This week on “Picture Perfect,” we set the table for Thanksgiving.
Gary Cooper and Dorothy McGuire star in “Friendly Persuasion” (1956), based on the novel by Jessamyn West. The film’s portrayal of family and the resolution of moral conflict, as pacifist Quakers deal with issues both big and small – from the American Civil War, to the introduction of a “sinful” musical instrument into the household – make “Friendly Persuasion,” in my opinion, a good choice for this time of year.
The film was nominated for six Oscars, with Dimitri Tiomkin’s score nominated twice. The title song went on to become the popular hit “Thee I Love.” Only Dimitri Tiomkin would use balalaikas to depict Quaker life!
None other than Aaron Copland composed music for a big screen adaptation of Thorton Wilder’s “Our Town” (1940). The play, which opened at Princeton’s McCarter Theatre, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama only two years earlier. Copland was at the height of his “populist” period. “El Salon Mexico” and “Billy the Kid” had already been written, and “Fanfare for the Common Man,” “A Lincoln Portrait,” “Rodeo” and “Appalachian Spring” would follow within just a few years.
The concert version of “Our Town” has been in circulation for decades, but it’s only fairly recently that a recording of the complete score was made available. It was issued briefly on the Naxos label, available only as a download. The recording is now extremely scarce, possibly because of copyright issues.
The film’s portrayal of small town America and the playwright’s poignant observation, “Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? Every, every minute?,” are timely reminders that there are things we should all be thankful for, while they – and we – are here for us to appreciate them.
“Witness” (1985) may seem like an unusual choice for Thanksgiving, with its themes of police corruption and violence, but when honest cop Harrison Ford goes on the lam, he experiences the “plain” lifestyle of a close-knit Amish community. The highlight of Maurice Jarre’s score is a sequence called “Building the Barn,” in which the community comes together to raise a barn for a newly married couple.
Finally, we’ll listen to selections from “Plymouth Adventure” (1952), with its depictions of William Bradford, John Alden, Miles Standish and Priscilla Mullins. Spencer Tracy stars as the cynical captain of The Mayflower, Gene Tierney is his forbidden love interest, Van Johnson appears as Alden, and Lloyd Bridges is the first mate. If you’re curious to see the film, Turner Classic Movies: TCM will broadcast it this Sunday at 2 p.m. EST.
The music is by Miklós Rózsa, who, already at this stage of his career, was MGM’s go-to composer for historical drama. Seven years later, Rózsa would take home his third Academy Award, for his classic score to “Ben-Hur.”
There’s not a turkey among them! It’s never too early to give thanks this week on “Picture Perfect” – music for the movies – this Friday evening at 6:00 EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.
