Today’s move is a drama with a scene that happens on April
5. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
PLAYING FOR TIME
Fania Fenelon, a Jewish cabaret singer from Paris is
arrested and sent to Auschwitz. She is saved from hard labor by being recruited
to join the Women’s Orchestra, which plays to calm arrivals and to entertain
the German officers in the camp. The orchestra is led by Alma Rose, the niece
of Gustav Mahler, who strives for perfection. She realizes that they must keep
the Germans happy to stay alive. The
members try to deal with the horrible conditions in which they find themselves
in different ways. They see the camp interpreter, Malla hung after trying to
escape and they always are under pressure to keep Dr. Josef Mengele happy with
their playing. One of their SS guards, Maria Mandel, ‘adopts” a little Polish
boy after his parents are gassed. Alma is told she is to be released to give
concerts for soldiers, but before she can leave Alma dies suddenly on April 5,
1944 [1:55:45 to 1:59:16]. The inmates are shocked that the German’s give Alma
a funeral, but whisper that Alma was poisoned by a jealous guard. The orchestra
continues, although the members argue among themselves. When the little boy
dies, Maria Mandel goes mad. As the Soviet army approaches, the camp is
evacuated and they are force marched West. Finally they are liberated by the
British.
A fascinating film. A character study of people in very
difficult surroundings. The movie shows how the various members of the
orchestra tried to cope.
The New Grove Encyclopedia of
Music and Musicians, 2nd Ed., Vol. 21, ed by Stanley
Sadie (Macmillian Publishers,
Ltd., New York, 2001) at page 684 gives the date of Alma Rose’s death.
Producers - Linda Yellen and John E. Quill
Directors - Joseph Sargent and Daniel Mann
Screenplay - Arthur Miller
Awards – The film won the
Outstanding Made for Television Movie, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries
or a Movie(Redgrave), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a
Movie(Alexander) and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic
Special Emmys. It was also nominated for the Outstanding Art Direction for a
Limited Series or a Special and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries
or a Movie(Knight) at the 33rd Primetime Emmy Awards.
Runtime – 2 hours 30 minutes
Released - September 30, 1980
Starring –
Vanessa Redgrave as Fania Fenelon
Verna Bloom as Paulette
Jane Alexander as Alma Rose
Donna Haley as Katrina
Maud Adams as Mala
Lenore Harris as Charlotte
Christine Baranski as Olga
Mady Kaplan as Varya
Robin Bartlett as Etalina
Melanie Mayron as Marianne
Marisa Berenson as Elzvieta
Viveca Lindfors as Frau Schmidt
Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.
No comments:
Post a Comment