Richard Addinsell - Warsaw Concerto

Classical Music is sometimes thought of as a dusty relic of history.  It's not.  It's alive and well in Hollywood (or in the case of today's selection, the UK's Sheparton Studios).

(Image source)

1941 was the golden age of wartime propaganda films.  While the Nazi examples have faded from memory (except for Leni Reifenstahl's), the American and British ones brought us great music.  The ultimate American example is without doubt Casablanca, with When Time Goes By.  The more formal British gave us Dangerous Moonlight, and the Warsaw Concerto.

The studio wanted Rachmaninoff, but he wouldn't sign the contract.  The approached English composer Richard Addinsell, asking him to write something "like Rachmaninoff".  As the RAF might have said, Mission Accomplished.  Or more likely, Jolly Good Show.

Today, this is mostly forgotten, which is a shame.  But Mom hasn't forgotten it, and suggested it for today's post.  Not only is this a full service blog, it's a full service blog powered by most of the Borepatch clan.  Jolly good show, old chap ...



Here's a scene from the film Dangerous Moonlight: