Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum What is your favorite piano movie?

Mine is the Pianist. Good combination of history drama, awesome settings, great clothing, emotional stirring and an awesome piano solo at the end.
what is yours? reason why i ask, i just recently been interested in seeing movies centered around the piano, or the piano as a major backdrop. i want to go rent these based on your choices.

I liked The Pianist, too. I also liked "The Piano" (with Holly Hunter) very much, in large part due to Michael Nyman's moving score. (Harvey Keitel's naked butt I could do without. ) One of these days I WILL learn "The heart asks pleasure first"!

Hi Briian 13 ....

Can't go wrong with the Liberace story. He is credited with the best quote (for my money) regarding reviews of his playing ...

"...It doesn't matter what they say about me -as long as they say something!"

Balladeer

The Pianist for sure. And what was the name of the one where the kid went nuts trying to learn the Rach3? That was a good one.

So far "The Legend of 1900." There is a piano duel in it between "our hero" and Jelly Roll Morton that will make you sweat. On the peripheral side, there's nice little piano bits in "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte," and in another good old Brit gothic, "The Uninvited."

The Pianist hands down. Chopin soundtrack and moving story.

Con Amore - a Polish movie about 2 pianists and Chopin piano competition in Warsaw.

Amadeus!!! Surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet...

Interesting thread!

"Shine" - David Helfgott bio.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Its not about the piano, and I'm not sure its a movie, but just listen to that piano !!

-angelojf

Imortal Beloved: Story of Beethoven

Another vote for "Amadeus". I love the part in the royal palace where Salieri is playing, and Mozart picks up on his theme, and improvises how the piece "could" sound...very funny.

thank you, i have seen Shine and Amadeus, both great movies.
I have made a mental list of all the recommendations; I just hope my blockbuster even carries at least one of those names. probably not.

let me add that my favorite scene in The Pianist is when the kind German officer wanted Brody to play the piano, probably thinking, "pianist?? show me then" and then Brody slowly crept up to the piano, almost looking like he was lying, played a few notes like anyone could do, but then displayed a masterpiece that not only confirmed to the officer, but blew him away.
the acting of that scene was very subtle but incredible, without any words you could tell what both were communicating to each other. and then at the end, the German officer (we find out he has a very high status) brings him a cloth of bread and jam (which Brody almost dies for, i also took out my jam from the fridge to do the same thing after i saw that) and the metal hinge that Brody tried to use to open the can. very touching, very thoughtful for the officer to supply that, remembering that from the night before...showing that even the wicked german regime has a few human beings with a warm heart.

my favorite scene in amadeus, was when Mozart was entertaining the club of people he worked with, imitating Salieri and such. I always dreamed of being able to play the piano for a group of people, or at a place so that everyone can gather around and smile.

what is your favorite scene of a movie?

Madame Sousatzka, with Shirley MacLaine is one of my very favorites.

Mel

briiian,

There are a couple of scenes in the Pianist which are my favourites:

- When Szpilman gets moved to a new flat (with a piano in it ). He is under strict instruction to be 'very quiet'. He slowly adjusts the stool, the orchestra begins the piece, he raises his hands above the keys and .....

- I also liked the scenes in the ghetto cafe, first when he gets asked to stop for a few minutes - he starts blowing a kiss to the lady. And the second time, when his sister is there - he plays the ending of the piece in record time to go and see what is wrong.

One thing I never understood about the film - when Szpilman plays to the German, we see guards outside. Surely they would hear the amazing playing through the ruins and realise that Hosenfeld wasn't that good at the piano?

Euan,
i thought about that too, but then on second thought, i figured,
the guards cannot question their commander and must stay on guard. they may think probably he does secretly know how to play that piece, and maybe also the guards may not have any interest in piano to take any notice.
whatever their commanding officer told them to do , they must do, and whatever he does inside is no business of theirs.
that is what i rationalized about that peculiarity.

anyways, lazy saturday today, nothing to do, maybe i'll pop the pianist dvd in and watch again!

Yes, that is a logical answer to the problem.

Another one is that the guards probably wouldn't be thinking of a scenario involving a world-class pianist found hiding in the ruins, and now playing in the same building as a german officer. That would be a little fantastical (yet true!)

Another movie which is good is 'Richter: The Enigma'. Lots of good footage of Sviatoslav Richter and a detailed look at his life and playing.

Enjoy watching The Pianist again!