Interrupted Melody

Early one morning, Marjorie Lawrence leaves her family sheep farm in Winchelsea, Australia to catch a train and attend an operatic singing competition in Geelong. The next morning, Marjorie's father Bill learns from the newspaper she had won the competition. She arrives in Paris on a music scholarship, and is tutored by Mme. Cécile Gilly. Shortly after, Marjorie receives a telegram from her brother Cyril that her father has died. Grief-stricken, Marjorie considers returning home, but Gilly notifies she has selected to play Musetta in a production of La bohème in Monte Carlo. Her debut performance receives acclaim, and she is given a two-year contract.

Marjorie telephones her family of her success, and meets Dr. Thomas King at a hotel. They celebrate with champagne, but Thomas tells her he is to return to the United States to work at a children's hospital after completing his research at the Sorbonne. As Marjorie continues to make successful performances, she appoints Cyril as her business manager, and meets Comte Claude des Vignaux. She is then directed by Leopold Sachse in a production of Richard Wagner's Götterdämmerung at the Metropolitan Opera.

Unbeknownst to her, Thomas attends her performance and they reconnect backstage though Marjorie does not recognize him at first. When she does, Thomas congratulates her and states he now works in obstetrics. Meanwhile, Cyril confronts her sister about not answering Comte Claude's calls. As she is in love with Thomas, Marjorie arrives in his office to resume their romance, though Thomas declines to marry her because of their career paths. When Thomas leaves the hospital, Marjorie tells him she has cancelled her future performances and desires to be his wife. They marry, and Marjorie jeopardizes her career with the Met Opera when she refuses to tour in South America. Thomas insists that she go on tour, but refuses to accompany her so he is not overshadowed by her.

During rehearsals for Tristan und Isolde, Marjorie's voice wavers and she collapses. Thomas flies down, and learns Marjorie has been diagnosed with polio. She recovers the use of her arms and shoulders, and Thomas takes her to Florida to recuperate. Back at home, Thomas plays one of Marjorie's phonographic records to lift her spirits, which prompts her to crawl on the floor to turn it off. Over time, an immobilized Marjorie regains the strength of her voice and soon lands an engagement with the Florida Philharmonic Opera. Backstage, she panics and tries to leave when it is time to perform.

The next morning, Marjorie learns that Thomas has sold his medical equipment and attempts to overdose on prescription pills until Thomas arrives and stops her. Marjorie convinces Thomas to return to New York while she stays behind in Florida. Thomas's friend Ed Ryson invites Marjorie to sing for soldiers at an army hospital, where she performs "Over the Rainbow". Marjorie is then invited to perform for U.S. soldiers overseas, and returns to the Met Opera which has been accommodated for her disability.

On the opening night, Marjorie performs Tristan und Isolde with the assistance of leg braces underneath her costume. During the performance, Thomas watches her from the stage wing. At the end of the opera, Marjorie receives a thundering ovation.

• Glenn Ford as Dr. Thomas King
• Eleanor Parker as Marjorie Lawrence
• Roger Moore as Cyril Lawrence
• Cecil Kellaway as Bill Lawrence
• Peter Leeds as Dr. Ed Ryson
• Evelyn Ellis as Clara
• Walter Baldwin as Jim Owens
• Ann Codee as Mme. Cécile Gilly
• [https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/sachse-leopold Leopold Sachse] as himself
• Stephen Bekassy as Comte Claude des Vignaux

In 1947, it was reported that Marjorie Lawrence was writing her memoirs, titled Interrupted Melody, and that she wanted Greer Garson to play her in a film.{{cite news|title=ON THE AISLE: Lawrence Calls Her Story 'Interrupted Melody' And Garson Wants To Do It On The Screen|author=Cassidy, Claudia|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=Dec 17, 1947|page=39}} The book was published in 1950. The Chicago Tribune called it "engrossing".{{cite news|title=Diva's Story of Fight for Fame and Life|author=Barry, Edward|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|date=Jan 29, 1950|page=I11}}

In June 1951, MGM, which had just had a huge success with The Great Caruso, another biopic of an opera star, announced that it had bought the screen rights to the book. Jack Cummings was going to produce, and Kathryn Grayson was a possible star.{{cite news|title=FILM GUILD MOVES AGAINST FOX CUTS: Screen Writers Are Urged Not to Comply With Proposal for Salary Reductions|author=THOMAS F. BRADY|work=New York Times|date=6 June 1951|page=37}} Other possible leads were Greer Garson and Deborah Kerr, who would use Lawrence's voice.{{Cite news|title=Drama: Garson Likely to Act Lawrence Role; Bettger, Lockhart Villainous|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=June 19, 1951|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B7}} Lawrence flew to Hollywood in July to have discussions with Cummings and Sonya Levien, who was to do the script.{{cite news|title=Barrie Play at Paramount|work=New York Times|date=20 July 1951|page=13}} In December, MGM announced Lana Turner would play the lead with filming to begin in February.{{cite news|title=LANA TURNER GETS OPERA SINGER ROLE: Star Will Portray Marjorie Lawrence, Victor Over Polio, in 'Interrupted Melody' Bob Hope Film to Start Of Local Origin|author=THOMAS M. PRYOR|work=New York Times|date=Dec 24, 1951|page=9}} However, filming did not proceed. In July 1952, MGM said Garson would be playing the lead and William Ludwig was working on the script.{{Cite news|title=Drama: Garson in 'Interrupted Melody;' Bacon-Bergman and Bjork Deals on Fire|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=July 11, 1952|work=Los Angeles Times|page=B9}} By February 1953, the studio had postponed production again.{{cite news|title=KNOPF TO PRODUCE STORY BY ERSKINE: Unpublished 'Diane de Poitiers' Will Be Filmed Independently -- Garson Eyed for Lead|author=THOMAS M. PRYOR|work=New York Times|date=Feb 16, 1953|page=16}} In December 1953, the film was put back on MGM's schedule with Garson still attached.{{Cite news|title=Drama: Ursula Thiess New Star of 'Americano;' Disney Sets Verne Launching|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=Dec 26, 1953|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A7}}

On April 7, 1954, The New York Times announced that Eleanor Parker would play the part because all the other candidates, with the exception of Lana Turner, had left MGM. The article reported that Lawrence had recorded the songs for the film.{{Cite web|title=METRO FILLS LEAD IN FILM OF SINGER; Eleanor Parker Will Portray Marjorie Lawrence in 'Interrupted Melody'|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1954/04/07/92563684.html?pageNumber=42|website=timesmachine.nytimes.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}} Filming started in September 1954. According to Parker, the filmmakers could not use Marjorie Lawrence's voice, because she had lost her upper register. Parker could read music and had a firm soprano voice with perfect pitch. She prepared for the singing aspect of her role by listening to the numbers for weeks, and she sang them during the filming in full voice instead of lip-synching.[https://entertainment.time.com/2013/12/10/eleanor-parker-more-than-just-the-sound-of-music-baroness/ "Eleanor Parker: More Than Just the Sound of Music Baroness"] by Richard Corliss, Time, December 20, 2013 The singing was dubbed by Eileen Farrell, who appears on screen early in the film, as a student struggling to hit a high note in a scene with the singing teacher Mme. Gilly (Ann Codee) .

Glenn Ford would only appear in the film if he got top billing. Parker says: "I wanted to do what was right for the picture, so I said: 'Let him have the top billing.' Glenn was a kind of a difficult man, but he was right for the picture and a very fine actor."{{cite web|url=http://alankrode.com/public2/vigorish/Eleanor%20Parker%20Interview.pdf|title=Eleanor Parker: Incognito, but Invincible|website=Noir City Sentinel|date=Summer 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019011307/http://alankrode.com/public2/vigorish/Eleanor%20Parker%20Interview.pdf|archive-date=2016-10-19}}

A key supporting role was given to Roger Moore, who had just made The Last Time I Saw Paris for MGM and had been put under contract to the studio.{{Cite news|title=La Jolla Film Festival Plans Expand; Brynner Cited as 'Matador' Star|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=June 19, 1954|work=Los Angeles Times|page=13}}

Filming had finished by November 1954.{{Cite news|title=Eleanor Parker Will Be Wed|author=Hopper, Hedda|date=Nov 16, 1954|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A2}} The film was previewed in January 1955.{{cite news|title=Eleanor Parker Plays Convincing Diva Role: Lawrence Life Story Applauded|author=Scott, John L.|work=Los Angeles Times|date=Feb 13, 1955|page=D3}}

In February 1955, The New York Times published a photo spread showing scenes from the film.{{Cite web|title=Interrupted Melody'|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1955/02/27/92628474.html?pageNumber=268|website=timesmachine.nytimes.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}

According to MGM records, the film cost $2,367,000 to produce, and made $1,801,000 in the US and Canada and $2,227,000 overseas.

In a contemporary review of the film in The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther described it as "tender and moving," "a stirring drama, plus a handsome and melodious one," and "a tale of personal triumph and recovery that is rendered the more eloquent and taut by the ample production of gorgeous music."{{Cite news|last=Crowther|first=Bosley|date=1955-05-06|title=Screen: The Defeat of Polio as Personal Drama; ' Interrupted Melody' Tells Singer's Story|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1955/05/06/archives/screen-the-defeat-of-polio-as-personal-drama-interrupted-melody.html|access-date=2023-12-11|issn=0362-4331}} Film critic Derek Winnert wrote in 2013 that the film "is still an extremely enjoyable old-style heart-lifter and spirit-raiser. It is Parker’s show all the way but Glenn Ford is on top form too as the husband," and noted that "Eileen Farrell performs Parker’s vocals in eight beautiful arias – from Verdi, Puccini, Richard Wagner and Bizet’s Carmen. Amusingly, Farrell [also] plays a singing student of Mme Gilly (Ann Codee) who cannot seem to hit the right notes."{{cite web |last1=Winnert |first1=Derek |title=Interrupted Melody (1955) |url=https://www.derekwinnert.com/interrupted-melody-classic-film-review-494/ |website=Derek Winnert |date=10 December 2013 |access-date=2023-12-11}}

Walter Ducloux conducted the MGM Studio Symphony Orchestra. MGM published a selection of eleven numbers on an original motion picture soundtrack album.

• "O don fatale" from Verdi's Don Carlos
• Act 1 finale from Verdi's Il trovatore
• "Un bel dì" from Puccini's Madama Butterfly
• "Habanera" from Bizet's Carmen
• "Seguidilla" from Carmen
• "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" from Saint-Saëns' Samson and Delilah
• Brünnhilde's Immolation Scene from Wagner's Götterdämmerung
• Excerpts from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde
• "Annie Laurie" by Alicia Scott
• "Over the Rainbow" by Harold Arlen
• "Voi che sapete" from Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro
• Medley: "Anchors Aweigh" by Charles A. Zimmermann; "Marines' Hymn", based on works by Jacques Offenbach; "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" by Sam H. Stept
• "Quando me'n vo'" (Musetta's Waltz) from Puccini's La bohème
• "Waltzing Matilda", traditional

• List of American films of 1955

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|0048210}}
• [https://www.allmovie.com/movie/interrupted-melody-am28824 Interrupted Melody at AllMovie]
• {{TCMDb title|229}}
• {{AFI film|51537}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes|interrupted_melody}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924113555/http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/186861/Interrupted-Melody-Movie-Intro-Outro-Renee-Fleming.html Intro/outro to Interrupted Melody] with Robert Osborne and Renée Fleming, Turner Classic Movies
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924113512/http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/120967/Interrupted-Melody-Original-Trailer-.html Original trailer]

{{Curtis Bernhardt}}

Category:1955 films

Category:American biographical drama films

Category:Films about classical music and musicians

Category:Films directed by Curtis Bernhardt

Category:Films whose writer won the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award

Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films

Category:Films about opera

Category:1955 drama films

Category:Biographical films about musicians

Category:Films scored by Adolph Deutsch

Category:Films with screenplays by William Ludwig

Category:Films with screenplays by Sonya Levien

Category:Cultural depictions of Australian people

Category:Cultural depictions of classical musicians

Category:CinemaScope films

Category:1950s English-language films

Category:1950s American films

Category:1950s biographical drama films

Category:English-language biographical drama films