"Interrupted Melody" is a fine biographical musical about Australian opera singer Marjorie Lawrence. The 1907 daughter of a butcher shop owner in rural Australia (Deans Marsh, 80 miles SW of Melbourne), Lawrence took to opera singing at a young age, and was a church soloist by age 10. She left Australia for Europe where she took professional lessons and was soon a major opera star. But then, at age 34 she was struck with polio, which left her unable to walk the rest of her life.
Before that happened in 1941, she had met and married a New York physician, Dr. Thomas King. Although their marriage was stormy at times, they stayed together and he helped her adjust and recover from depression due to her polio. Lawrence returned to singing after 18 months, and performed some roles specifically redesigned for her to be seated or supported by props. During the last years of World War II she entertained wounded troops in hospitals – from her wheelchair, as shown in the film. She retired from opera in 1952 and later moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas. She died of heart failure at age 71 (Jan. 13, 1979) in a Little Rock, Arkansas, hospital. She was buried in Hot Springs.
Lawrence wrote her autobiography in 1949, titled the same as this 1955 film. The screenwriters based the screenplay for this biopic on her life's story. According to an article in the "Australian Dictionary of Biography," Lawrence said that this 1955 movie was not true to her life. Indeed, the opening scenes show her on a farm in an open country. In reality, she was born in a village where her father was a butcher. The place, Deans Marsh is in in a lush area of Victoria, Australia, near forests and close to the ocean.
Still, this film has some of the facts of Lawrence's life right, and it's an interesting look at a great opera singer. As with most musical biopics, the music that is in the film makes it worthwhile by itself. Lawrence did not do the singing for the picture. Apparently, she had lost some of her range by her late 40s. So, Eileen Farrell's singing is used. She appears, uncredited in the film, as the student of Madame Gilly, played by Ann Codee.
Eleanor Parker is superb in the lead role as Lawrence. Whether or not her character was anything like the real Lawrence, Parker's interpretation of the singer is splendid. And interestingly, Parker herself could sing. She studied the music carefully for this film, practiced the songs and then sang those parts during the filming. So, no lip-syncing for this acting pro. MGM later dubbed in the more powerful voice of Farrell.
Glenn Ford is fine as Dr. Thomas King. Roger Moore is good as Marjorie's brother, Cyril. Cecil Kellaway plays her dad and others contribute well to the story. While not a dynamic biopic, "Interrupted Melody" is a very good film with some excellent scenes of opera singing. Those who enjoy opera and historical musical films especially will enjoy this movie.
Before that happened in 1941, she had met and married a New York physician, Dr. Thomas King. Although their marriage was stormy at times, they stayed together and he helped her adjust and recover from depression due to her polio. Lawrence returned to singing after 18 months, and performed some roles specifically redesigned for her to be seated or supported by props. During the last years of World War II she entertained wounded troops in hospitals – from her wheelchair, as shown in the film. She retired from opera in 1952 and later moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas. She died of heart failure at age 71 (Jan. 13, 1979) in a Little Rock, Arkansas, hospital. She was buried in Hot Springs.
Lawrence wrote her autobiography in 1949, titled the same as this 1955 film. The screenwriters based the screenplay for this biopic on her life's story. According to an article in the "Australian Dictionary of Biography," Lawrence said that this 1955 movie was not true to her life. Indeed, the opening scenes show her on a farm in an open country. In reality, she was born in a village where her father was a butcher. The place, Deans Marsh is in in a lush area of Victoria, Australia, near forests and close to the ocean.
Still, this film has some of the facts of Lawrence's life right, and it's an interesting look at a great opera singer. As with most musical biopics, the music that is in the film makes it worthwhile by itself. Lawrence did not do the singing for the picture. Apparently, she had lost some of her range by her late 40s. So, Eileen Farrell's singing is used. She appears, uncredited in the film, as the student of Madame Gilly, played by Ann Codee.
Eleanor Parker is superb in the lead role as Lawrence. Whether or not her character was anything like the real Lawrence, Parker's interpretation of the singer is splendid. And interestingly, Parker herself could sing. She studied the music carefully for this film, practiced the songs and then sang those parts during the filming. So, no lip-syncing for this acting pro. MGM later dubbed in the more powerful voice of Farrell.
Glenn Ford is fine as Dr. Thomas King. Roger Moore is good as Marjorie's brother, Cyril. Cecil Kellaway plays her dad and others contribute well to the story. While not a dynamic biopic, "Interrupted Melody" is a very good film with some excellent scenes of opera singing. Those who enjoy opera and historical musical films especially will enjoy this movie.