Song Of Love

There were a lot of films made about Classical Music "Figures", but this one is about Robert and Clara Schumann and the young and talented Johannes Brahms. It's wrapped around the tragic story of Robert's decline into madness and Brahms's love for both Robert, his teacher, and Clara, who was also a great concert pianist. Ironically, Clara's career success then parallels Brahms' many years of success. Complicated, but a good film made better by the quality of the performances.

I admit, my perspective on this film may be rather different from most others'. I'm doing research for a planned film about the Davidsbundler, the "society" that Robert Schumann founded, and this means doing extensive research on the lives, times & friends of the Schumanns. One of my books mentioned a 1980s German film called "Spring Symphony," which I purchased and found quite good. In trying to find that film, "Song of Love" turned up. Hmmm... I've seen a number of biographical films from that same time period, and there's a tendency toward melodrama and a sugar-coating that clouds or distorts historical fact. All the same, my curiosity was aroused...I must say, the direction in this film is excellent, beginning at the start with the disclaimer on the screen. It freely admits that certain historical details have been omitted or changed, and that the chronology has been altered. For example, the rhapsody that introduces young Brahms was actually one of his later piano works. That said, I found it much easier to enjoy the film on its own terms. Historical nit-pickers may find a number of well-researched books on the subject for comparison - but they won't be as entertaining.Katharine Hepburn may seem an odd choice for Clara, but as far as Clara's strong will goes, Kate hits the mark perfectly. Watch for a delightful bit of natural acting in the Christmas party scene, when someone casually predicts yet another pregnancy for Clara (already mother of 7 or 8). Knowing that the Schumanns actually never intended to have any children at all (something never mentioned in the film), I suspect that the director and Kate may have known a bit more about Clara, and allowed this little non-scripted touch.Paul Henreid plays a passable Robert Schumann, well-acted. Schumann's actual life was much more troubled and morbid than the movie lets on, though. While he does end his days in an asylum, don't look for the suicide attempt or his emaciated body hours before he perished from self-starvation. Instead, his illness is expressed in other ways, no less tragic but much more palatable for general audiences.Robert Walker's Johannes Brahms was, to my delight, exactly as I'd imagined (except Brahms wore his hair longer as a young man). People who only know him as the murderer from Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train" will find it a treat to see him as a kind, understanding musical genius who enjoys his additional role as babysitter for the many children. The relationship between Brahms and Clara is handled quite well; they do come to love each other deeply, but never pursue it openly out of respect for Robert. Fear of scandal may also have played a role.)Additional treats: Franz Liszt has a couple of scenes, and he nearly steals the show (as Liszt tended to do). He was a good friend, but Clara didn't care much for him; this too is reflected in this film. There's a delightful framing story as well, which I won't spoil by discussing further. As a stickler for historical accuracy, I'm sure the framing story is a bit of artistic license; but I was delighted to see a little bit of everyday mid-19th Century life sneak into what I'd expected to be an overly-sanitized film: A little child is having a bath in one scene, another gets knocked over during some barely-scripted playtime (she's fine, gets right back up and runs after them), and Clara has to cut a recital short to feed her baby - she nurses, rather than uses an anachronistic baby-bottle.I'm sure my review will be of limited use to most viewers - after all, I'm doing research rather than just looking for an evening's entertainment. However, I highly recommend this to anyone who loves the music of the Romantic period. It's suitable for all ages, including young children, while remaining sophisticated enough to hold adult interest. Oh, BTW: Artur Rubenstein plays the piano music we hear.

Ironically, in the film where Katharine Hepburn plays a subservient wife her character, Clara Wieck Schumann, is one of the most talented women she ever played in her career. Clara was a brilliant pianist, performing the works of Franz Liszt (Henry Daniell), but goes her father's objections to marry the struggling composer Robert Schumann (Paul Henreid). Clara retires and raises seven children, totally dedicated to her family. However, Schumann is unable to deal with his lack of success. After her husband breaks down during a concert performing the Cantata from his version of "Faust," Clara has him committed to an asylum. After his death, she returns to the concert stage to share her husband's music with the world.There is also a strong soap opera element in that young Johannus Brahms (Robert Walker) comes to live with the Schumanns, falls in love with Clara, and even proposed to her after Robert dies. Without spending a lot of time reading about the lives of the Great Composers, it is my understanding that this particular romantic plot twist did not really happen. But then you know how Hollywood feels about being historically accurate."Song of Love" opens with Clara playing the dazzling finale from Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2. The actual piano playing for the film was performed by Artur Rubinstein. Hepburn worked daily with one of his pupils, pianist Laura Dubman, on fundamentals and techniques down to the distinctive hand posture for playing the piano used during that period. This Meryl Streep like devotion to the details paid off brilliantly and the illusion that Hepburn is actually playing is quite impressive.Even if she were not played by Katharine Hepburn, I end up feeling it is rather difficult to really accept Clara throwing away her career for the man she loves. Her love of music is as deep as Schumann's and she clearly has the respect of the musical community, with the notable exception of her stern taskmaster father (Leo G. Carroll). Even a subdued Hepburn seems to be more than a match for the men in this movie, although as portrayed in the film Schumann and Brahms are a pretty clueless pair. The audience ends up identifying with Liszt, who you get the feeling always knows how talented the lesser beings really are in this story.In one of those delightful Hollywood twists of fate, Robert Walker, who played Hepburn's son in her previous film "Sea of Grass," plays young Brahms. Based on the play by Bernard Schubert and Mario Silva, the film had four scenarists, which perhaps explains the unevenness of the script. Director Clarence Brown does a fine job, but this is one of those sanitized biographies that Hollywood loved to produced in those days, where you only get a taste of the emotion turmoil of Clara Wieck Schumann's life. Note: There is a photogrraph of Hepburn as Clara available around here.

Bottom line: As a music major many years ago, with a reasonably good knowledge of the story of Robert and Clara Schumann, and Johannes Brahms, I must say that I enjoyed this movie. Just a bit difficult to accept Katherine Hepburn with her strong New England accent in the role of Clara (at least initially). The “ghost” pianist who actually played the piano compositions heard in the movie were played by the great Artur Rubinstein, so the music heard throughout the movie was quite brilliant. The actors each “pulled off” playing the piano almost believably well. Even a bit of unexpected humor in the movie, which I accepted pretty well. (No spoilers here, though!)

This is a superb old film from the forties. I don't know if it is actually factual or just film makers imagination but it is nevertheless a grand film with some beautiful music and a nice story line. This version, although an import is just as it should be with English language and no subtitles to annoy one. I highly recommened this film and am sure you will be humming to the tunes of Robert Schumman and Johanes Brahms for many years. It is a film that I had been trying to find on dvd for ages under it's original title "Song of love" so I am so happy to have this version at last.

Ordered for a friend very pleased

This item fully met my expectations and was delivered in excellent condition and in a timely way. Not historically accurate by any means, but it was a movie that acknowledged this fact from the start.

OK musical - for those who love old Hollywood musicals

Una interpretación genial, tanto de Katherine Hepburn como de Paul Henreid como, sobre todo, de Robert Walker (al que encontré un curioso parecido con Bill Murray..., ¿serán familia?). La banda sonora en español deja algo que desear, pero más me contrarió no encontrar ningún extra, para ser un DVD relativamente tan caro (€21). Se queda uno sin saber cuáles fueron las piezas que sonaron en la película, lo cual nos podría haber dado muchas pistas. Por ejemplo, la primera que suena, la que toca la joven Clara en "su puesta de largo" en la escena, era el primer concierto escrito por ella misma, que recuerda los de Liszt, lo que explica la amistad entre su entonces novio y Liszt, y luego con la familia. Tampoco está la ficha técnica de la película en sí.Pero no me arrepiento de haberla comprado, pues es una película de esas que apetece ver de vez en cuando, por poco melómano o hepburniano que uno sea. :-)