Memory's Harvest
Memory's Harvest (Russian: Muzykalnaya istoriya or A Musical Story) is a 1940 Russian opera film starring Sergei Lemeshev and Zoya Fyodorova.[1]
The film told a love story with the music of five operas: Bizet's Carmen, Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, Rimskyorsakov's May Night, Borodin's Prince Igor and Flotow's Martha.[2][3]
Australian version[edit]
In 1947 T. O. McCreadie and his brother Alec arranged for it to be dubbed into English by Australian actors.[4]
It was the first feature-length Continental film to have its dialogue translated by people in Australia.[5]
The Sydney Daily Telegraph said "The technical work was done by Embassy Pictures under the direction of the McCreadie Brothers, who are to be congratulated on their achievement. A foreign film becomes more intelligible and enjoyable when presented in the language of the country in which it is shown."[6]
The Sydney Morning Herald thought "the Australian dialogue is a notable technical achievement" although felt April Ledie "occasionally sounds too much like a debutante for the proletarian role of the film."[7]
Smith's Weekly said "the film realist will find it a refreshing change after the synthetic glamor of the Hollywood musical. However, if you regard picturesas a way of escape from a hum drum existence you won't like it at all. It will remind you too much of your own daily life." The critic added "The dubbing-in of English dialogue has been most skilfully-handled... I would congratulate particularly Peter Finch for his masterly speaking of the hero's part."[8]
Australian cast[edit]
- Peter Finch
- Queenie Ashton
- Ben Lewin
- John Fernside
Premise[edit]
A Russian taxi driver becomes a Bolshoi opera star.
References[edit]
- ^ "SCHEDULE OF SHOWS". Truth. No. 3005. New South Wales, Australia. 24 August 1947. p. 58. Retrieved 8 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Advertising". Daily Mirror. No. 1942. New South Wales, Australia. 20 August 1947. p. 29 (Noon Edition). Retrieved 8 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Mirror on the Film World". Daily Mirror. No. 1943. New South Wales, Australia. 21 August 1947. p. 22 (Race Acceptances). Retrieved 8 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 34, 214. New South Wales, Australia. 19 August 1947. p. 16. Retrieved 8 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "mirror on the film world". Daily Mirror. No. 1934. New South Wales, Australia. 11 August 1947. p. 25 (Noon Edition). Retrieved 8 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "FILM REVIEWS". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. VIII, no. 41. New South Wales, Australia. 24 August 1947. p. 36. Retrieved 8 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "NEW FILMS REVIEWED". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 34, 219. New South Wales, Australia. 25 August 1947. p. 5. Retrieved 8 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ ""MEMORY'S HARVEST "". Smith's Weekly. Vol. XXIX, no. 27. New South Wales, Australia. 30 August 1947. p. 25. Retrieved 8 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.