Song of Love

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Song of Love

Released Jul 23, 1947

1h 59m

History

Drama

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2 Reviews

65%

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250+ Ratings

In this musical biopic, Clara Wieck (Katharine Hepburn) is a budding concert pianist, but when she meets composer Robert Schumann (Paul Henreid), she forgets her dreams to marry him. Years later, after the birth of their seven children, Robert dies of illness in a mental institution. While Clara deals with her loss and her newly inherited debts, Johannes Brahms (Robert Walker) reveals that he loves her and offers her a new life as his wife. But Clara still has some unfinished business.

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

The basic romance of the Schumanns has been reduced to cloying clichs and the brilliance of Brahms and his acid nature have been sloughed off for just a 'good-old-Charley' type.

Rated: 1.5/5

Mar 25, 2006

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Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

It's typical of MGM's middle-brow mindset that the tumultuous story of the Schumanns and Brahms puts them on the level of Andy Hardy Goes Classical.

Rated: 3/5

May 16, 2007

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Steve D

Lame and unconvincing melodrama.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

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Audience Member

While not historically correct, this is a well made film. Well paced, well lit, well acted, etc. Even the main characters play the piano well - or at least they mime the keys well to the recordings of Rubinstein. I suspect they may have given the correct fingerings to brief phrases and then continued mimicking as the camera panned back. A very nice touch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

Several fine classical music excerpts are interspersed with a slow-moving, melodramatic plotline purporting to be the story of Schumann and Brahms, with a little Liszt thrown in for good measure.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

I can't say its a great movie, but it's interesting subject matter and it's fun to watch Katherine Hepburn on screen with Robert Walker...although the two seem to have zero chemistry together. However, knowing the background on Walker and what was happening in his personal life, he still manages to give a likable performance, and in turn makes the picture a worthwhile affair. Great classical music is an added bonus.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

an MGM-ified bio pic

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

Yes, the story is predictable and cliched, and yes, I hear you, music historians, that the movie mangles what really happened. But the novelty of hearing music in conjunction with a story, and Rubinstein dubbing? Oh, yes, I love this movie!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Clarence Brown

Director

Katharine Hepburn

Clara Wieck Schumann

Paul Henreid

Robert Schumann

Robert Walker

Johannes Brahms

Henry Daniell

Franz Liszt

Leo G. Carroll

Professor Wieck

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Synopsis

In this musical biopic, Clara Wieck (Katharine Hepburn) is a budding concert pianist, but when she meets composer Robert Schumann (Paul Henreid), she forgets her dreams to marry him. Years later, after the birth of their seven children, Robert dies of illness in a mental institution. While Clara deals with her loss and her newly inherited debts, Johannes Brahms (Robert Walker) reveals that he loves her and offers her a new life as his wife. But Clara still has some unfinished business.

Director: Clarence Brown
Producer: Clarence Brown
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 23, 1947, Original
Release Date (DVD): Aug 24, 2010
Runtime: 1h 59m