Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Forgotten Movies: THE RED VIOLIN






A violin is made by a great violin maker in the 1500s and this movie documents the people whose hand it falls into through current day. I can think of three other similar movies: THE YELLOW ROLLS ROYCE, THE EARRINGS OF MADAME DE and CHANGING HANDS.

Are there any others?

This was a pretty good movie although certain parts of it entertained more than others. The story of the original owner and his wife was poignant but its days in Communist China were fairly generic. But all in all a good film. And lots of nice music. Worth your time.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think I've heard of this one, but never seen it. It's an interesting premise.

Jeff Meyerson said...

Yeah, I thought it was pretty good, if - perhaps - overpraised at the time.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Yes, my expectations were too high.

Elgin Bleecker said...

Never saw this one, Patti. Something about it pushed me away. I will have to give it a try. Thanks. As for a similar movie, all I can think of – and this is way off – is a Chinese film called THREE TIMES. It’s a good one. The same actor and actress play the leads in three stories set in 1911, 1966, and 2005.

Rick Robinson said...

Finally a film I have seen, and enjoyed. I'd forgotten it.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Yes, I put off seeing it for years. But finally, its time came.

Rick said...

Here's another I know of:"Tales Of Manhattan"

(From Wikipedia)
"Tales of Manhattan" is a 1942 American anthology film directed by Julien Duvivier. Thirteen writers, including Ben Hecht, Alan Campbell, Ferenc Molnár, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Donald Ogden Stewart, worked on the six stories in this film.

Cast: Charles Boyer as [Paul] Orman, Rita Hayworth as Ethel [Halloway], Ginger Rogers as Diane, Henry Fonda as George, Charles Laughton as Charles Smith, Edward G. Robinson as [Avery "Larry" L.] Browne, Paul Robeson as Luke, Ethel Waters as Esther, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson as Rev. Lazarus, Thomas Mitchell as [John] Halloway, Eugene Pallette as Luther, Cesar Romero as Harry [Wilson], Gail Patrick as Ellen
Roland Young as Edgar, Marion Martin as Squirrel, Elsa Lanchester as Mrs. [Elsa] Smith, George Sanders as Williams, James Gleason as "Father" Joe, Harry Davenport as Professor Lyons, J. Carrol Naish as Costello.

Rick said...

(Movie follows the travels of a set of 'tails' through NYC)

Todd Mason said...

I caught THE RED VIOLIN in a theater at the time. Greta Scacchi all but assured my attention to a film at that time, and the rest of the cast didn't dissuade me. It was more pleasant than impressive, if pretty, as you all suggest.

I've cited (mostly television drama) examples on your Facebook post asking the same question (two series, DEAD MAN'S GUN and FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE SERIES being essentially all about this plot-form in their slightly variant ways...the F13 series having Nothing in common with the films beyond title and studio), but will repeat here additionally the telefilm (as well as several anthology series) adaptation of Cornell Woolrich's I'M DANGEROUS TONIGHT...also much more pleasant than captivating, the cable production, sadly, though Madchen Amick ensured I'd give it a try atop its good source material.

Todd Mason said...

Somewhat indicative of a trend, I've also enjoyed THREE TIMES, the best of these three films, first aware of it because of co-star Shu Qi.