Magic Fire

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Magic Fire is a biographical film about the life of composer Richard Wagner, released in the United States on March 29, 1956 by Republic Pictures. It had been released in the United Kingdom on July 15, 1955. Additional European releases were in Denmark on November 21, 1956, and in Finland on October 18, 1957.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Directed by William Dieterle, the film made extensive use of Wagner's actual music, which was arranged by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Dieterle worked with Korngold on several Warner Bros. films, including A Midsummer Night's Dream and Juarez. It was one of the final films Republic made in the two-strip color process known as Trucolor.[1]

Although many details about Wagner's life were accurately portrayed, the film often distorted some facts apparently for dramatic purposes. One high point was the accurate depiction of the riot at the Paris Opera House for the premiere of the revised version of the Tannhäuser (opera). The film depicted King Ludwig's patronage of Wagner, without going into much detail about the king's controversial personality.

The film used a very large cast, opulent sets, and lavish costumes. Since Republic was known primarily for westerns and adventure serials, Magic Fire was one of the rare "prestige" films to be produced by studio chief Herbert Yates. Nevertheless, critical response was mixed and box office receipts in the U.S. were disappointing.[2]

[edit] Cast and Crew

  • Directed by William Dieterle
  • Writing credits: David T. Chantler, screenplay (as David Chantler); Ewald André Dupont, screenplay (as E. A. Dupont);

Bertita Harding, novel "The Original Music of Richard Wagner" and screenplay

  • Hans Elwenspoek ... (uncredited)
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold ... Hans Richter (uncredited)
  • Rolf Kralovitz ... (uncredited)
  • Werner Lieven ... (uncredited)
  • Werner Westerholt ... (uncredited)
  • Produced by William Dieterle
  • Original Music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold
  • Cinematography by Ernest Haller (director of photography)
  • Art Direction by Robert Herlth
  • Costume Design by Ursula Maes
  • Virgil Hart .... assistant director
  • Frank T. Dyke .... sound
  • Walter Rühland .... sound (as Walter Ruehland)
  • Léo L. Fuchs .... still photographer (uncredited)
  • Stanley E. Johnson .... supervising editor (as Stanley Johnson)
  • Tatjana Gsovsky .... choreographer
  • Rudolf Hartmann .... opera stager (as Professor Rudolf Hartmann)
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold .... music supervisor

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Republic Pictures documentary
  2. ^ Eyewitness account by Robert E. Nylund

[edit] External links


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