Tuesday 11 September 2012

Remembering a great song from 1952

I was listening to France Musique on the radio this morning I am growing tired of the preachings of the CBC lately, to the point where I simply switch the dial to another station. I found an interview with an ex-pat American who lives in Paris and who organized an exhibit on the neighbourhood of Montmartre then and now. The exhibit is not about what Montmartre is suppose to be in the tourist lore but what it is really as a city neighbourhood not seen by the tourists.
I learned that prior to 1875 it was just one of many neighbourhoods of Paris, not very popular but by 1900 it had become the hot spot of Paris by night with its famous cafés and cabarets. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec having made it popular with his numerous posters and drawings.

The host of the radio program played the song hit of 1952 from the original movie Moulin Rouge.
The original version has famous names, José Ferrer, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Colette Marchand, the producer John Huston and the musical hit of 1952 ,Where is your heart, music by George Auric and words by William Engrick. Such beautiful music and so different from the modern remake.


6 comments:

  1. I was always tickled that Auric started out as one of Les Six and progressed to writing scores for the Ealing comedies.

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  2. In my next life, I want to be named "Zsa Zsa".

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    Replies
    1. My mother knew her mother Joli Gabor just as excentric as the daughter.

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  3. I remember that movie..and I loved the Gabor sisters..

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  4. I remember the movie quite well. I always think of that role if Jose Ferrer's name comes up, even though he was better know for Cyrano. I would not have recognized the music however. Thanks for sharing it.

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