I am always moved by Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. I listen to it often. I wake to it most mornings. I just happened upon This film on TCM today and it hit the spot. Oscar Levant was, well, Oscar Levant. I am sure I picked up my love of Rhapsody and my enjoyment of Levant from my dad. I have often wondered why the music affects me emotionally so strongly. I have not really followed up on my interests significantly.
The treatment in this movie got me started. I have been bouncing from site to site to read up on this movie and the artists and the music. I hadn't realized the close relationship between Levant and Gershwin. I listen to a Leonard Bernstein version. Now I am considering obtaining a few of the Gershwin performances. And Levant's. I noticed that the movie's version of Rhapsody was a bit quicker than the Bernstein. Not that I am a great student of this. I just love it. Levant keyed the title tune at the end. I will have to read further to determine who did the keyboard when Robert Alda was playing.
One interesting exchange for me was when Gershwin and Levant meet in the movie. The exchange suggests that George Gershwin is the real name. One of the sites I just visited indicate that his name was Jacob Gershvitz. Not earth shattering. Just an interesting (to me) tongue in cheek exchange. (If I understood it correctly.) Typical for Levant.
If you love Gershwin like I do you will probably tear up more than once as I did. It is almost as if I was finally given a logical story-reason for my emotional reaction.
The treatment in this movie got me started. I have been bouncing from site to site to read up on this movie and the artists and the music. I hadn't realized the close relationship between Levant and Gershwin. I listen to a Leonard Bernstein version. Now I am considering obtaining a few of the Gershwin performances. And Levant's. I noticed that the movie's version of Rhapsody was a bit quicker than the Bernstein. Not that I am a great student of this. I just love it. Levant keyed the title tune at the end. I will have to read further to determine who did the keyboard when Robert Alda was playing.
One interesting exchange for me was when Gershwin and Levant meet in the movie. The exchange suggests that George Gershwin is the real name. One of the sites I just visited indicate that his name was Jacob Gershvitz. Not earth shattering. Just an interesting (to me) tongue in cheek exchange. (If I understood it correctly.) Typical for Levant.
If you love Gershwin like I do you will probably tear up more than once as I did. It is almost as if I was finally given a logical story-reason for my emotional reaction.