I recently bought this (rare) video. It was great watching this film again, I originally saw it in the cinema when it first came out. I think this film ranks amongst the very best ever made.
What I found particularly fascinating, and I have not seen many other comments about this, is the totally convincing way Richard Chamberlain plays the Piano Concerto in the early part of the film and continues to play like as professional pianist. Did he train to play the piano for this part, in the same way as Robert DeNiro became a boxer in 'Raging Bull' or was he just a naturally gifted pianist?
Glenda Jackson and the other main characters are just fantastic in this film. My only criticism is the 1812 sequence near the end of the film, which really doesn't really seem to come off. Also the ending sequence, when Tchaikovsky dies of cholera, seems to be completely rushed. I think the ending could have been more drawn out.
Overall I think this film was one of the best !
What I found particularly fascinating, and I have not seen many other comments about this, is the totally convincing way Richard Chamberlain plays the Piano Concerto in the early part of the film and continues to play like as professional pianist. Did he train to play the piano for this part, in the same way as Robert DeNiro became a boxer in 'Raging Bull' or was he just a naturally gifted pianist?
Glenda Jackson and the other main characters are just fantastic in this film. My only criticism is the 1812 sequence near the end of the film, which really doesn't really seem to come off. Also the ending sequence, when Tchaikovsky dies of cholera, seems to be completely rushed. I think the ending could have been more drawn out.
Overall I think this film was one of the best !