Magic Fire
The life and career of German composer Richard Wagner.
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⭐ Featured Review
"William Dieterle was himself a German, starting his career in Germany and going back to Germany to finish it. This was one of his last American films, and the puzzling thing about it is its rather palpable detachment from the subject. It is surprisingly formal, and yet Dieterle had made some of the most compassionate films ever made in America, like "Love Letters" and "Portrait of Jennie" behind him. Here he is consistently cool, and not even Cosima Wagner is quite convincing with any warm and bleeding heart - in fact, she became notorious as the worst dinosaur in Europe af..."
💡 Did You Know?
Erich Wolfgang Korngold, who supervised and arranged the music of Wagner for this, his final film assignment, also appears on screen as famous conductor Hans Richter. Korngold had to take the small role when the actor originally cast failed to show up. With over 1000 extras in full costume on set, director William Dieterle pleaded with Korngold to take the non-speaking part, to save the shoot.
📖 Synopsis
The life and career of German composer Richard Wagner.