Watch Intermezzo

Intermezzo is a 1939 romantic drama film directed by Gregory Ratoff and starring Ingrid Bergman, Leslie Howard, and Edna Best. The film tells the story of a famous concert violinist, Holger Brandt (played by Leslie Howard), who falls in love with his daughter's piano teacher, Anita Hoffman (played by Ingrid Bergman). Despite being married with a family, Holger cannot resist his attraction to Anita and begins a passionate affair with her. As the film opens, Holger is on tour in Sweden with his family. One evening, he attends a party where he first sees Anita playing the piano. He is instantly captivated by her talent and beauty, and the two share a brief but intense moment of connection. Holger then travels to his next concert destination, but feels drawn back to Sweden to see Anita again. Upon returning to Sweden, Holger arranges for his daughter, Ann Marie (played by Ann Todd), to take piano lessons with Anita as an excuse to see her. Anita is hesitant at first but agrees to teach Ann Marie, and soon Holger and Anita begin a romantically charged affair. They meet secretly in hotel rooms and secluded locations, unable to resist the passion between them. However, Anita eventually realizes the gravity of the situation and decides that she cannot continue the affair. She tells Holger that they must end things, and he is heartbroken. Holger tries to win Anita back, but she is resolute in her decision. The film is notable for its beautiful music, featuring performances by both Bergman and Howard on their instruments. The music serves as a metaphor for the characters' emotions, with the soaring violin and piano duets evoking the intensity of their feelings for each other. Intermezzo was a major critical and commercial success, helping to launch the career of Ingrid Bergman in Hollywood. The film was remade in 1939 as a German-language version called Zwischen Himmel und Erde, which starred Luise Ullrich and Willy Birgel. It was also remade in 1950 as a Hollywood feature film, again starring Ingrid Bergman in the lead role. Overall, Intermezzo is a moving and passionate love story that explores the complexities of human relationships and the power of music to express the most intense emotions.