Intermezzo (1939)
Chosen by Emma Jones who had this to say: 'This film was introduced to me by my mum, who categorised it as one if her 'nice films'. It is a nice film, however it is so much more than that. It is a romantic film with a harsh reality-check. It has a line that has stayed with me from my first viewing at about 10 years old, that is: you can't build happiness out of the misery of others.
Even at that tender age I knew that Anita and Holgen could never really be happy together, and that their love affair was destined to be an Intermezzo. But that's ok, sometimes there are more important things than romantic love, you can't always put yourself first - and I respect this film for saying that. Anita doesn't throw herself off a bridge in an act of desperation, Holgen doesn't shoot himself out of misery, he goes back to his young family and she accepts a prestigious music scholarship. Parting is painful and always will be - but it's not the end of their worlds.
Intermezzo has so many great film elements: David O Selznick producing, the bewitching Ingrid Bergman (in her first Hollywood role), music arranged by Max Steiner and of course the phenomenal Leslie Howard; whose films are like rare gems due to his untimely death. It will always be one of my favourites and a must for a rainy afternoon'
Wow, well I can't really say it any better than that.
Bergman is a captivating, breathtaking presence. When we first see her play the piano it is easy to see why Howard would forsake his family (one that he is apart from for long periods) and she forms the strong backbone to a slight (a breezy 70 mins) tale.
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