Mendelssohn at the Movies

Posted at 4:41 PM on January 16, 2009 by Rex Levang (2 Comments)

The other day Gillian Martin mentioned the latest Mendelssohn allegations, which, as she notes, could be the basis of a tabloid article.

They could also be the basis of one of those composer biopics that Hollywood used to make, with titles like "Song of Love" and "Song to Remember." There's the story itself, plus an interesting cast of supporting characters: composers, royalty, even P. T Barnum, who brought Jenny Lind to America. Any ideas on casting? Who could play Mendelssohn himself? (I've penciled in a couple of names already.)

Felix Mendelssohn: ???
Jenny Lind: Scarlett Johansson? Kate Winslet?
Fanny Mendelssohn:
Queen Victoria: Keira Knightley
P. T. Barnum: John Goodman
Robert Schumann:
Clara Schumann:

For a title--what about "Song Without Words"?

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Comments (2)

I dunno - the first actor that came to mind was Adrian Brody...but the portrait accompanying the linked article sure looks like Alan Cumming. Adrian Brody wins.

Or, you could do the sibling-casting thing and do John and Joan Cusack as Felix and Fanny. He plays tortured pretty well.

Posted by Valerie Kahler | January 23, 2009 6:36 PM

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It came to me over the weekend: Jude Law as Felix.

Posted by Gillian Martin | January 26, 2009 11:52 AM

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