Pianists in the movies

I have a great obsession with old black and white movies.  I am a particular fan of the directors William Wyler and Alfred Hitchcock.  The playwright and writer Robert Sherwood, created two of my favorite screen plays The Best Years of Our Lives and Waterloo Bridge.  Robert Sherwood was an original member of the Algonquin Round Table, a group of writers, poets and satirists that met at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City during the years from 1919 to 1929.

The Best Years of Our Lives, directed by William Wyler, focuses on the stories of three United States servicemen returning from World War Two.  Each little vignette within the movie, tells of how these three brave men acclimate themselves to live after the war.  Teresa Wright, plays the daughter of one of the service men who returns home, and she ends up falling in love with one of the other men, who returns to the states, realizing his wife no longer wants to be married to him.

Harold Russell plays Homer, a returning sailor who has lost both hands in an accident on his naval ship.  The film beautifully portrays how Homer comes to grips with the loss of his hands, and how he finds that the promise he made to his girlfriend Wilma before the war, to marry, is still the promise she shares and wishes to keep.

Harold's relative owns a bar establishment called Butch's in the film.  The relative Butch is played by the great jazz pianist Hoagy Carmichael.  Hoagy Carmichael's simple duets with Homer, including Chopsticks, showcase Mr. Carmichael's versatile style.  While at the same time, the piano again, is displayed at as a force for good in a difficult world, an instrument, that since it's inception has brought people together. 

Mr. Carmichael was born in Bloomington, Indiana.  His mother Lida was a versatile pianist, and she taught him to play and sing at an early age.  As a lawyer, it is a comfort to know that he earned his bachelor's degree and law degree at Indiana University.  After graduating from IU's law school he did move to Florida, where he failed the Florida bar exam, but managed to pass in Indiana and he joined an Indianapolis law firm.   The law was not to be, as Carmichael devoted most of his energies to music, arranging gigs and writing tunes.  I must admit, I can relate to this part of Hoagy Carmichael's life.  Throughout my law practice career, I find myself during the day, listening to clips of classical music or jazz, and reading about my favorite musicians.

The beautiful melody Star Dust was composed by Mr. Carmichael and recorded in 1927.  Carmichael also composed Georgia on my mind, and arranged and recorded Up a Lazy River.  Interestingly, as it drives a lot of amateur pianists crazy, Carmichael composed Heart and Soul, which has become a popular duet performed by American children everywhere.

For me, my favorite song he collaborated with Johnny Mercer to create Skylark.  It is a beautiful song, and has been recorded by many artists, including my personal favorite Linda Ronstadt.

In his performance in Best Years of Our Lives, he taught a disabled veteran to play Chopsticks, and I find that so endearing.  Even teaching someone a simple piano tune, can change someone's life.  William Wyler as a director had a real gift, in determining what scenes to keep and which ones he should cut. This is one of the beautiful stories, within the whole story of this incredible film

And though he was a pianist, his greatest strength was as a melodist.  His songs have stood the test of time, and the beautiful Georgia on My Mind, is the State of Georgia's official song.