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Great Mr. Handel

This story deals with the later stages of Handel's life, leading up to the composing of his masterpiece "Messiah." During his early years in London, Handel had enjoyed the King's patronage and people flocked to the theatres to see his operas. But soon fashionable society turned against him. Plagued by financial worries and ill health and abandoned by almost everyone except those closest to him, Handel shut himself away and worked day and night on "Messiah."

  • Item 4818D
  • Region: All
  • Media Type: DVD
  • Running Time: 1 hr 38 min

Alternate formats: Digital Video - $3.99

Retail: $14.99
Price: $5.00
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Description

His gifts were extraordinary. His life an adventure. His legacy priceless. A lavish period drama produced in 1942 by Lord Rank's G.H.W. Productions Ltd. This was the first color film shot with "character lighting" instead of the flat overall lighting hitherto demanded by Technicolor.

This story deals with the later stages of Handel's life, leading up to the composing of his masterpiece "Messiah." During his early years in London, Handel had enjoyed the King's patronage and people flocked to the theatres to see his operas. But soon fashionable society turned against him. Plagued by financial worries and ill health and abandoned by almost everyone except those closest to him, Handel shut himself away and worked day and night on "Messiah." Its performance at the Royal Opera House in 1743 resulted in a standing ovation led by the King. It began a tradition and fitting honor for the incomparable Handel, composer of one of the finest oratories in the English Language. Fullscreen.

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Customer Reviews

- Inspirational

This portrait of a genius and his inspiration is memorable. Many good lessons are to be learned through this charming and elegant film.

- Good biographical film

The film was a fictional portrayal of a period of Handel's life from the standpoint of the conversations that took place between Handel and a number of the characters were not likely to have been documented and hence were probably made up by the script writer. However, the remark that Handel made to the singer about jumping up and down rather than singing was true. Also, the reference to the orphanage established by the retired sea captain was factual. The orphanage was Handel's favorite charity and he conducted performances of the Messiah in order to raise money for it. The segment that depicted his compositional marathon when he wrote the Messiah was also fairly accurate. Handel, as well as Beethoven, Bach, and Haydn would make fitting subjects for biographical films today. Hollywood would probably butcher the stories. Britain would do a better job.

- Rather blah

Disappointing if you expect to hear "The Messiah". It is all barely a blink at the very end. Sound quality unclear. Good portrayal about having to depend on the court favor for artists. Not very educational about Handel himself. The scot butler is comedy relief and I wonder if there really was such a man. If you can watch it from your public or church library don't bother spending your own money. Way too long in many scenes You get the idea quickly and no need for the length with its poor sound and repetitive dialogue. Most of the dialogue is Handel has no money to pay his bills, but how many scenes do we need to learn this?

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