Broken Lullaby
Broken Lullaby | |
---|---|
Directed by | Ernst Lubitsch |
Written by | Samson Raphaelson Ernest Vajda |
Based on | L'homme que j'ai tué play by Maurice Rostand |
Produced by | Ernst Lubitsch |
Starring | Lionel Barrymore Nancy Carroll Phillips Holmes |
Cinematography | Victor Milner |
Music by | W. Franke Harling |
Production company | Paramount Pictures |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 76 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Broken Lullaby (a.k.a. The Man I Killed) is a 1932 American
Plot
Haunted by the memory of Walter Holderlin, a soldier he killed during World War I, French musician Paul Renard (Phillips Holmes) confesses to a priest (Frank Sheridan), who grants him absolution. Using the address on a letter he found on the dead man's body, Paul then travels to Germany to find his family.
As anti-French sentiment continues to permeate Germany, Dr. Holderlin (
Although the hostile townspeople and local gossips disapprove, the Holderlins befriend Paul, who finds himself falling in love with Elsa (Nancy Carroll). When she shows Paul her former fiancé's bedroom, he becomes distraught and tells her the truth. She convinces him not to confess to Walter's parents, who have embraced him as their second son, and Paul agrees to forgo easing his conscience and stays with his adopted family. Dr. Holderlin presents Walter's violin to Paul, who plays it while Elsa accompanies him on the piano.
Cast
- Lionel Barrymore as Dr H. Holderlin
- Nancy Carroll as Fraulein Elsa, Walter's Fiancée
- Phillips Holmes as Paul Renard
- Louise Carter as Frau Holderlin
- Lucien Littlefield as Herr Walter Schultz
- ZaSu Pitts as Anna, Holderlin's Maid
- Frank Sheridan as Priest
- Emma Dunn as Frau Miller
- George Irving as Townsman (uncredited)
- Tully Marshall as Gravedigger (uncredited)
Production
The film's original title, The Man I Killed, was changed to The Fifth Commandment to avoid giving "wrong impressions in the minds of the public about the character of the story." It ultimately was released as Broken Lullaby.[1]
The film was presented at the
Critical reception
Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times called the film "further evidence of Mr. Lubitsch's genius, for, while it is tearful, its story is unfurled in a poetic fashion, with an unexcelled performance by Lionel Barrymore and fine acting by Phillips Holmes and Nancy Carroll." He added, "Each sequence is fashioned with sincerity and great care. The different scenes are all photographed with admirable artistry ... The magic of the Lubitsch mind is not only reflected in the artistry of the production and the direction, but also in the habiliments of the players and their make-up."[4]
Pauline Kael called Phillips Holmes "unspeakably handsome but an even more unspeakable actor," thought Nancy Carroll was "miserably miscast," and added, "Lubitsch can't entirely escape his own talent, and the film is beautifully crafted, but he mistook drab, sentimental hokum for ironic, poetic tragedy."[5]
Home media
The film has been released for the Region 2 market. It is in fullscreen format and has an audio track in English and subtitles in English and Spanish.
The film was also released in 2021 on Blu-ray by Kino Lorber, featuring an audio commentary by Joseph McBride.
Remake
A French remake entitled Frantz was released in 2016. The film was directed by François Ozon, co-written by Ozon and Philippe Piazzo, and stars Pierre Niney and Paula Beer among others.
References
- ^ a b Turner Classic Movies, tcm.com; accessed July 24, 2015.
- ^ Broken Lullaby Archived April 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, MSN.com; accessed July 24, 2015.
- ^ Ernst Lubitsch retrospective, altfg.com; accessed July 24, 2015.
- ^ The New York Times review
- ISBN 0-8050-1367-9.
- ^ Film review Archived June 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, TimeOut.com; accessed July 24, 2015.
External links
- Broken Lullaby at the TCM Movie Database
- Broken Lullaby at IMDb