A SONG TO REMEMBER

Cornel Wilde and Merle Oberon

A SONG TO REMEMBER (1945). Director: Charles Vidor.

Child piano prodigy Frederic Chopin (Cornel Wilde of The Big Combo) is urged to go to Paris by his teacher, Professor Elsner (Paul Muni). Chopin's parents won't allow the boy to go so it isn't until Chopin is grown, and forced to flee Poland after insulting the Czar, that he finally arrives in Paris. There he and Elsner have trouble convincing others of his greatness. Chopin's patriotic fervor is dampened by the presence in his life of the writer George Sand (Merle Oberon of The Price of Fear), who insists that a true artist must forget about the petty struggles of the "rabble." But Professor Elsner isn't about to let Chopin forget about where he came from nor about the Polish people.

Cornel Wilde as Chopin

A Song to Remember is a very heavily fictionalized version of the life of the great composer, with some incidents simply being made up to propel the story along and add some drama. The funny thing is that the lives of Chopin and Sand were already quite dramatic and full of incident, so the fabrications weren't even necessary. Still, there are basic factoids about the composer in the film, and one could argue that it portrays his essence if not his reality. Cornel Wilde is quite good as the Hollywood version of Chopin and was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar. If there is any problem with his portrayal it is within the script, as it makes Chopin out to be an ungrateful snob who literally snubs the man who has done so much for him. He redeems himself at the end, but still ...

Paul Muni and Maurice Tauzin

George Sand doesn't fare much better, coming off as monstrously self-absorbed. In this case, Oberon doesn't help with her one-dimensional emoting. Oberon is unable to get across the possibility that it is her need for Chopin that turns her into a selfish creature who makes outrageous statements. However, Paul Muni gives an excellent performance as the professor. He can be forgiven some "cutesy" moments because his role borders at times on the comic, but he is otherwise superb. Little Maurice Tauzin [Tarzan and the Huntress] also makes an impression as the great composer at age ten. There is also very good work from Stephen Bekassy as Franz Liszt, George Coulouris as impresario Louis Pleyel, Nina Foch as Chopin's concerned sister, and Howard Freeman as the critic Kalkbrenner. Even if you're unconvinced by the dramatics, the score consists of some of Chopin's most beautiful and memorable pieces -- you might be surprised by how many works you will be familiar with.

Verdict: Fine performances, a beautiful score, and lushly romantic. ***1/4.