Miracle of Fragrant Melody and Romance

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 66, 20 March 1935, Page 5

Miracle of Fragrant Melody and Romance

“BLOSSOM TIME” SUPERLATIVE TAUBER ENTERTAINMENT

(Regent: Screening Saturday.) Mere words, padded with all tbe

adjectives in tbe English language, could not hope to adequately de-

sedibe tbe rare musical, romantic,

and entertainment delights in

•'Blossom Time,” 8.1.P.’s lavish screen interpretation of the love story of Franz Schubert, with Richard Tauber as the immortal

composer. But mere words written by the pen of one who has had the good fortune to see “Blossom Time” again and again, can convey the recommendation givpn in all sincerity that ‘‘this superlative production must not, under any circumstances be missed.”

A world apart from the usual typo of motion picture entertainment, ‘‘Blossom Time” is a vcritablo miracle of fragrant melody and romance, which will livo for ever ’midst the most cherished memories of all who see it. ‘‘Not the least interesting feature,” says the critic of the English Cinema in his enthusiastic review of the film, characteristic of the entire English press, “is the amazing Tesemblanec Richard Tauber bears to Prana Schubert” —and who better than the world’s greatest tenor of to-day to recreate the tender romanco of this great composer of yesteryear? The story, which opens in Gay Vienna in IS2O, finds Schubert a big-hearted schoolmaster, hopelessly in love with “Vicki,” tho beautiful daughter of the dancing instructor, Wimpassinger. But “Vicki” has eyes for none but tho dashing “Rudi,” Count von Hohcnberg, a handsome young officer destined to wed a Baroness at the orders of an imperious Archduchess.

Schubert asked permission of Wimpassinger to tell “Vicki” of his love, and the girl’s father to pacify, tells him, “later, when success comes—when you have made a great name as a great music composer.”

Success does eventually come to the schoolmaster, thanks to an ingenious ruse on the part of his friends, who lure a fashionable audience to his debut concert by adroit trickery. Later, learning that Vicki really loves Eudi, Schubert, to whom Vicki’s happiness is still "all that matters," is horrified to find the officer has no intention of marrying the girl, and shames him into manhood, eventually bringing about the couple’s marriage by interceding with tho Archduchess. "Lavishly mounted," continued the Cinema critic, "in a number of specious settings, tho picture makes a fascinating framework for the artistry of Tauber. Ho presents Schubert as a man, and, in addition to his vocal prowess, reveals a masterly talent for emotional acting, particularly in tho final sequences, when singing of tho wedding of Vicki and Eudi, he pours out his tormented soul to the glorious strains of "Love Lost Forever More." From his first entrance, Tauber captures the sympathy of the audience, sketching in with artistic touches the complex nature of the great composer. Unforgettably is he gay, abandoned leading of a procession of his pupils through delightful sylvan glades, harmonising his exquisite voice with a guitar, a scene in fine contrast to his later torture when he learns a dress ho has bought Vicki on the proceeds of the sale of his beloved piano, is thought by the girl to be a gift from Eudi. How cleverly he expresses the agitation of the composer when, on the night of his debut concert, he is panic-stricken by tho non-appearance of his singer, and only deputises for that person when forced on to tho platform by his friends. Bombarded by roses flung from irate patrons, he is later acclaimed when his beautiful voice allied to superb Schubert melodies, holds them in swav.

“Blossom Time" songs, sung us only Tauber could sing them, include the “Serenade," “Hark- Hark! the Lark" and other Schubert tunes with special lyrics by John Drinkwater in “Impatience" (Thine is My Heart), “Red Roses," “Faith in Spring." Tho entire production is in English and is presented on a magnificent scale, with a huge cast of supporting players, headed by Jane Baxter, Carl Esmond, Paul Graetz and Lester Matthews.