Director Paul Czinner was reportedly a violinist extraordinaire and it's really a pity he did not use music with good effects in "Melo" .Only the scene in the theater shows his skills and even this is dwarfed when compared to the way Frank Borzage (among others) combined score with drama in such works as "I'll always love you" .
"Melo" has not worn well.Based on a play ,it looks like a filmed stage production.Acting is very old-fashioned :Pierre Blanchar is almost unbearable,giggling in the first part and groaning in the second one;you should see him with a thermometer in his mouth .Gaby Morlay and Victor Francen are just okay ,the latter lacking in charm for this kind of part (he looks too old although he was only 44)
"Melo" was remade in the eighties by Alain Resnais ;as I'm allergic to Sabine Azema and to post-"Muriel" Resnais,I haven't seen it and I don't feel up to it.But Resnais' numerous fans might be interested in the first version of their "classic".
