tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post5206252871035423669..comments2024-02-05T21:23:49.249-08:00Comments on Lady Eve's Reel Life: Casablanca with the San Francisco SymphonyThe Lady Evehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-32485625587409608272011-07-30T16:52:13.861-07:002011-07-30T16:52:13.861-07:00Thank you, Filmboy, and thanks for more about the ...Thank you, Filmboy, and thanks for more about the Chicago Symphony series. I hope you're able to see "Casablanca" when it screens. The idea of stripping out the score of a classic film and screening it with live accompaniment by a symphony orchestra is a great way to promote classic films and symphonies. As mentioned, it was wonderful to learn that the night sold out (I should have guessed as much since most of the best mid-range seats were gone by the time we bought our tickets).The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-6615866942683997252011-07-30T13:08:23.898-07:002011-07-30T13:08:23.898-07:00Great piece! The Chicago Symphony has a series cal...Great piece! The Chicago Symphony has a series called "Friday Night at the Movies," and I've attended a number of the concerts over the last few years. At first, it was silent films accompanied live by the symphony ("Phantom of the Opera," "The General," "Modern Times"). A few years ago, they did a salute to Rogers and Hammerstein on film by selecting a variety of film clips, stripping out the score and playing live to the remaining vocals -- what a kick to hear Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae sing to the live orchestra! Then they offered "The Wizard of Oz," and next year I believe it's several films, "West Side Story" on Nov. 25 and "Casablanca" on Jan. 6. Any chance to hear a movie score performed by a world-class orchestra is worth it.Classicfilmboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01278928051994100842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-68918275573581845662011-07-29T12:27:58.099-07:002011-07-29T12:27:58.099-07:00Meredith - Kevin Deany commented (above) that the ...Meredith - Kevin Deany commented (above) that the Chicago Symphony is scheduled to accompany "Casablanca" one night this fall. The Richmond (Virginia) Symphony will accompany "Casablanca" on Sat., Oct. 1. Anyone who lives near a city with an active symphony should go to their symphony's website and check the events schedule page.This is an experience no lover of classic films would want to miss.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-67509712756151001922011-07-29T10:21:56.495-07:002011-07-29T10:21:56.495-07:00I would love the chance to see Casablanca on the b...I would love the chance to see Casablanca on the big screen, especially with the live music. Hopefully it comes my way soon.<br /><br />Great post!Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10970672739061727677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-44419994298964755672011-07-27T22:16:19.475-07:002011-07-27T22:16:19.475-07:00Hi doc - Glad you enjoyed the post. The current mu...Hi doc - Glad you enjoyed the post. The current music director of the San Francisco Symphony is Michael Tilson Thomas - who conducts major concerts. There are others who conduct different programs. I'm going to have to look at the credits on "Casablanca" to find out what orchestra is responsible for the original soundtrack.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-42242802556104587122011-07-27T21:55:49.594-07:002011-07-27T21:55:49.594-07:00estoy muy tarde!!
as stated above...very well done...estoy muy tarde!!<br />as stated above...very well done...<br />I thought EDO DE WAART was still conductor...some of the studio orcheastras back in the day were top notch...i.e. THE NBC RADIO SYMPHONY!!doctor sabelotodohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17753057330165133638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-47625758995355162262011-07-27T06:35:41.167-07:002011-07-27T06:35:41.167-07:00Dawn - The evening would have made for a great CMB...Dawn - The evening would have made for a great CMBA outing, though our group seems to be spread across the four corners of the earth. Hope "Casablanca" is shown with a symphony near you...The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-69275598961716922032011-07-27T05:48:29.870-07:002011-07-27T05:48:29.870-07:00Eve, How wonderful. I wish I could have also been ...Eve, How wonderful. I wish I could have also been there. What an amazing experience to watch such a wonderful classic movie with a orchestra. Thank you for sharing your wonderful evening with us.Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476174860119487509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-75086372214570505952011-07-26T19:48:38.025-07:002011-07-26T19:48:38.025-07:00Meredith - It was a beautiful evening and I was ha...Meredith - It was a beautiful evening and I was happy to hear the event had sold out - it was exhilarating to look around the hall and see all those seats filled. The audience reaction, too, was heartening: the crowd was involved and appreciative.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-21789849894273763242011-07-26T17:33:18.036-07:002011-07-26T17:33:18.036-07:00This sounds like a beautiful evening, and it warms...This sounds like a beautiful evening, and it warms my heart that it was sold out! Great to see that such events are still popular, and hope this bodes well for the future of the classic.Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15156051197099180915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-44079301805564859192011-07-26T16:43:00.963-07:002011-07-26T16:43:00.963-07:00Gypsy - The new background image on my blog is the...Gypsy - The new background image on my blog is the interior of the eye-popping Paramount Theatre in Oakland, an Art Deco dazzler. Here's a link to a blog with interesting photos of the great movie palace plus links to even more pix of it:<br /><br />http://artdecobuildings.blogspot.com/2010/09/interior-paramount-theatre-oakland.html<br /><br />You remind me how fortunate I am to live where I live and for that I thank you - sometimes I take it all for granted...The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-5203733346681089322011-07-26T15:04:46.824-07:002011-07-26T15:04:46.824-07:00Lady Eve, you have written an evocative and poigna...Lady Eve, you have written an evocative and poignant piece on the pleasure of watching classic films on a large screen. I appreciate your sharing the experience, as one who doesn’t have access to such venues (even if I’m a wee bit jealous). The salute to Max Steiner, both with the San Francisco Symphony and at the Castro, is inspired. Ingrid Bergman does fairly shine as Ilsa; the flash of light caught in her earrings outshined only by the gleam in her eyes as she sees Sam again for the first time. The brief clip with Sam and Ilsa dancing to Perfidia, as you observed, captures the bittersweet days of their love and the events that follow in the days ahead. May I compliment you on the new look of your blog; is the image a photo of your beloved Castro Theater?whistlingypsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06126688373252306609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-91535421237531251912011-07-26T10:32:04.075-07:002011-07-26T10:32:04.075-07:00Becky - I'm hoping to see at least one of the ...Becky - I'm hoping to see at least one of the Steiner films in the Castro program - what a selection! "The Letter" and "Now, Voyager" are beckoning.<br /><br />Caftan Woman - Truly timeless...nearly 70 years later and "Casablanca" is as powerful as ever. I don't know if the film will make its way to Canadian symphony halls, but I hope so.<br /><br />Kevin - If I'd known you were hesitating about buying tickets to "Casablanca" with the Chicago symphony I'd have written a longer more glowing post with you in mind. Please go!The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-15599646089289224882011-07-26T07:58:57.615-07:002011-07-26T07:58:57.615-07:00It's coming to Chicago in the fall, with the C...It's coming to Chicago in the fall, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I was debating about whether to go, but your piece may have turned the tide for me. I may go. <br /><br />I do hope one day they can do the same thing with Korngold's "The Adventures of Robin Hood." With the famous CSO brass section, it would make a terrific evening.<br /><br />That's also a terrific lineup of films at the Castro.Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-86379106011614656042011-07-26T04:56:07.570-07:002011-07-26T04:56:07.570-07:00You shared the experience beautifully. What a thr...You shared the experience beautifully. What a thrill!<br /><br />"Casablanca" and Steiner both define timeless.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-57652681259635510122011-07-25T22:27:58.044-07:002011-07-25T22:27:58.044-07:00Lovely piece, Eve. It must have been a glorious e...Lovely piece, Eve. It must have been a glorious experience. And that line-up to come! Why does something as banal as money have to come between a movie lover and such opportunities!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-76579293640101358922011-07-25T20:48:40.082-07:002011-07-25T20:48:40.082-07:00FlickChick - Thank you! And I completely agree abo...FlickChick - Thank you! And I completely agree about the impact of seeing films in a theater setting. Movies were intended for big theater screens and are best appreciated on them - plus there's the enjoyment of being part of an audience. For example, at "Casablanca with the Symphony" the audience cheered the entrances of Bogart, Bergman and Rains - as well as the demise of Conrad Veidt (who, I understand, was virulently anti-Nazi in real life).<br /><br />Jacqueline - I wish you had been there - "Casablanca" has also played with the Atlanta and Seattle symphonies this year and I hope it makes its way to all U.S. symphonies. I learned, in Larry Rothe's program piece, that "As Time Goes By" debuted in a Broadway musical in 1931 but made little impact - until "Casablanca." I'll admit to being mad for "Perfidia" (aka/perfidy) not only in "Casablanca," but also "Now, Voyager" and all three of my favorite Wong Kar-wai films ("Days of Being Wild," "In the Mood for Love" and "2046").<br /><br />John - Only Dooley Wilson's songs weren't stripped, though the string section did subtly accompany his performances. I did have a magical night - I hadn't known what to expect but the evening exceeded my expectations. As mentioned, I've always considered "Casablanca" a great classic, but the symphony performance really brought its elegant and total perfection home for me.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-91219686831194728922011-07-25T19:13:05.681-07:002011-07-25T19:13:05.681-07:00I have seen a few silent films with a live orchest...I have seen a few silent films with a live orchestra but never a sound film (I assume they stripped the soundtrack of all its music)! It sounds like you have a magical night. CASABLANCA is just one of the sublime mysterious of cinematic life where all the stars were aligned perfectly. Pure magic from beginning to end. The film actually played here, minus the live orchestra, a few weeks ago as part of the Tampa Theater's Summer Classic Film Festival. Unfortunately, I could not attend but I would love to see it on the big screen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-47086425627263213772011-07-25T18:32:35.811-07:002011-07-25T18:32:35.811-07:00How magnificent. I wish I could have been there. ...How magnificent. I wish I could have been there. What an experience for any lover of this film. It's one of my favorites, and to see it with an orchestra -- sublime. Thanks so much for this description. <br /><br />Your mention of "Perfidia" is interesting. I don't think too many people know that "As Time Goes By" was not introduced in this film; it is an older song from the early 1930s. "Perfidia" was the song introduced in this movie, and unfortunately we don't get to hear too much of it.Jacqueline T. Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11047941886908178350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8509825018139758536.post-71032166587516408032011-07-25T17:40:01.284-07:002011-07-25T17:40:01.284-07:00You write such beautiful pieces. Isn't it amaz...You write such beautiful pieces. Isn't it amazing how seeing a film on the large screen (the way it was meant to be seen) can change the way we feel about it? After seeing "Lawrence of Arabia" on TV for years, I finally saw it in all its big screen glory. A great film suddenly became a GREAT film in my eyes.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.com