Song of Norway (1970)

Just what I expected

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Toralv Maurstad sings and dogs bark on the mountaintops of Austria. O.K., this takes place in Norway, but dogs feel the pain from thousands of miles away. Poor Florence Henderson, just settling into the role of Carol Brady, and a sweetheart of the world of Rodgers and Hammerstein, having churned butter in "Oklahoma!", made curtains out of drapes in "The Sound of Music" and washed that man right out of her hair in "South Pacific". Her promising attempt to become the next Julie Andrews or Shirley Jones ended here, mainly because movie musicals in most cases were bombing, this one quickly dismissed and driving its small audiences to near deafness.I couldn't believe what I was hearing here, the alleged biography of Edward Grieg, and one where a hangover is preferable. The songs are among the mist wretched that I have ever heard in a movie musical, especially in such a cynical era as the early 1970's. Toocmany nature shots show what was on the cameraman's eye, and I wonder if producer/director Andrew Stone was looking for a tax write-off after seeing "The Producers". Cameos by Robert Morley and Edward G.Robinson added a little bit of curiosity, and Florence tries her best to rise above the material. It's overly long (complete with intermission) and consistently dull. There's nothing to put this in the category of camp, leaving me to prefer to revisit the musical version of "Lost Horizon" than to ever subject myself or my neighbors who happen to hear it of ever enduring this again.

I seriously don't know how to describe this movie. I'll start with my obvious statement, that I'm not necessarily a big fan of musicals (quite the contrary) and while I will write that I also didn't enjoy "Sound of Music" as much, I am aware that some/many will dislike my comment here.But it's not as much about other musicals, as it is about this particular musical, the Song of Norway. Even people who love musicals despise this film, which brings me to my theory. This film might be a comedy after all. It might be a genius thought of the director, dragging the musical down the road and showing it with so much sugar coated (music) numbers, that it really takes the wind of the drama and anything else. You could say then, that this was a master plan ... but on the other hand, it still doesn't make it an entertaining view. Far from it. Nice cinematography/landscapes though ...

I saw this one when I was in high school. I had been warned ahead of time, but I liked classical music, including Grieg, and ignored the warnings. I remember several things about it that really sum the film up, in my opinion.1. The photography was stunning. Snow, fjords, and Norwegian towns and scenery were really pretty, as were the folk costumes. 2. Grieg's music was nice to listen to, though as in all films about composers, they only give samplings.Those are the good parts. The bad parts were what sank the boat. There wasn't much of a story. Greig's life wasn't as exciting as many other composers lives, and a lot was padded to keep the story going for 2 or 3 hours. I remember a lot of overacting as well. But the worst part of all was the directing. Forever emblazoned upon my memory is the hideously clichéd scene where Grieg, his wife, and someone else spread their arms and run across a green field, stop on a hillock, and spin around to face the audience. Then they do the same thing again - and again! If that's not enough to make you give up, then nothing is.

A horrible biography of composer Edvard Grieg's early life. It was shot on location in Scandanavia. The scenery is just beautiful and the music is fantastic--even the songs (based on Grieg's music) aren't bad. The problem? Everything else. The story is just non-stop clichés; the movie is way too long (2 1/2 hours); the dance numbers are badly staged and hysterically lousy and the acting...let's put it this way...Florence Henderson gives the best performance! Grieg himself is played by Toralv Mausted. Ever hear of him? Didn't think so. There's a reason for this. Also there are over FORTY songs shoved into this movie. Like I said, they aren't bad, but it gets to be a bit much after a while.I'm giving this a 3 for the scenery and music but everything else is hopeless. Easily one of the worst musicals ever made. Too bad--the scenery is truly gorgeous.