Film Index (Jan-Jul 1911)

LEADING AMERICAN EXPONENT OF THE PHOTOPLAY Published Weekly by the Films Publishing Co., at No. 1 Madison Avenue, New York City IL TROVATORE— WITH INCIDENTAL MUSIC Pathe Freres Produce Famous Opera of Verdi in Colors With Music Score Specially Adapted to the Picture Portrayal MUCH has been written regarding the adaptation of music to the proper interpretation of motion pictures. Attempts have been made to suggest current popular or other well known compositions as being most suited to certain pictures or pictured action. Piano players of intelligence, who have studied the subject, have given direction, more or less applicable to the necessities of the several cases that have come under their experience, but as yet there has been no real effort made to provide music especially suited to a particular picture. In the nature of things it will probably be a long time complish this Pathe Freres engaged the services of Charles P. Muller, a well known composer, to arrange the score. The effect is better than can be imagined. It proves beyond question that too much importance cannot be attributed to proper music settings for suitable pictures and will more than likely lead to intelligent effort along this line. The example is a welcome one. Long, long have we been pestered with the hilarious ragtime and other eccentric forms of music expression, wholly out of place and harmony with the scenes thrown upon the screen. Scenes of pathos mating 1,000 copies of the music for "II Trovatore" have been received up to the present writing, which would indicate that exhibitors are deeply interested in the project. The sale of this number of quantities also insures the success of the plan from a financial point of view. We look forward with much interest to the ultimata trial of the experiment. A word about the picture itself: The opera of Verdi is based upon a domestic tragedy. According to the story Count di Luni has two sons and in the opening scene of the picture he is seen in the act of bestowing upon each a medal. SCENES FROM PATHE COLORED FILM D'ART "IL TROVATORE. before a concerted effort along these lines is made. Eventually-, we hope, it will be made, for the music that accompanies a picture, if a true accompaniment, tells the story, or emphasizes the action more clearly that can otherwise be accomplished. A step in this direction has been taken by Pathe Freres. The occasion was offered in the production of a colored film d'art of the famous opera of Verdi, "II Trovatore." In this cas.e it was not necessary to compose the music especially for the pictured production of the opera; the score was already at hand. But it was necessary that a proper arrangement of that music to suit the scenes portrayed be made. To ac have been turned to bathos by the genius presiding at the piano. It is true there is difficulty in meeting the rapid change of subject with suitable music. A composition that, in tempo and theme, is in harmony with the picture, frequently is so closely associated with words so out ol keeping with the picture as to make the latter appear highly ridiculous to the spectator. This detracts from the picture, naturally. So, after trying to adapt the existing music to pictures, we are more than ever impressed with the necessity of having the incidental music arranged especially for the picture when the subject is of sufficient importance to warrant such treatment. Pathe Freres announce that orders approxi Later, while the children are playing about the garden one of the boys is stolen by the gypsy woman Azucena, out of revenge for the death of her mother who had been burned for witchcraft at some previous time at the order of the count. Azucena brings the boy up as her own child, and he becomes a troubadour, or traveling musician. Years later Manrico, the troubadour, falls in love with Leonora, whom he woos with sweet music beneath her window. Leonora has another suitor in the young and handsome Count di Luna, successor of his father and, when she favors Manrico, he provokes a duel, but instead (Continued on page 25.)