Playing the Harp in Movies

[john-strand]

I have heard that also, but there is some connection between Robert Maxwell and the “Hungarian Rhapsody”

[sherry-lenox]

My son gave me the CD of “Rudy” for Mother’s Day, and the first note on the disc is played by a harp, accompanying the Rudy theme played on flute. Lovely!

[catherine-rogers]

I believe that in a recent Harp Column (or was it the American Harp Journal?) interview with Robert Maxwell, he said he did record the Hungarian Rhapsody for Harpo in “A Night in Casablanca” because Harpo wanted to play it but it was too complex for the time he had to learn it. Otherwise I believe Harpo played most of what you hear in his movies. I had always wondered why that particular movie solo sounded almost identical to Maxwell’s version on one of his early records. That interview answered the question.

Regarding an earlier post where Spring Byington plays a pedal harp, that’s a movie called “My Love Came Back,” starring Olivia de Haviland, where Spring is the wife in a musical family. It’s easy to confuse with the Judy Garland movie (“In the Good Old Summertime”) because Spring Byington is in both movies, as is S.Z. Sakall. In the latter film, Garland plays a folk harp, although not convincingly. The song is (Meet Me Tonight in) Dreamland. Incidentally, Robert Maxwell made a nice recording of that, too. Sure wish more of his recordings were available on CD.

[john-strand]

“Portrait of Jennie” – David Wayne accompanies himself on a small lap harp and sings a meleancholy Irish (I think it is) song – I think David Wayne does the singing, but don’t know who does the actual playing –

1950s – “The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp” starring Diane Cilento (the first Mrs. Sean Connery and mother of Jason Connery)

[barbara-brundage]

Bish also had an early episode of the show with 6 harps (but not Susann McDonald). I know, because I was one of them.

>1950s – “The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp” starring Diane Cilento (the first Mrs. Sean Connery and mother of Jason Connery) – apparently available on European PAL dvd but not here – also based on the book of the same name

They made a movie of THAT!?

[catherine-rogers]

It was “Once More, With Feeling!” It was Kay Kendall’s last movie; she died shortly thereafter, of leukemia, I think. It’s a funny movie and worth seeing, although her harp playing is silly as she mugs for her audience. Yul Brenner also destroys a harp, so easily that it’s obviously made of balsa wood or something similar. And he gives her a harp as a gift which is one of the most gaudy excuses for a musical instrument you’ll ever see. I have no idea if it was real or a prop or a harp that had been tarted up just for looks. You can see this movie sometimes on Turner Classic Movies.

[catherine-rogers]

What is “The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp” about?

[john-strand]

I saw the movie in 1954 in when the family was stationed in London, and I read the book a year or two later

[barbara-brundage]

It is about an angel who pawns her harp to bet on the dog races.

[barbara-brundage]

I should add that in the book the harp appears only in the first and last chapters. The rest of the book is kind of like being stuck in a particularly grimy Andy Capp panel.

[john-strand]

I just looked at imdb again and someone has posted a discussion of the film – I tried to copy and paste but this site is not letting me – however, you can go the the imdb site and check it out –

[barbara-brundage]

Hmm, sounds like they realized the book needed plenty of fixing up for the film.

[erin-wood]

There is an episode of

[Kathleen Clark]

In today’s L.A. Times newspaper they had an article about the premiere tonight of “Beowulf.” While in production they had Paul Baker wired up so they could use him as the harper in the film. They had every inch of him wired, including all his facial muscles. So I am very curious to see if they actually used him in the film or if he ended up on the cutting room floor.

Note sure how long this L.A. Times link will be active…
Beowulf Premiere

[Michele J]

I was fortunate enough to see David Ice’s presentation this year and can’t say enough about it. When I left, I was already pondering when and if I would have the chance to see it again.

David, if you read this, how about producing a DVD? I remember you saying you were always adding to it, but I’d sign up for a yearly update!

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