ΙΝTERRUPTED MELODY

Interrupted Melody
MGM, 1955, Color, 106 minutes, ***½
Released March, 1955

Sensitive biography of Australian opera singer Marjorie Lawrence, who made a courageous comeback after polio struck her at the height of her career. The cast includes Oscar-nominated Eleanor Parker as Lawrence and Glenn Ford as the physician who helps and later marries her. Eileen Farrell dubbed Parker's voice for the opera sequences; Roger Moore co-stars.

A great film! Eleanor Parker is absolutely convincing throughout. The way she moves and lip-syncs in the opera scenes makes it very hard, indeed, to believe that she was not doing her own singing! If you enjoy the arias of some of the best operas of all time, don't miss this one!

Producer: Jack Cummings
Director: Curtis Bernhardt
Screenplay: Sonya Levien and William Ludwig (based on the book by Marjorie Lawrence)
Musical Score: Adolph Deutsch
Music Directors: Adolph Deutsch, Saul Chaplin, Walter Du Cloux, Harold Gelman, Vladimir Rosing
Songs and Aria Composers: various
Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Daniel B. Cathcart
Set Decoration: Edwin B. Willis, Jack D. Moore
Costume Design: Helen Rose
Cinematography: Joseph Ruttenberg, Paul Vogel
Film Editing: John D. Dunning

Awards: Academy Award for Best Story and Screenplay (William Ludwig and Sonya Levien); Academy Award Nominations for Best Actress (Eleanor Parker) and Best Costume Design - Color (Helen Rose)

Cast: Glenn Ford [Dr. Thomas King], Eleanor Parker [Marjorie Lawrence], Roger Moore [Cyril Lawrence], Cecil Kellaway [Bill Lawrence], Peter Leeds [Dr. Ed Ryson], Evelyn Ellis [Clara], Walter Baldwin [Jim Owens], Ann Codee [Mme. Gilly], Leopold Sachse [Himself], Stephen Bekassy [Comte Claude des Vigneux], Charles Keane [Ted Lawrence], Fiona Hale [Eileen Lawrence], Doris Lloyd [Volunteer Worker], Alex Frazer [Adjudicator], Penny Santon [Gilly Secretary], Phyllis Altivo [Louise], Gabor Curtiz [Tenor's Manager], Claude Stroud [Tenor], Andre Charlot [M. Bertrand], Paul McGuire [Metropolitan Cashier], Doris Merrick [Nurse], Sandy Descher [Suzie], Jack Raine [Mr. Norson], Frieda Stoll [Accompanist], Gloria Rhodes [Mrs. Schultz], Stuart Whitman [Man on Beach], Eileen Farrell [Vocal Student and singing voice of Eleanor Parker]

Musical Program: Non più andrai (from THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker); O don fatale (from DON CARLOS, Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker); Excerpt from Act I finale (from IL TRAVATORE, Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker); Vissi d'arte (from TOSCA, Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker); Un bel di, vedremo (from MADAMA BUTTERFLY, Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker); Habanera (from CARMEN, Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker); Seguedilla (from CARMEN, Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker); Duet ("Parle-moi de ma mère," from CARMEN, Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker and unidentified Tenor); Musetta's Waltz (from LA BOHÈME, Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker); Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix (from SAMSON AND DELILAH, Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker and unidentified Tenor); Immolation Scene (from GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG, Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker); Liebestod (from TRISTAN AND ISOLDE, Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker); Annie Laurie (Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker); Over the Rainbow (Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker); Medley / Montage: Marine's Hymn / Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me) / Waltzing Matilda (Eileen Farrell dubbing for Eleanor Parker)