arthur Harold
    Ferdy Mayne
    Ferdy Mayne
    • Carlo Ferugia
    Robert Rietty
    Robert Rietty
    • Giuseppe
    Robin Dowell
    • Nick Morell
    Hugo Schuster
    • Dr. Freihaus
    Michael Balfour
    Michael Balfour
    • Lucio
    Christopher Lee
    Christopher Lee
    • Newsman
    David McCallum Sr.
    • Leader of orchestra, Royal Albert Hall
    • (as David McCallum)
    Dora Hyde
    • Leader of orchestra, Naples
    Michael Croudson
    • Nick's Friend
    • (as Michael Crowdson)
    Don Liddel
    • Benjamino
    • Director
      • Fergus McDonell
    • Writers
      • Aldous Huxley(story "Young Archimedes")
      • Robert Westerby(screenplay)
      • Bridget Boland(additional dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was the last movie to be made using Rank's "Independent Frame" production system. The system proved to be a costly flop.
    • Soundtracks
      Portofino Moon
      (uncredited)

      Written by L. Biscardi

      Arranged by Eric Rogers

    User reviews6

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Very well done
    Based on a story by Adolphus Huxley (who is probably best known for the novel "Brave New World"), Prelude to Fame is marvelously presented. The plot concerns a child prodigy and a manipulative rich woman who, under the guise of sponsoring the boy, attempts to control his life for her own glory. To say more would be spoiling the story. While the story does tend to get a bit heavy-handed at times, it's still well-done.

    The acting is superb, including the surprising 13-year-old Jeremy Spenser, who plays the prodigy child with the mastery of a mature actor. Spenser is surrounded by some of the best British talent of that era: Guy Rolfe, Kathleen Byron, Rosalie Crutchley, and the marvelously-cast character actor John Slater as Dr. Lorenzo.

    The music is excellently done, as it should be with the longtime British film music director Muir Mathieson at the helm. Among other works, we hear bits and pieces of Beethoven's Eroica and Mendelssohn's Italian Symphonies, the full overture to the opera "Oberon" by Carl Maria von Weber, and at the end of the film, excerpts from Borodin's "Prince Igor", part of which ("Gliding Dance of the Maidens") was used for the song "Strangers in Paradise", which debuted in "Kismet" in 1953 and was highly popular in the mid 50s.

    This is a fine movie, which isn't shown often on television anymore, but you can find it on Netflix. If you're a fan of classical music and/or of mid 20th-century British films, you should give this one a look.
    helpful•9
    1
    • tombarrister
    • Sep 2, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 31, 1950 (Austria)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Italy
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Das Wunder von San Marino
    • Filming locations
      • Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Two Cities Films
      • Aquila Cinematografica
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 18 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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