THIS IS THE LOVE EVERY WOMAN LIVES FOR… THE LOVE EVERY MAN WOULD DIE FOR!

In Vienna, in the early 1900s, famous concert pianist Stefan Brand (Louis Jourdan) starts reading a letter from an unknown woman whose life he changed. Stefan Zweig’s novella was filmed in many countries, but this American version is the best known, and also the most lauded of Max Ophül’s Hollywood films. Several changes were made to the story, especially the ending, but all in all the filmmakers made a good job building the tragic relationship between the girl and the celebrated musician. An elegant albeit unsurprising melodrama; Jourdan is fine and Joan Fontaine grows into the part after initially playing a 17-year-old.

1948-U.S. 90 min. B/W. Directed by Max Ophüls. Novella: Stefan Zweig. Cast: Joan Fontaine (Lisa Berndle), Louis Jourdan (Stefan Brand), Mady Christians (Frau Berndle), Marcel Journet, Art Smith, Howard Freeman.