From Warner Bros
Directed by Gordon Douglas
Starring
Liberace
Joanne Dru
Dorothy Malone
Alex Nicol
William Demarest
Lori Nelson
Lurene Tuttle
Richard Eyer
James Bell
You probably think I've lost my mind. I admit I've been looking everywhere for it but I must include this film as part of the guilty pleasure series and yes, it brought me pleasure. It even, in an unabashedly sentimental finale, tugged at my old heartstrings. And I do feel a little guilty about it, too, because soooo many like to run roughshod over it and I've never completely embraced that attitude.
It isn't necessarily the movie or story itself that engendered the flak but rather its star... Liberace. Here in his only lead role (of the four movies in which he appeared) the flamboyant pianist plays a straight guy and has two women to love him. That apparently wasn't easy for even his large fan following to accept.
It was only at the end that I thought he peered out of the closet door. For the majority of the movie, he played it pretty straight. To his credit he mostly got rid of that syrupy, nasally voice and the flamboyant clothes and the candelabras. He did display his usual penchant for lifting his arms above his head after striking a key... some things are just difficult to let go of.
In 1955 Liberace wanted very much to star in a movie. Warner Bros, like everyone else, knew he was the biggest entertainer in the world. The studio dusted off its own 1932 The Man Who Played God and tailored it to fit Liberace.
The story concerns a pianist, who at the moment he is about to realize his dream of playing Carnegie Hall, goes deaf. We're told he'd had a earlier, brief encounter with deafness but had recovered. He becomes understandably morose and holes up in his Central Park apartment. Those in his orbit encourage him to learn sign language and perhaps take up composing.
After mastering sign language and acquiring high-powered binoculars, he watches and listens to people in the park and takes pity on some in need. One special case is a young boy who cannot walk and needs an operation. Another is an impoverished mother whose rich young daughter is too ashamed to introduce her to the wealthy in-laws. In both cases miracles are provided.
When the boy tells Liberace he's glad he had the operation and got well, Liberace decides to do the same and has his own operation. His hearing is restored, he finally performs at Carnegie Hall and he gets the woman he loves. Ah, all is right with the world.
The main reason for seeing the movie, of course, is to luxuriate in the artistry of Liberace at the piano. When it's said that the film was tailor-made for him, it's the piano sequences that are unquestionably the highlight. He plays classical, boogie-woogie and standards to perfection.
There were some who did not want to appear in the film. Tab Hunter took a suspension rather than play a role. There was talk of Doris Day which may be little more than wishful thinking. Liberace was fortunate to have a talented cast supporting him, most importantly his two leading ladies.
Joanne Dru plays his faithful secretary who is secretly in love with him. (She does have an unintentionally funny line when she says you're very popular in San Francisco.) Dorothy Malone is his brief fiancé whom he is reluctant to marry after his deafness but is pleased to see her through his binoculars tell Alex Nicol that she is in love with him (Nicol). William Demarest is under-used as Liberace's manager. Richard Eyer is adorable as the young boy and familiar character actor James Bell is good as his grandfather. Lori Nelson and Lurene Tuttle breathe life into their mother and daughter and roles.
Gordon Douglas never made great movies but he made a goodly number of highly entertaining pieces. He worked at Warners for years, doing basically what he was told and doing it well. Whatever virtue there is to Liberace's performance is surely due chiefly to Douglas. I came across a picture once of Liberace, Malone and Douglas in which the director is instructing the pianist how to kiss her. Hmmm.
I think Liberace gave his audience a big sincerely yours with his performance. It was sincere and warm and he did the best he could. As stated, he did his best to be butch for most of the story but toward the end he performs at an event after he gets his hearing back and unfortunately puts on a sequined jacket which obviously unchained his inner ladyness.
I saw it originally because of its two leading actresses and I was not disappointed. I think I mentioned I loved the music and the gorgeous piano playing.
When Warners and Liberace signed the contract, it was for two films. After the thud was heard when Sincerely Yours opened, the studio paid Liberace off and a second film was never made.
Next postings:
One of the movie's best bad guys
became one of TV's best good guys
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