Duet for One

I knew watching Duet for One would be difficult, because it focused on a woman's struggle with Multiple Sclerosis, but there was an added realism that made it especially tough. Julie Andrews, who had a terrible tragedy with her vocal cords, put an eerie touch of denial in her performance. When she first started stumbling and dropping glasses from her weak hands, her immediate (and I mean absolute immediate, without a beat for surprise, shame, or sorrow) reaction was to start giggling. It was so chilling to see Julie Andrews, poised to perfection, use a knee-jerk reaction of laughter when confronted with her symptoms of MS. Her front was un-breakable, and in those early scenes, she never cracked.

Of course, the story continues, and she runs the gamut of all the emotions you'd expect. Her character is a famous violinist whose career, of course, comes to a screeching halt. Her star pupil, Rupert Everett, is heartbroken, and her conductor husband, Alan Bates, pulls away from their marriage. Her therapist, Max von Sydow, is a sounding board for when she travels through all her moods. She's angry, ashamed, and hates that she has to go through the rest of her life as a cripple. She baits Alan into fighting with her, and she tries to shock Max with her "life is short" revelation. The biggest problem I had with the story was the character of Julie's housekeeper. She judges Julie's behavior and literally prays that she'll stop, which I thought was heartless. Julie's life, as she knew it, is over, and in my opinion, she's entitled to grab any happiness she can find.

If you just love Julie Andrews in her musicals, you might not want to watch this depressing drama. It's very dark, she uses language that Mary Poppins would be ashamed of, and she acts in ways that would shock Maria Von Trapp. But if you like her heavier work, like That's Life! And On Golden Pond, you'll appreciate this very fine piece of acting.

Julie Andrews did a remarkable job playing the character of Stephanie Anderson in this movie. She did a great job of expressing the trial and tribulations that stephanie anderson goes through as she copes with MS. Great Job Julie! You deserved an Oscar for your performance!

"I'm in this chair because I've got multiple sclerosis," thunders Julie Andrews (as Stephanie) to her shrink - rather a caricature - Max von Sydow. There is anger, there is bitterness, there is a resignation, there is a sense of loss, a sense of frustration and an understated (and unstated) acknowledgement that we all die alone...

In one line, Ms Andrews displays a depth to her dramatic performance not yet seen by viewers. I remember some rather disparaging comments being made about this casting (as well as for 84 Charing Cross Road, released in the same time frame as Duet for One). Most of these were aimed at the casting of Julie Andrews in a pivotal dramatic role.

Understandable, perhaps, as Julie Andrews *is* better known as a musical star (though cannot make any more musical films)and is seen as either Mary Poppins or Maria von Trapp. In reality, Ms Andrews has made more non-musical films than musical films.

Duet for One, though, was a departure from other roles: this film is kept alive only by the performance of Julie Andrews -- the other characters are merely 'supporting' characters. Julie Andrews does what she has done in previous musical films: she takes centre stage.

Her performance is absolutely brilliant -- she received two Golden Globe nominations as Lead Actress in one year (1986): For drama, 'Duet for One'; for comedy/musical, 'That's Life.'

I saw both in London in 1987. Julie Andrews, it seemed by overwhelming critical responses, had 'come of age'. Her performances were measured, realistic and gritty: and even with the subject matter of Duet for One, never diminishes into audience-pleasing wallowing sympathy.

I do think that Julie Andrews has been a much-cheated actress: audiences do not seem to *want* her to be more than a musical star. She has great comic timing (such a pity that there never was a vehicle to exploit this talent). In 'Duet for One', she convinces that she can act: she is in control, but a weighty script, uneven directing and blurred focus helped this movie to sink.

And again, an excellent performance is not seen by a large number of people. There is gritty, gutsy work and Julie Andrews *should* have been nominated for an Academy Award (rather than a strange nomination to Jane Fonda for 'The Morning After'.

This film is not good ('Hilary and Jacky' is much better) but the lead performance is outstanding. If you get a chance, see it. For Julie Andrews' work and some fine classical music, outstandingly weaved into the soundtrack in background and foreground, it's stunning.

And there are interesting supporting cast vignettes too, notably those of Liam Neeson and Cathryn Harrison.

A great pity that this film has diluted its original play so much, but it's still worth seeing.

In London, the famous violinist Stephanie Anderson (Julie Andrews) is unexpectedly struck with multiple sclerosis while playing with her student Constantine Kassanis (Rupert Everett) in a concert. She becomes bitter and depressed with the abrupt end of her career and seeks help with the psychiatrist Dr. Louis Feldman (Max von Sydow). Meanwhile, her husband David Cornwallis (Alan Bates) is distant from her and confesses that he has a love affair with his secretary Penny Smallwood (Cathryn Harrison). Further, he travels in a tour to America with Penny. Then her favorite pupil finds a job in Las Vegas and decides to travel to America. Stephanie begins a journey to self-destruction and gets rid of her trophies, long-play records and her expensive violin and has a love affair with the junk collector Totter (Liam Neeson). When she reaches the rock bottom, she tries to commit suicide. Will Stephanie overcome her depression?

"Duet for One" is a depressive story of self-destruction of a famous violin player. The performances are top-notch, highlighting Julie Andrews in the lead role. It is difficult to understand her relationship with her ex-husband David and Pennie in the end. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Sede de Amar" ("Thirsty of Love")

Have loved Julie Andrews from an early age, having grown up on 'Mary Poppins' and 'The Sound of Music'. Both of which are still favourites. Max Von Sydow has always struck me as an amazing actor, his acting intense but also understated when needed which is some of my favourite type of acting. Am a lover of classical music and having seen what multiple schlerosis does to people the story on paper struck a chord with me (pardon the pun).

While 'Duet for One' is not my definition of a masterpiece or a film exempt from flaws, to me it is a very good film deserving of more credit, rather than being deserving of its near-obscure status. Also consider it a quite brave and powerful film and it is easily one of Andrews' best forays into more dramatic repertoire. If it is not everybody's cup of tea though, that is fine by me. It is not an easy watch by any stretch and anybody who watches a film expecting likeable characters all the time are best looking elsewhere.

Part of me really does wish that Feldman's character was a more interesting character than a callous caricature. Von Sydow does do a great job with what he was given, which is indicative of a true professional and a justly esteemed actor.

Although the music on the most part is great, some of it is a little on the saccharine side. MS is portrayed hard-hittingly and movingly, but it is also not the most balanced or most sympathetic portrayal at the same time.

On the other hand, 'Duet for One' has many fine things. It is not filmed in an overblown way, nor does it look static or too filmed play-like, with it being a film adaptation of a play. While not all the music completely worked, the music itself is great and will be a treat for classical music lovers. Andrei Konchalovsky's direction is sympathetic while not being stagy, some of his best work in one of his better films but sadly it is direction and a film that isn't appreciated enough. The script is thoughtful and doesn't get too sentimental or patronising.

'Duet for One's' story is in no way easy to get one's head round emotionally, it's quite harrowing but it is also very powerful and poignant. Just prepare for a non-easy watch. The back of the car confrontation is as hard-hitting a confrontation as one can get on film. The characters are purposefully not likeable ones and some are more interesting than others, while Stephanie is a very meaty characters others like Feldman are caricatures, but they don't ever bore or annoy as such. Von Sydow does fine with what he has and Alan Bates manages to achieve the difficult feat of making surly affecting. The film though belongs to Andrews, in the best easily of her dramatic performances in a gripping and incredibly moving, without being melodramatic, turn.

Summing up, not flawless but very good on the whole and hits one hard emotionally. 7.5/10