Tchaikovsky

Rating:
Summary: 'put another nickle in ...........
Review: DOESN'T say too much ......... A sanitized version of "The Music Lovers"? ....... Pretty Postcards ....... ?

WELL, 'yes' it is all of the above! When will we ever get a difinitive version of Tchaikovsky's life? Well, not here, in this pleasant version we travel the all too familiar routes, his obsession with music, the mentor, the wife, the ending, very pretty to look at [all eye-shadow and hairdo's - HIS though, also too present in the Russell version]. There's unfortunately nothing new to learn here. [This version fits well in the lavish 1950 Hollywood bio period - good to have on the rack, but rather forgettable].

ON the positive side, it's a lavish production, a double-disc set with lots of 'bits and pieces' - but again - more of a primer and very safe for the kiddies, and the very young music lover.

FOR ADULTS? Well, perhaps some budding auteur will regard this man's life very closely, and give us really something new to look at, remember and applaud!

Rating:
Summary: 'put another nickle in ...........
Review: DOESN'T say too much ......... A sanitized version of "The Music Lovers"? ....... Pretty Postcards ....... ?

WELL, 'yes' it is all of the above! When will we ever get a difinitive version of Tchaikovsky's life? Well, not here, in this pleasant version we travel the all too familiar routes, his obsession with music, the mentor, the wife, the ending, very pretty to look at [all eye-shadow and hairdo's - HIS though, also too present in the Russell version]. There's unfortunately nothing new to learn here. [This version fits well in the lavish 1950 Hollywood bio period - good to have on the rack, but rather forgettable].

ON the positive side, it's a lavish production, a double-disc set with lots of 'bits and pieces' - but again - more of a primer and very safe for the kiddies, and the very young music lover.

FOR ADULTS? Well, perhaps some budding auteur will regard this man's life very closely, and give us really something new to look at, remember and applaud!

Rating:
Summary: MUST SEE FOR THE GREAT ACTING
Review: Fans of P.I. Tchaikovsky's music will be touched by Innokenti Smoktunovsky's portrayal of the composer. Smoktunovsky gives us the right combination of introversion, pain (not too much, not overdone), shyness, sensitivity, and personal trauma. Those of us who have enjoyed the actor's performance of HAMLET in Kozintsev's movie will not be disappointed. We truly feel sorry for Tchaikovsky in the end. Nadezhda VON MECK and the conceited (but gold hearted) RUBINSTEIN are also well portrayed. Their presence has a powerful impact on us. In the visuals and great acting lie all the power of this movie.
As a biography, the work unfortunately does not break new ground. Tchaikovsky's painful struggle with homosexuality is not touched upon (only suggested through subtle hints). 1972 Soviet censorship would, of course, have blocked any suggestions that one of their cultural icons suffered with this issue. Also, the movie uses a special sound filter on Tiomkin's arrangements that are meant to portray the inner workings of the composer's mind during the creative process. This filtering, however, sounds cheezy and distracts the viewer more than anything.
A beautiful and evoctive portrait of the times otherwise. The movie does cover most of the "acceptable" annectdotes of the composer's life in a most touching manner (Desiree Artot, the circumstances behind his disastrous marriage, Nadezhda Von Meck, and, of course, the matter of "diverging octaves" in the famous Piano Concerto's 1st mouvement). Thirty years later, the movie has the feel of well crafted and sensible PUBLIC TELEVISION production that will touch and educate us. This is not money wasted.

Rating:
Summary: MUST SEE FOR THE GREAT ACTING
Review: Fans of P.I. Tchaikovsky's music will be touched by Innokenti Smoktunovsky's portrayal of the composer. Smoktunovsky gives us the right combination of introversion, pain (not too much, not overdone), shyness, sensitivity, and personal trauma. Those of us who have enjoyed the actor's performance of HAMLET in Kozintsev's movie will not be disappointed. We truly feel sorry for Tchaikovsky in the end. Nadezhda VON MECK and the conceited (but gold hearted) RUBINSTEIN are also well portrayed. Their presence has a powerful impact on us. In the visuals and great acting lie all the power of this movie.
As a biography, the work unfortunately does not break new ground. Tchaikovsky's painful struggle with homosexuality is not touched upon (only suggested through subtle hints). 1972 Soviet censorship would, of course, have blocked any suggestions that one of their cultural icons suffered with this issue. Also, the movie uses a special sound filter on Tiomkin's arrangements that are meant to portray the inner workings of the composer's mind during the creative process. This filtering, however, sounds cheezy and distracts the viewer more than anything.
A beautiful and evoctive portrait of the times otherwise. The movie does cover most of the "acceptable" annectdotes of the composer's life in a most touching manner (Desiree Artot, the circumstances behind his disastrous marriage, Nadezhda Von Meck, and, of course, the matter of "diverging octaves" in the famous Piano Concerto's 1st mouvement). Thirty years later, the movie has the feel of well crafted and sensible PUBLIC TELEVISION production that will touch and educate us. This is not money wasted.

Rating:
Summary: Another Beautiful Mind
Review: There is good news and bad news. The bad news is that this is a film filled to the brim with film cliches portraying Tchaikers as a genius modern artist, struggling with an ungrateful public for recognition. The good news is... Oooh, they do it so well!!! This film really moved me, the portrayal of Tchaikovsky was so absorbing that it really matters to you as you watch it if things go right or wrong for him. I was carried away, and recommend what I expected to be a slightly dodgy soviet biopic which turned out to be a great film. The Soviets could do 'Amadeus' any day of the week!