Immortal Beloved (1994)

The life and death of the legendary Ludwig van Beethoven. Besides all the work he is known for, the composer once wrote a famous love letter to a nameless beloved, and the movie tries to ... See full summary »

Director:

Bernard Rose

Writer:

Bernard Rose

Stars:

Gary Oldman, Jeroen Krabbé, Isabella Rossellini

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gary Oldman	...	Ludwig van Beethoven
Jeroen Krabbé	...	Anton Felix Schindler
Isabella Rossellini	...	Anna Marie Erdödy
Johanna ter Steege	...	Johanna Reiss
Marco Hofschneider	...	Karl van Beethoven
Miriam Margolyes	...	Nanette Streicherová
Barry Humphries	...	Clemens Metternich
Valeria Golino	...	Giulietta Guicciardi
Gerard Horan	...	Nikolaus Johann van Beethoven
Christopher Fulford	...	Kaspar Anton Carl van Beethoven
Alexandra Pigg	...	Therese Obermayer
Luigi Diberti	...	Franz Josef Guicciardi
Michael Culkin	...	Jakob Hotscevar
Donal Gibson	...	Karl Holz
Matthew North	...	Young Karl van Beethoven

Storyline

The life and death of the legendary Ludwig van Beethoven. Besides all the work he is known for, the composer once wrote a famous love letter to a nameless beloved, and the movie tries to find out who this beloved was--not easy, as Beethoven has had many women in his life.

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Plot Keywords:

ludwig van beethoven | death | love letter | letter | composer | 

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Taglines:

The genius behind the music. The madness behind the man. The untold love story of Ludwig von Beethoven.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for scenes of violence and sexuality

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 January 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amada inmortal

Filming Locations:

Kromeríz, Czech Republic

Box Office

Gross USA:

$9,914,409

Company Credits

Production Co:

Icon Entertainment International,Icon Productions,Majestic Films International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS (8 channels) Dolby Digital SDDS DTS Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Though played by a different musician in the officially released film soundtrack, Gary Oldman is actually playing all of the Beethoven pieces he is seen performing in the film. When he learned he would be playing the lead role, he spent six weeks practicing on a Steinway piano for six hours a day in his hotel; and completely immersed himself in the music as his research for the character. In an interview with the south bank show in 1997, Gary quoted an article that said "he mimes very well" in the film. In answer to which, Gary laughed and said "I'm playing it! I can play that!"

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Goofs

Early in the movie, after her bath, she says, "We were invited to Prince Vichnoski's palace, for a musical evening. Beethoven was going to be there." In the following shot, as the horses are approaching the palace, the shadow of the film crew is visible on the horses.

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Quotes

Ludwig van Beethoven: A little test!

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Connections

References Barry Lyndon (1975)

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Soundtracks

Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Georg Solti (as Sir Georg Solti)

User Reviews

Underrated masterpiece

IMMORTAL BELOVED

Aspect ratio: 2.39:1 (Panavision)

Sound formats: Dolby Digital / SDDS-8

Following Beethoven's death, his closest friend (Jeroen Krabbé) goes in search of the composer's sole heir, an unnamed woman described as his 'immortal beloved' in a letter which betrays their secret love affair.

Comparisons with AMADEUS (1984) are inevitable, but Bernard Rose's sumptuous biopic is in a veritable league of its own. The director's episodic screenplay relays events in flashback, as Beethoven - played with multilayered conviction by Gary Oldman - is inspired to new heights of artistic endeavor by the three women who dominate his life (Isabella Rosselini, Valeria Golino and Johanna ter Steege), and rendered increasingly bitter by encroaching deafness. Just as tellingly, Rose's handsome film details Beethoven's stormy relationship with a favored nephew (Marco Hofschneider), who was driven to extreme rebellion by the composer's overreaching ambitions. The music is arranged with exquisite grace by Georg Solti, conducting the London Symphony Orchestra: Standout episodes include the moment when Beethoven first plays the 'Moonlight Sonata', and the breathtaking 'Ode to Joy' sequence, framed against an unhappy memory from Beethoven's youth, which culminates in a moment of supreme cinematic glory, one of the most beautiful images this reviewer has ever seen. Vivid production design by Jirí Hlupý, expansive scope photography by Peter Suschitzky; filmed on location in Prague.