April 5 - Playing For Time

Today’s movie is a drama with a scene that happens on April 5. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

 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, 2^nd 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 in 2015.