Rhapsody (1954)

Spoiled heiress Louise Durant (Dame Elizabeth Taylor) decides to leave the comfort of her father's estate in southern France to study piano at the Music Conservatory in Zurich, despite ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Vidor

Writers:

Ruth Goetz (adaptation), Augustus 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	...	Professor 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

Spoiled heiress Louise Durant (Dame Elizabeth Taylor) decides to leave the comfort of her father's estate in southern France to study piano at the Music Conservatory in Zurich, despite knowing that she does not have the talent nor desire to be a professional pianist. She is going there to follow her new boyfriend, violinist Paul Bronte (Vittorio Gassman), who is completing his final year of studies there, and who she hopes eventually to marry. Not even knowing Paul, this move does not sit well with Louise's father, Nicholas Durant (Louis Calhern), as he values success over all else, and Paul is not a success. Louise hopes to find her place in Paul's musical life, she does not truly understand the all-consuming passion he and many of the other students have for music. In her view of their world, Louise finds that she cannot be a complementary figure in that musical life as she wants, but is in direct competition with it. As such, some students resent Louise for taking away from Paul's ...

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Plot Keywords:

possessive female | manipulative female | female jealousy | father daughter relationship | romantic triangle | 

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Taglines:

"I Must Possess the Man I Love - Heart, Body & Soul!"

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Louise enters the office of Professor Schumann, the rail surrounding the secretary's space has the gate next to where Louise is standing (to the right of camera). In the next shot, the gate has shifted to where Louise is sitting (to the front of camera).

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

Concerto #2 In C Minor For Piano And Orchestra
Music by Sergei Rachmaninoff

User Reviews

A guilty pleasure

Although other reviewers of this movie may dwell on its doggish qualities, I confess I can't let it slide any time TCM shows it. Taylor, at her absolutely most sumptuously gorgeous loves a violin virtuoso while rehabilitating a pianist who has lost his way due to psychological implosion. The scenes when Taylor patiently encourages the musical rehabilitation are like junk food loaded with cancer causing initials...once you start you can't stop.

As an interesting aside, the great Claudio Arrau plays the actual piano part. I have been told that in Mel's Dinner in LA, there is a picture of the maestro, in rakish youth, enjoying the splendors of his Hollywood moment.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

16 April 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rhapsody

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,300,000

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:

1.75 : 1