miss_lady_ice-853-608700 This is a nice little film about Holger (Leslie Howard), a married concert violinist who falls in love with Anita, his daughter's young piano teacher (Ingrid Bergman, in her US debut).The two go on tour together and true to the old lyric: "music leads the way to romance", the two musicians begin an affair. But can they ignore their duties to family and career? The film is a re-make of the Swedish film 'Intermezzo' (which also starred Bergman) and it retains the Swedish names. As none of the cast are Swedish except Bergman, they might as well have changed the names and location to suit a British setting as the film isn't shot in Sweden anyway.The film is very short- only 70 minutes long- and so even if it wasn't your cup of tea, you could still give it a go. It's an entertaining old-fashioned melodrama. It would have been nice if the characters could be fleshed out slightly more, but Intermezzo is a thoughtful study of adultery. If you liked Brief Encounter, this is worth a shot too.

blanche-2 "Intermezzo" is a beautifully photographed, bittersweet story about a the love affair between a concert violinist (Leslie Howard) and a pianist (Ingrid Bergman). This was Bergman's second time at the role, the first time being in her native Sweden. This film catapulted her to fame. Her natural beauty and freshness is shown to wonderful advantage here, as is her sensitive acting in the role of Anita Hoffman.Howard plays Holger Brandt, a married man with two children who leaves his wife and family when his affair with Bergman becomes too intense. Hoffman becomes his accompanist on tour, sublimating her own career plans because she wants to be with him. While vacationing, he becomes attached to a little girl who obviously reminds him of his daughter (Ann Todd), whom he adores, and Anita wonders if their illicit affair can ever bring them happiness.The film is rich in subtext and metaphors. "Aren't you giving it too much importance?" Anita's piano teacher asks as she rips into a concerto. "We were all impressed with you the night you played here ... with my husband," Holger's wife says, asking Anita about her studies. "I really had no choice," Anita almost whispers. Even the title of his daughter's favorite piece that he plays, "Intermezzo" takes on a special meaning.Few actors have cut the romantic, ethereal figure that Leslie Howard did during his film career. Tall, blond, with that soft voice and faraway look in his eyes, he makes a perfect musician who is always listening to a melody in his head. Though some people feel his phoned-in Ashley Wilkes doesn't hold up today, in fact, he was the embodiment of Ashley without making much effort, a soft dreamer with impractical values from another time. And so he is here, not thinking ahead and lost in a romantic fog.A touching and dramatic film with very effective performances.

Neil Doyle Over the years we have all seen this kind of story before--where a man goes astray from his long-suffering wife to embark on an affair with a younger woman--while the soundtrack washes all of the soap-opera elements with a full dose of symphonic music. Here, at least, the story is told in a simple and brief style, the production itself is a handsome one, and although the performances are competent enough only one performer really stands out as "the new star"--and that, of course, is INGRID BERGMAN making her film debut under David O. Selznick's careful grooming and tutoring.LESLIE HOWARD makes no particular impression as the concert violinist who falls under her spell, except that he really does appear to be playing the instrument, helped no doubt by whatever technical tricks were necessary to give this illusion. Edna Best does nicely as his understanding wife and all of the supporting roles are played in a competent manner.But except for this being a star vehicle to present Bergman to American audiences, there is nothing special about INTERMEZZO. It's worth watching only to see Bergman in her debut and at her most radiant. Mercifully, it has a short running time and might have become really tedious if the story were given more footage.

laughneyez6 This movie about the world renowned violinist and his daughters piano teacher is beautiful. Leslie Howard did an amazing job and Ingrid Bergman looked lovely. Although their acting showed no real chemistry between the two... it went along with the story of how she was only an "intermezzo" in his life. I have never seen such a beautiful film about love, affairs, and pain brought to all those involved. It was moving and every bit theatrical as the title presumes. Besides Gone With The Wind it is Howards most lovely film and I suggest to all they see it. Intermezzo was simply... dazzling with its theme and truths. It showed real life in a way that most films of the day were afraid to.