New Wine

The only positive thing to come out of New Wine was the short lived marriage of its stars Alan Curtis and Ilona Massey. As a tribute to classical composer Franz Schubert it falls very short and done on the cheap.

That's a pity because back in 1921 Sigmund Romberg arranged and Dorothy Donnelly wrote lyrics for a hit musical Blossom Time about the short life and music of Franz Schubert and it ran for 551 performances on Broadway. You may well ask why one of the major studios didn't get the rights and adapt that show to the screen. I think that in 1941 German subjects and composers were not exactly in vogue in the world at war or with those places about to enter said conflict.

Curtis plays the tormented composer who lived only 31 years and in his life was barely acclaimed. It was only in time that Schubert's reputation grew. Ilona Massey plays the Hungarian woman who loved him and left because she wanted him to compose without the burden of supporting her and a possible family. Given the billing which had Massey first at times the film seems more about her. Billy Gilbert has a serious role as a friend of Schubert's who let's him stay rent free for the most part over his stable in Vienna. Binnie Barnes is quite outrageous as the Countess who Massey works for and tries to arrange for her to be his patron.

New Wine came from an outfit called Gloria Pictures and was distributed by United Artists. For Schubert's sake his story was brought to the screen at a bad time with a shoestring budget. I wish Blossom Time had been done instead by one of the majors.

The movie begins with a man going to a concert. The music played is by Franz Schubert. The scene changes to a school full of boys, being taught music by a young Schubert. However, he is supposed to be a math teacher, so his job doesn't last long.

War begins, and Franz leaves Austria for Hungary, not wanting to fight. He tries to become a sheep shearer but has no skill for it. In the process he meets a lovely young lady named Anna, who works on and/or manages the sheep farm. Schubert finds a piano and begins to play. Thus Anna is introduced to his music, and she falls in love, both with the music and with the man. She is a driving force and encouragement to him and his music.

Franz's struggles as a musician are both amusing and sorrowful to watch in this movie. Franz apparently relies on his (Catholic) faith to get him through.