Mi corazón te guía

For those who did not live in the 40s, this film may appear to be soap-operish. However, one must remember that 60 years of Real and TV soap opera have drastically diminished its impact, leaving us with a feeling that we have seen it all before - forgetting that it was the "first". A blind musician, a wealthy socialite, an "all-knowing" aunt, a musical friend, Rubinstein and Ormandy - what a confection! And the "glue" that holds it all together is the music. After all, it IS "Night Song". Other reviewers have been rather harsh in their criticism of Leith Stevens' concerto. It should be noted that it has been recorded along with other film piano concertos on ELAN CD (Piano in Hollywood)and represents - along with the output of so many others - the greatest "American" symphonic music of the 20th century. Film music never gets its proper due. Whatever "romanticism" in this movie appears far fetched, it's no less plausible than the current crop of "action" films. For those who prefer clanging and banging, this "song" is not for you!

I intended to watch this 1947 romantic drama to see the talented and most beautiful Jacqueline White in a starring role, but I had to settle seeing Ms. White in a short cameo appearance. The three (3) main stars were Dana Andrews, Hoagy Carmichael, and Merle Oberon and although I wanted to see more of Jacqueline White I was not disappointed with the on screen presence of the aforementioned three stars.

Dan Andrews plays Dan, a blind lyricist and talented pianist who lost his eyesight later on in life, so he does remember how beautiful the world and women were when he had his vision. His best friend is the actor Hoagy Carmichael who plays Chick, a fella who can set his blind buddy straight when he gets into one of his stubborn moods, which seems to occur more often than not.

Dan does not feel sorry for himself since losing his eyesight. Quite to the contrary he despises people who look down upon his blindness as a handicap which is why Dan and Chick are best friends. Into the picture comes a wealthy and beautiful Cathy played by Merle Oberon, who realizes with the assistance of Dan's best friend Chick that having any level of pity on Dan is like putting grease onto a hot fire, so Cathy decides to pretend to be blind so that they appear to have something in common.

I won't spoil the ending for anyone but suffice to say that although sometimes love is blind as they say, love can also conquer peoples fear of the unknown and in this case, love is like a Night Song which makes this film a pleasure to see.

I give the film a satisfying 7 out of 10 IMDb rating having watched the film twice, even if I only got a glimpse of the beautiful Jacqueline White. Well worth seeing, no pun intended.

This was a very outstanding film for viewers who loved Merle Oberon, Dana Andrews, Ethel Barrymore and Hoagy Carmichael during the height of their careers in 1948. In this film, Cathy,(Merle Oberon),"The Broken Melody",'34, a rich woman who falls deeply in love with Dana Andrews,(Dan),"The Best Years of Our Lives",'46, who is blind and is a down and out piano player and composer. Dan has a great pal who is also a musician and they work and live together in a Jazz club and try to make ends meet. Dan's buddy is Hoagy Carmichael,(Chick),"To Have & Have Not",'44 who gives a great supporting role and is quite funny through out the entire picture. There is plenty of Classical music and a great appearance of a famous conductor and pianist. The is lots of romance, drama and comedy and a very unusual ending.

The job of a movie is to give the audience members a bigger slice of life than they would normally experience. Night Song, a classic movie of the post-war 1940's, gives that slice of life with rare grace, elegance and style. Critics have panned it because of the "bad" far-fetched plot, the "bad" music, and "bad" acting.

I like this movie because, quite coincidentally, I personally have digested many of the slices of life in the "far-fetched" plot. The movie is about a piano player/composer who is struck on the head in the prime of his life. I am a piano player/composer who was struck on the head in the prime of my life. We both made it through a war era untouched, he WWII, and I Vietnam, well almost. He is living hand to mouth with his best friend. I am also living hand to mouth with my best friend, my wife. For those who love far-fetched coincidences: The composer's last name is Evans—my grandfather's name before he changed it. The movie was probably shot in 1946, the year I was born. Exactly 20 years later I saw Artur Rubenstein, who acted and performed in this movie, in a concert at the Music Center in Los Angeles--the only time I ever went to such a concert. It opened in Sweden on my birthday. What could be more far-fetched?. The not so far-fetched plot twists were not lost on me. As I watched, I was saying to myself, "What is possible for me? Miracles happen every day! Every success story was improbable before it happened!" After watching the film, I went over to the piano and played my own unfinished concerto once again!

As for the Leith Stevens music, if you didn't like it, say so. If it didn't touch you, say so. I liked it, immensely. It touched me immensely! If you want a thrill, type in Leith Stevens on IMDb. You'll find page after page of musical credits—right up to 2005! The man is a modern master composer played by the greatest performers of that time in this movie! Not bad for "bad" music! The job of film critics is to say what they like and dislike about films and why. They should leave all categorical good and bad thoughts completely out of the conversation.

One measure of the talent of an actor, and some say the only measure of a film, is the ability to transport the mind and the spirit of the viewer to another time and place. I was completely transported by this movie. I was perfectly comfortable with ALL the performances, by some of the most distinguished actors of the era, because I was ready, willing and able to be transfixed; and this film is transfixing! Let's get it on DVD!

Bearing more than a distant resemblance with "magnificent obsession" ,Stahl's tear jerker of the thirties (remade by Douglas Sirk in the fifties )"Night Song " is less melodramatic ,but ,mainly in its second part ,drags on a little bit;the movie features two real life musicians :Arthur Rubinstein in the flesh ,and Hoagy Carmichael whose songs were covered even by Beatle George Harrison ("Baltimore Oriole"," Hong Hong Blues) and his influence shows in McCartney's song "baby's request" .

Dana Andrews is reliable as ever ,and Madame Barrymore provides good support (dig the line when she tells her niece that all she wants is peace);Merle Oberon's playing is a bit emotionally remote ;the music is omnipresent ,classical stuff or Carmichael's "monkey song" .But the story itself is a bit derivative.