Histoire de trois amours

I was a college sophomore in 1953 when Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" was near the top of the charts. (Yes, believe it or not, there was a time when good music was popular!) At the time, I knew it was featured in a movie, and I probably knew the title, but I never saw it. Over the years I forgot the movie title, but "Rhapsody" was always a favorite. Occasionally I puzzled over the movie that popularized it, but I couldn't remember what it was. This morning I discovered "The Story of Three Loves" (1953) on Turner Classic Movies, and there was Moira Shearer dancing to Rachmaninoff. I didn't have time to see the movie when it was new, but at least I solved the mystery for myself, and this time I won't forget. I thought the whole thing was charming. Speaking of shades of the future, in the first scene of the aerialist segment, "Equilibrium," Pier Angeli attempted suicide but was saved by Kirk Douglas. In real life, she succeeded in killing herself with a phenobarbital overdose in 1971.

I loved this movie especially the the third segment featuring Pier Angeli. She really did her best portraying a suicidal widow of a Holocaust victim who becomes a trapeze artist after she is saved from drowning by Kirk Douglas's character. I am pretty sure that she relied on her own childhood in Rome for inspiration. She grew up in Rome when World War II was occurring. Her emotional scenes were the best. I can see why Kirk Douglas fell in love with her. It is hard to believe she was only nineteen when she filmed the movie. It is the first color film she did. I think it was be remembered by devoted Anna Maria Pierangeli fans for years to come.

Interesting mix of short stories with a galaxy of stars both major and minor. The first with James Mason and Moira Shearer has beautiful music and dancing but a rather overwrought storyline and wastes Agnes Moorehead in a nothing role. The last with Kirk Douglas and Pier Angeli is suffused with sorrow made especially poignant since she plays a girl saved by Kirk from suicide, such was not the case in real life and she ended up taking her own life several years later. The real charmer is the middle episode, a precursor to the film Big, with Ethel Barrymore as an elderly enchantress, Leslie Caron and Farley Granger sweet in a story of young love. Most enjoyable.

Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" is the gorgeous music to which Moira Shearer danced her lovely ballet in the first story. It's a perfect choice for this movie (and this scene) because it's full of passion and promise. The awed & inspired look on James Mason's face as he watches her dance expresses what we, the audience, see: how dancing makes Moira's character feel. It's a moving scene and there are 3 beautiful, emotional performances: Moira Sheara, James Mason, and the music.

This Rachmaninoff piece has been featured in several movies. These include, among others: The Story of Three Loves (1953); Rhapsody (1954); Somewhere in Time (1980); Dead Again (1991); Sabrina (1995); Ronin (1998).

It's a beautiful, moving, "timeless" piece of music. It is sometimes used in period movies whose action takes place before the piece was actually written & first performed. That was in 1934.

I enjoyed this movie, in spite of the uneven script. There are some great actors giving good performances (at times melodramatic - but that's the nature of the script more than their acting abilities), plus (suprise!) a young Ricky Nelson in the only thing I remember seeing him in as a boy besides the Ozzie & Harriet TV series - and he wasn't stilted like he was on his family's show (probably good directing!!!). Some great face shots throughout, too, showing emotion that the script couldn't (using the classic face-lighting techniques that have fallen out of favor with most of today's contemporary film directors).

In spite of some beautiful and memorable scenes in this movie, I'll probably remember the way the music made me feel longer than I'll remember the rest of the movie - and it's worth watching for that alone!

The first of three stories, "Jealous Lover," offers sheer bliss as the great ballerina, Moria Sherer, dances to Rachmaninov's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini."

One is reminded of the exquisite beauty of Sherer, who thrilled audiences for many years at the Sadler's Wells. What a treat for moviegoers when she graced the screen, which was all too rare.

Of all the prima ballerinas of the 20th century, Sherer stood out. Her light came from within, and her graceful executions became a spiritual experience.

James Mason is perfectly cast as Charles Coutray, and their scenes together are richly romantic, under Gotfried Reinhardt's sensitive direction.

Vincent Minnelli lovingly guided the remaining two episodes, whose writings were unevenly crafted, yet ardently realized by as fine a cast as MGM could offer.

Miklos Rozsa's original score was vibrant and knowing, melodiously underscoring the action. "The Story of Three Loves," remains a good piece of work, unusually artistic coming from a major studio.