Organs in the Movies
This page is a listing of Movies where an ORGAN of one kind or another is featured. Those we can find on the net, have links to the places where they can be ordered. Links subject to change with stock.
Note: [x] are Source annotations -see end of file
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Abominable Dr. Phibes, The,, 1971, Vincent Price. Crazed Doctor has futuristic pipe organ he plays.
All the Marbles , 1981, Harry manages The California Dolls, a female wrestling tag team endlessly touring America. Rodgers organ seen.
Angel in My Pocket, 1969, Andy Griffith is the New preacher comes to church, gets theatre organ from local theatre to increase attendance and improve church. Church burns down. Great scenes of the console, wonderful story overall.
Annie, 1982 Albert Finney...Features a large concert organ in a mansion...good console shots...seems to have been partly shot at the Hubert Parsons estate, “Shadow Lawn “, in West Long Branch, N.J. with its pipe organ console in one of the balconies off the grand court. The organ is a 1928 4 man. Aeolian residence organ w/ 4800 pipes. This firm primarily built pipe organs for the mansions of wealthy people, such as the Duponts, Vanderbuilts, G. Eastman(Kodak Co) etc. Most of these organs were equipped with roll- playing devices, as the majority of their clients were not organists. Then some of these clients actually hired well-known organists to play their residence organs on a regular basis. The Aeolian company's largest organ was made for the ballroom at Longwood Gardens(Dupont estate) in Kennet Sq.,PA in 1930 with about 10,000 pipes/ 4 manuals, and it is still maintained and heard in concerts. [%]
Arthur,1981, starring Dudley Moore. There is a brief shot of an organ in an actual church being played at Arthur's aborted wedding between him and a rich girl that he doesn't love. The 5 manual drawknob console (shown) appears to be the one at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Ch., NYC, for the 12,000 pipe Aeolian-Skinner organ, which is a rebuild of the former E.M. Skinner organ. It is the largest organ in NYC. Riverside Church’s 5 man. organ (an Aeolian-Skinner rebuild of an earlier Hook & Hastings ) is just slightly smaller and is also remembered for it's former long-term organist, Virgil Fox. [%]
Bank Robber Starring Judge Reinhold (1993, I believe) IN the BANK lobby, a little old lady is doing something that hit too close to home. She is playing a Baldwin model 170 or 172 spinet organ, and the footage appears to be real live playing, and the sound is definitely the Baldwin organ. A real hoot.
Bathing Beauty, 1944, Red Skelton , Esther Williams , and Ethel Smith . Ethel plays the Hammond a couple of times in this one. Including Tico Tico.
Beethoven (1992)about a family dog that gets stolen. At the beginning the three kids are at a babysitter's house. While the youngest girl falls and almost drowns in the pool, the creepy babysitter is busy playing her loud electronic organ.
Beneath the Planet of the Apes, c.1970. Kim Hunter, James Franciscus, James Franciscus pounds on the console keys with the stock of a machine gun.
Black Cat, The, 1934, starring Boris Karloff as the leader of a sect of devil worshippers, and Bela Lugosi in a role reversal as the hero. There are two shots of the organ being played, first by then bit actor John Carradine, and later by Karloff.
Blues Brothers, Blues Brothers, 1980 starring Dan Akroid & John Belushi B-3 Hammond organ seen in "Church," "Cowboy Bar," and "Ballroom" scenes
Bostonians, The(1984) starring Venessa Redgrave, Jessica Tandy, and Christopher Reeve. The movie (about the 1890's woman's suffrage movement) opens with an improvisation on "America" played on a 4 manual church tracker pipe organ, by British recital organist Nigel Allcoat. He is a master in the art of improvisation. This entire film sequence (lasting several minutes) shows the console at close range and also demonstrates Mr. Allcoat's expert pedal technique. You can see keys at the bass end of the Swell manual indirectly moving, which shows that the Swell to Pedal coupler in this tracker (mechanical action) organ is activated. (You can also hear the "clatter" of the wooden key linkages). After this selection he continues with another organ piece, accompanied by an orchestra. The organ is not identified in the film credits, but Professor Allcoat states that the organ is an outstanding 1872 "Father" Willis instrument at the Church of St. Augustine in Kilburn, England. (Kilburn is a part of London). This British movie was mostly filmed in the Boston, MA area, including at Harvard University, but no footage was shot of an organist playing at length, so Prof. Allcoat provided this solo work back in England,and it was added to the film. If an American tracker organ had been used (w/4 manuals), it could have been the Harvard Chapel (1967) Fisk, or the 1864 E & G.G. Hook at the Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA. Nearer the end of the movie another pipe organ is heard playing "America", with a brief, partial console shot, but this organ can be identified from the pipe facade (and credits) as in the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, NY ( a wonderful 1890's 3 man. Odell tracker). As this organ was mostly inoperable in 1984, it is believed that the Hook organ at Mechanics Hall, Worcester was dubbed in. The Troy Music Hall organ was restored in 2006 by volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this organ usable for an up-coming organ convention. [%]
Brief Encounter, 1945, Celia Johnson, includes a brief scene in a cinema with a comic lady playing a snatch of "March Militaire" on an 3 man. organ. WURLITZER used was Metropole, Victoria, London, UK. Organist (NOT the Lady) is James Whitebread... see J Courtnay book "Theatre Organ World" (Biography section) This console was originally a two manual in the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool no less !!
Brittania of Billingsgate, Shows the 4 manual 15 rank Compton at the Gaumont Palace, Hammersmith, London coming up out of the pit and being played by Stanley Tudor
Carnival of Souls, 1962,Candace Hilligoss, Frances Feist. Actually about an organist. Part of film takes place in an organbuilder's shop (Reuter's in Lawrence, Kansas)
The Carpetbaggers -- a 1920s actor gets rich and a scene or two are played against the background of his home theater organ.
Casper1995 staring Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman, contains an organ. In the library, there is a two or three manual theatre organ with a lot of exposed pipework.
Castle in the Desert, 1942 ”, (a Charlie Chan mystery movie )shows a scene of a lady playing a bulky, large grand piano-sized instrument, but the sound is that of a pipe organ. It took me many years to realize that this was a real instrument and not a fake. It would have been a 1930's Estey Minuette Grand, which was really a 3 rank organ w/ 230 pipes ( 2 manual with pedals ) in a large, modified, grand piano case. The pipes were mostly Haskell types to minimize their lengths, and a set of chimes was even included .(It cost $3,500.-a lot of money during the Great Depression ) This instrument also came in upright form. It was advertised in the Diapason magazine in the 1930’s in large,two page ads and was made by Estey Organ, Brattleboro, VT. [%]
Chappaqua1966 - Allen Ginsberg plays harmonium, chants.
Children of Damned [GB], 1964, directed by Anton Leader, with Ian Hendry, Alan Badel, Barbara Ferris. It’s the sequel of "The Village of the Damned". A monumental victorian organ is always visible in the church where alien children are living.
Christmas Without Snow, 1980, Made for TV Movie Starring Michael Learned & John Houseman, takes place in San Francisco. As a new conductor tries to teach a church choir Handel's Messiah for Christmas, the angry son of the pastor destroys the pipe organ. After a hilarious attempt to replace it with an electronic organ, the choir bands together and restores the Pipe organ just in time for Christmas.
Comedy of Terrors, The,1963, Shady funeral parlor directors Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, & Peter Lorre employ a wheezy reed organ at their establishment.
Cuban Pete, 1946, Desi Arnaz, & Ethel Smith as Herself, playing "The Breeze and I" in this old black and white movie. She's at the Hammond , on a revolving turntable. Excellent sequence.
Dead Ringer, 1964 directed by Paul Henreid staring Bette Davis (as both "good" & "evil" twin sisters) features a Bar Scene with a young lady "Playing" a B-3 Hammond (probably Andre Previn who did the music score playing organ [it sounds a little like his "Like Young" piano playing]) with a drummer and unseen bass player.
Diary of Anna Magdalena Bach, The ["Chronik der Anna Magdalena Bach", Germany/Italy, 1967] directed by Jean–Marie Strau_, with Gustav Leonhardt, Paolo Carlini, Christiana Lang; music by Johann Sebastian Bach entirely played by actors themselves (Concentus Musicus, dir. by Nikolaus Harnoncourt; Schola Cantorum Basilensis, dir. by August Wenzinger; Kanbenchor Hannover, dir. by Heinz Hennig; Orgel und Cembalo: Gustav Leonhardt). Gustav Leonhardt as J.S.Bach himself plays organs, directs choir and orchestra. Delightful.
Doucement les basses [France], 1971, directed by Jacques Deray, with Alain Delon, Paul Meurisse, Nathalie Delon. Rock music in the church scene: Alain Delon (in this film he is a priest) plays rock music on an Hammond organ .
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, 1932, starring Fredric March, who won an Oscar for Best Actor. The film opens showing the hands of Dr. Jekyll playing a three manual residence organ in a scene that lasts about two minutes.
Dr. Phibes Rises Again,1972, Dr. Phibes packs up his organ & takes it with him to be installed in his new residence in Egypt.
Dracula: dead and loving it, 1995, directed by Mel Brooks, with Leslie Nilelsen, Peer MacNicol, Steven Weber, Amy Yasbech, Mel Brooks, Anne Bancroft, Ezio Greggio. Delightful scene of the "Organ Tango". You must see that movie for that scene!
Ed Wood, 1994 Starring: Johnny Depp. A party scene features Korla Pandit, of all people, playing the Hammond, just like he did on TV in the fifties, when the film was set.
Frances,In
1982 Jessica Lang played the leading role in a full-length feature movie
biography of the life of actress Frances Farmer. She grew up in the Seattle
area, and at one point in the film she is in a movie palace with a Wurlitzer
playing. We not only hear it, but we get a view of it. It may be the Seattle
Paramount.
Front
Page, 1974, Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, Susan Sarandon... Susan
Sarandon's character in the film is a cinema organist...some very good shots of
her playing for a picture.
For
some dollars more [Per qualche dollaro in piú, Italy,
Spain, USA], 1965, directed by Sergio Leone, with Clint Eastwood, Lee van Cleef,
Gian Maria VolontT, Mara Krup, Luigi Pistilli, Klaus Kinski, RoseMarie Dexter,
Mario Brega. Music by Ennio Morricone. A western star is born: Clint Eastwood.
Organ is perfectly utilised by Ennio Morricone in the "Duel in the abandoned
church" scene: a carillon plays, interrupted by a splendid and dramatic "full
organ" solo, replied by trumpet and drums, then newly the carillon... gunfight
(and "The Indian", Gian Maria VolontT, kills "The Irish" Luigi Pistilli).
Ghost
and Mr. Chicken, The, 1966, Don Knotts, Takes place in Kansas, the
"ghost" plays the classical pipe organ in a deserted Victorian mansion. Scenes
of the 2 man. console and pipework. (An explanation is given near the end of the
movie that the former gardener was really in the pipe chamber, playing the organ
from a tuning keyboard located near the pipes. ) the console used in the Ghost & Mr. Chicken was a 2m Estey residence organ console.
[%]
Ghost Breakers Giant, 1956, - with Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean and Rock Hudson, There was a two-manual
horseshoe console shown in the Reata residence several times and fleetingly
"played" on two occasions by Chill Wills ("Clair de Lune" by Debussy). The
console was first dark- finished, but near the film's end had a very light
finish. Display pipes were located at the rear of the first stair landing
going from the living room to the second floor. The console seemed to look more
like Marr & Colton than Wurlitzer, but was probably a studio
concoction at any rate. The sound, however was most likely made by a Hammond. At
another point in this film a wedding takes place in Elizabeth's child-hood home,
at which time a classical pipe organ is heard to play the traditional wedding
music, but no console or pipes are shown. Godfather II, 1974, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, with Al
Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Robert DeNiro, John Cazale. Scene of the
baptism: miscellanea of J.S. Bach organ music..
Great
Race,The Haunted
Mansion , The, 2003 starring Eddie Murphy, has a scene of a
marriage with "Here Comes the Bride" played in a very dissonant fashion. A three
manual drawknob console (probably a mock-up) is shown, but the organ's sound is
apparently made by a classical pipe organ. {%]
Help,
1965, Beatles. Compton electrone rising from the apartment floor in the first 10
minutes. It
is midnight, Dr. Schweitzer [Il est minuit, doctor
Schweitzer, France], 1952, directed by AndrT Haguet, with Pierre Fresnay,
Raymond Rouleau. The life of this very important man (1875-1965)that received the Nobel
Price for Peace, and also had several (earned) doctorate degrees, including one
in classical music. He was a leading authority on J.S.Bach and a master organist. [%]
Lady
and the Tiger, The, '50s/'60s, British. A short, saw back in high school, as
an adjunct to English short story stuff. Top-down shot of 4-manual horse-shoe
console.
Lilies of the Field -- a pump organ helps complete the interior of a nuns' new "shapel".
Lisztomania
[GB], 1975, directed by Ken Russell, with Roger Daltrey, Sara Kestelman, Paul
Nicholas, Fiona Lewis, Ringo Starr (as "the Pope"!); the life of Franz Liszt
revisited and transformed by Russell’s personal vision
Little
world of don Camillo, The [Don Camillo – Mondo
Piccolo Italy/France], 1950, directed by Julien Duvivier, with Gino Cervi,
Fernandel, Leda Gloria, Vera Falqui, Franco Interlenghi, Saro Urz8. Fernandel
–as Rev Camillo– plays the Serassi organ in the Brescello Parish Church (a
legend wants this organ played by Giuseppe Verdi: it may be, Busseto is near
Brescello).
Lone
wolf McQuade, 1983, directed by Steve Carver, with Chuck Norris,
David Carradine, Barbara Carrera. Final, duel scene: the "Karate" match (Chuck
Norris vs/ David Carradine) is accompanied by organ music. The plot, this scene
and the music are inspired by "For some dollars more".
King
of Marvin Gardens, The, 1972, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern &
Ellen Burstyn in a movie which has a few shots of Ellen pretending to accompany
a vocalist on the Atlantic City Convention Hall (main) ) organ console, although the
sound is Hammond. (see *) The Convention Hall organ was built between 1929
and 1934 by Midmer-Losh and has about 30,000 pipes with a (main) 7 manual
"tablet" console. It also has an auxiliary 5 manual tablet console, and has several blowers to
supply the wind, totaling at least 400 hp. A few of the reed stops are on
50 and 100 inch wind pressures, no less. (*) This organ was
completely out of commission for several decades and only since the
mid 1990's have some restoration efforts taken place (which will cost
several million dollars, if ever completed). Less than half of this organ is
now playable. Shortly after the initial console shots, a real theatre pipe organ
is heard during additional movie footage in the main hall, (seating 41,000 people )
which could have been made by the 1931 Kimball 4 man/ 55 rank organ in the
ballroom of this gigantic building. It evidently has always been operational.
The Atlantic City High School also (once ) contained a 1924 Midmer-Losh, 5 man.
classical organ w/ abt. 6000 pipes. All three of these instruments were designed
by the late U.S. Senator Emerson Richards, who even had a 140 rk, 8500 pipe Aeolian-Skinner 4
man. classical organ in his Atlantic City mansion, the last of 12 pipe organs in his
residence.(The mansion and organ burned in 1958) [%]
Mad Love (1935) with Peter Lorre
and Colin Clive. Lorre steals the show as a bald mad scientist, who is obsessed with "Galatea" and bringing
a wax statue to life as the
object of his afffection. Twice in the movie he serenades her on what passes for a mock-up of a French
residential organ from times past.
Man of a Thousand Faces (1957) Mannequin,
1987, Andrew McCarthy, Kim Cattrall, Estelle Getty, James Spader. (Readers note:" I
adore the movie Mannequin as it was shot at Wanamakers. However the Mannequin does not
play the organ... the male lead does! I was rather dissapointed at that point in the
movie..cuz of course..he had to walk in with a cape and sit down and act like he
was playing in a "horror movie" fashion. Such a grand instrument with a bit part in
that movie. the organ should have fought for more lines!!! "-A theatreorgans.com reader.
The movie shows the Wanamaker Organ, (Phil, PA) with Andrew attempting to play . There are a few
shots of the main pipe facade in the Grand Court, and an overhead view of
console. The Wanamaker organ was originally made in 1904 for the St. Louis
Exposition (10,000 pipes), installed in the Wanamaker store in 1911, and
enlarged by the Wanamaker organ shop over the next 20 years until it reached
about 28,000 pipes. It's 3rd and current console has 6 manuals with rocker
tablets. This instrument was highly praised by the late Virgil Fox.
In recent years this store has become a Lord & Taylors. This organ should not be be
confused with the (also famous) NYC Wanamaker Auditorium (Austin) organ
which was enlarged circa 1920 to about 7000 pipes/ 4 manuals by the Wanamaker
shop and removed/ discarded circa 1955. [%]
Man of Flowers,
(1983) - Norman Kaye plays organ to relax after paying Alyson Best to disrobe
while he watches.
Mam’zelle Nitouche [France], 1931, directed by Marc
AllTgret, with Raimu, Jainine Marese; then the
remake [France, 1953] directed by Yves AllTgret (son of Marc),
with Fernandel, Anna Maria Pierangeli [Pier Angeli], Louis de FunFs, Jean
Debucourt. The plot: an organist has "a second personality": composer of
Operettas... That’s all.
Man
who knew too much, The, 1956, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, with
James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda de Banzie, Bernard Miles, Ralph Truman. Royal
Albert Hall scene: music by Arthur Benjamin ("Storming Cloud" cantata; we see
the organ played by Sir George Thalben-Ball.) -
MWKTM (GB 35) starring Leslie Banks etc
features 'Storm Clouds' cantata for soprano, choir & orchestra incl.George Thalben-Ball at the Albert Hall organ
MWKTM (US 56) remake of above featuring an edited Storm clouds cantata arranged & conducted by Bernard Herrmann - organist MAY still be Thalben-Ball
The Secret Agent (Hitchcock GB 36)
spy thriller starring John Gielgud & Peter Lorre
who discover the dead organist slumped over his keyboard
Hope this clarifies the issue
A.Gleason Man
Who Knew Too Much, The, 1935, starring Leslie Banks,
Edna Best & Peter Lorre. This British spy film was the first movie
with this title directed by Alfred Hitchcock. During the film
some in the cast enter a large (real )church to meet their "contact" and hear a
loud groaning from the pipe organ. When they proceed to the front of the nave
they find the organist (presumably their contact) slumped over the
keyboards of a good-sized 3 or 4 manual console, dead, and this was why
the organ's sound was so dissonant. (There are evidently major differences
between the 1935 & 1956 versions of this film.) [%].
Melody
Time, 1948, Just re-released in 1998,This is a Walt Disney
Animated film with a substantial piece with Ethel Smith playing the Hammond
Organ. Organ blown up by cartoon characters using TNT. A must have for any
Hammond Lover.
Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil, 1997,Kevin Spacey, John Cusack.
Story Takes place in Savannah, GA, prominent classical organ in the mansion is
played briefly, curtains open revealing pipework.
Minority
Report , Starring Tom Cruise has 2 scenes featuring an Allen
George Wright 319 with fake pipes playing "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring". The
movie takes place in 2054. Does this mean Spielberg thinks the organ of the
future will be a Theatre Organ?
Montecassino Abbey [Montecassino nel cerchio di fuoco Italy], 1946,
directed by Arturo Gemmiti, with Zora Piazza, Ubaldo Lay, Fosca Freda [music by
various authors and by Rev. Luigi De Sario, played by himself on the ancient
Cesare Catarinozzi organ [1696] destroyed by American bombs)
Moro
affair, The [Il caso Moro, Italy], 1986, directed
by Giuseppe Ferrara, with Gian Maria VolontT, Margarita Lozano, Mattia Sbragia.
Via Fani (kidnapping) scene: J.S.Bach organ music (pedal solo of C minor
Preludium)
My
Summer Story, 1994, Charles Grodin, Mary Steenburgen, Kieran
Culkin MGM/UA- A compilation of some of Jean Shepherd's hilarious stories about
growing up in the Midwest. Of interest to the TO fan is the retelling of
"Leopold Doppler and the Great Orpheum Gravy Boat Riot", including the rising
console and the community sing.
Nothing
But Trouble, 1991, Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Demi
Moore. Trapped in a mad house in Valkenvania, the Judge plays the pipe organ
with the "Digital Underground".
Parallax
View, 1972, directed by Alan J. Pakula, with Warren Beatty, Paula
Prentiss, Jim Davis and Joan Lemmo; Joan Lemmo as "the organist", one of the
characters.
Pink Panther Strikes Again, The, 1976, Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom.
Herbert Lom's 2nd console appearance, the first was in the 1964 version of the
Phantom. In this case he is Clouseau's demented ex-boss now turned into an evil
scientist trying to take over the world just to get even with the inept
inspector. The film was partially shot in France and there are several views of
a classical pipe organ with a Cavaille'-Coll styled, 3 man. French terraced
drawknob console, although the sound is most likely not made by this
instrument. Herbert's final number at the organ is Tiptoe Through the
Tulips, played as he dematerializes. [%]
Phantom of the Opera Lon Chaney, 1925 The phantom lives deep down
in the fifth sub-cellar of the Paris Opera House where he plays his
organ.
Phantom
of the Opera, 1962 Herbert Lom, Heather Sears...Features a small
self contained organ in the sewers again... organ is used quite a
bit.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 2006, Jack owes an unpaid debt to Davy Jones and his army of sea-phantoms...his soul. Now, he must find a way to save himself from becoming one of them, and suffering forever ...Davy Jones is playing a horseshoe console with all 8 of his octopus arms! Captain Nemo type music
The
Phantom of the Opera 1998, starring Robert Englund and Jill
Schoelen. Erik Destler, The Phantom (Robert Englund) has a 1 manual organ in his
lair deep below the opera house which he uses to accompany Christine's singing,
and play solo. The sound of it, however, is more like a massive church
instrument
A Place in the Sun -- portable pump organ played on sidewalk.
A
Private Function, 1985, Michael Palin, Maggie Smith. Maggie
'plays' 3 manual Compton for cinema intermission, with mother sitting on end of
bench as they rise out of pit.
Radioland
Murders, 1994, Brian Benben. Mary Stuart Masterson. Ned Beatty.
George Burns, At station WBN the Hits just keep coming. People dropping dead
during a live broadcast, the show must go on, several shots of the organ and
organist.
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, 1938, Shirley Temple, wonderful movie in
which she shares a scene in a radio studio with the "relief organist" sitting at
a Theatre Organ console. The organist is always ready to jump in but the next
act or whatever always shows up just in time to go on. later on, when there
really is a "no-show" and he has to play,...he faints dead away! Rhinestone ,Sylvestor Stallone, Dolly Parton.
Stallone's character, a cabbie, meets Dolly Parton in an accident. (he's a bad driver) His father owns a
mortuary where he shows Dolly his (ahem) organ. Very funny scenes. He plays Tutti Fruitti during a funeral.
Sabots’ tree [L’albero degli
zoccoli, Italy], 1978, directed by Ermanno Olmi, with not–professional
actors; music by Johann Sebastian Bach played by Fernando Germani, Golden
Palm at Cannes; it is perhaps the only one film accompanied exclusively by
organ. You can see the film without translation (players speak the
language of Bergamo –the city of Gaetano Donizetti– that is an idiom spoken only
there and completely obscure even if for Italians): the plot is extremely clear
and Bach organ music (perfectly played) provides to explain it.
Santa
Claus the Movie1986, At one point, well-meaning (but naive and
sloppy) elfin mechanical engineer Patch (Dudley Moore) is shown playing a large,
tinkertoy-looking organ, to entertain the factory elves.
RollerBall
1975, has classical organ music playing in the introductory
scenes. [%]
Scorpio,
1973 An espionage thriller starring Burt Lancaster as an ex-CIA operative called
back for one last assignment -- part way through the film he meets with one of
his contacts in the America On Wheels roller rink in Alexandria VA. When the
film was made, it was the home of the ex-Center Theatre NYC 4/34 Wurlitzer
(little sister to the Radio City Music Hall organ). The several-minute scene
begins with close-ups of the unenclosed pipes and percussions and of Jimmy Boyce
playing at that fabulous Deco console, then cuts to the men talking at the edge
of the rink with skaters and organ behind. Boyce plays throughout the
scene.
Shine,
1996, Starring: Geoffrey Rush,is another movie that contains good shots and
playing of organs. The movie is about the once forgotten concert pianist David
Helfgott
Sissi
the young Kaiserin [Austria], 1956, directed by Ernst Marischka,
with Romy Schneider, Karl–Heinz Böhm, Magda Schneider, Vilma Degischer.
Coronation scene (filmed in the Cathedral of Wien). That scene reproduced
faithfully an historic event: Kaiser Franz Joseph and Kaiserin Elisabeth
("Sissi") were crowned King and Queen of Hungary in 1867 in the "Máthyás
TTmplom" (church of the coronations) of BudaPest, for that occasion Franz Liszt
wrote and directed "The Coronation Mass" (that is partly played in the film).
Smallest Show On Earth, The, 1957, Margaret Rutherford, Peter Sellers...A
young couple inherit an aging cinema in England...they go to a Gaumont theatre
and see and hear a large Compton played for intermission.
Sound
Of Music, 1965, directed by Robert Wise , with Julie Andrews,
Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn, Nicholas Hammond, Peggy
Wood. The Marriage scene (filmed in the Cathedral of Graz) begins with a zoom on
the organ and the leitmotiv played as a wedding march.
Spaceballs
, 1987, Mel Brooks. Organ specifically in Princess Vespa's
wedding scenes at the beginning [to Prince Vallium] and end [to Lone Star] of
the picture.
Streets
of Fire , 1984,Starring: Michael ParT, Diane Lane, et al. The
movie "Streets of Fire" shows an organ at the end of the movie, when the girls
sings the songs about angels and boys. for a movie that show a band playing
instruments they sure did show the B-3 alot. Well not alot but enough for anyone
in love with Hammonds to get more than a glimps of it.
Sunshine
even by night [Il sole anche di notte, Italy], 1990,
directed by Paolo & Emilio Taviani, with Julian Sands, Charlotte Gainsbourg,
Nastassja Kinski. Holy Mass scene: music by Antonio Vivaldi (D minor adagio,
organ translation by J.S.Bach) played on a Vegezzi-Bossi organ (1910).
Sunset
Boulevard,1950, - Erich von Stroheim plays part of the Bach
"Toccata & Fugue in D Minor" on a 2 man. residence pipe organ(mockup)in Gloria
Swanson's mansion. [%] Swiss
Miss They
Might Be Giants, 1971 George C. Scott plays a
Sherlock-Holmes-like sleuth with Joanne Woodward as his Watson -- in one scene
they walk into a big old movie palace and have a chat in the balcony while the
"movie" plays. The theatre is the Brooklyn Fox, and as I recall the scene opens
with a long shot of the auditorium showing the console of the 4/37 Wurlitzer in
the pit. The film was shot just before the building was razed, and it had not
been used for a number of years.
The Friendly Persuasion -- a sort of reed organ movie.
Those
Ghosts [Questi fantasmi, Italy/French], 1967, directed by
Renato Castellani, with Sophia Loren, Vittorio Gassman, Aldo GiuffrT, Margaret
Lee, Mario Adorf. The plot dates from the comedy by Eduardo De Filippo. The
marriage was located in the Carmine Maggiore Basilica in Naples (where
Masaniello started the 1647 revolution). We can see the ancient "twin" organs
(Felice Cimino, 1714) and –on the west end– the 3 manual organ (Francesco
Mascia, 1907) on which Marco Enrico Bossi and above all Franco Michele
Napolitano played several concerts (it was enlarged, modified and coupled to
ancient organs by Giuseppe Ruffatti, 1975)
Trouble with Angels, The ,In the
first 20 minutes or so of the film, the two main characters come out of Mother
Superior's office and spy a large Victorian reed organ(with fake pipe top as was common).
One of the girls remarks: "Dig that crazy accordian." The organ is seen a few more times in quick
shots of the main entrance lobby of the convent/ boarding school. Submitted by:
Br. Joseph Havrilka , St. Louis, Missouri Tony
Rome, 1967, Frank Sinatra, 3-manual Wurlitzer Console in large
living room
Twelve
Monkeys, 1995. Joseph Melito, Bruce Willis. The pipe facade of
the Wanamaker Organ makes a very 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ,1954 James Mason, Kirk Douglas...Captain
Nemo plays a lot of modified Bach while doing soul searching under the ocean. As
a side light this console can now be seen in California's Disneyland ride
"Haunted Mansion" in the ball room.
Valley
of Gwangi, The An Allosaurus that has escaped from a Mexican
circus chases James Franciscus into a church. The church had a large organ in
the Spanish style complete with "trompetas". Someone taking refuge in the loft
sounded the instrument. I wonder who was pumping the bellows? Maybe there was
still a little wind left in the reservoir from the last service!
Who
Framed Roger Rabbit, 1988. Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd,
Theatre Scene (shot in Britain) shows 3-manual console in orchestra pit plus the
band organ in the climax of the whole picture.
Woman
of the Year, (1942) -- Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn;
Katharine goes in and fires up a Hammond D and plays a tune. "Yanks",
1979, Richard Gere, The organ is featured in England for a sing-a-long in a
Cinema.
The location for the clip featuring the cinema organ was the Davenport Theatre, Stockport, England. The organ was a Compton ( British made ) pipe organ, and the organist was Bolton born Ronald Curtis. The cinema was demolished many years ago.
Younger And
Younger Starring Donald Sutherland 1993 A very strange film, but
"starring" a Wurlitzer pipe organ installed in a U-Lock-It type warehouse, with
Donald Sutherland shown as the organist, but not much organ music, but no list
would be complete without this film. TV CURIOSITIES- AMERICAN PRODUCED
[%] Made For TV Movie : "FACTS OF
LIFE",(sitcom) circa 1980 TV Curiosties Outside of
America
In several TV-Movies and "Soap–operas" organs are utilised.
I wish to remember two of those, in which organs are important in the
plot.
Series: "Inspektor Derrick" (Germany, 1979–1996); the
"Adagio case": the solution was inspired by an old LP in which is recorded
Bach’s "Adagio" (from Toccata, Adagio and Fugue) played by Albert
Scweitzer.
mini-series "Il Segno del Comando" (Italy, 1975); a mystery
is jointed to an ancient organ piece ("Vexilla Regis prodeunt inferni" psalm).
That piece is played on a very ancient Positive Organ by Fernando
Germani.
Pipe organs are perfectly played in several Japanese toons.
I wish to remember two of those, in which organs are important in the
plot.
"Daitarn III the Space Robot" (1977): one of enemy robot was
controlled by a large 3 manual organ; the duel is accompanied by Bach’s "D minor
Toccata and Fugue BWV 565" entirely played!
"Danguard the Space Robot" (1978): enemies’ chief (Dr
Doppler) plays usually a large 4 manual organ, and his "theme" is a dark
"Chaconne".
"Ryu the prehistoric hero" (1980): two dinosaurs match scene
was accompanied by Bach’s "G minor Fantasia and Fugue BWV 542" entirely
played!
Annotation: the well-known French organist Jean Guillou composed music for
several French films. It exists a film music of which is entirely improvised by
him. There is someone that know the name of this? [ Ý ] movie or annotation signaled by, and information by Dr. Graziano Fronzuto, Rome,
Italy. [ % ] movie or annotation
signaled by, and information by Don Belben, church organist, organ historian,
Boston, MA .
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Flirtation
Walk, 1934, starring Dick Powell & Ruby Keeler (about West
Point Military Academy) has a scene with a marriage in the Chapel (a mock up)
and a pipe organ is heard, but it is surely not the huge organ at the real West
Point Chapel, which is really a mini-cathedral. The real (mostly Moller)
Chapel organ was first installed in 1911 with a 3 man. console & 2000 pipes,
and enlarged (by private donations from Cadets, alumni, and others )
through recent decades to over 23,500 pipes, with an extremely large 4 manual
"rocker tablet" console (it's third), which was installed in 1950. A new
solid-state combination action memory has recently been installed which provides
for 64 levels of the 30 programmable General pistons and other divisional pistons.
The 1920's-'30's tonal scheme of the organ was inspired by George A. Audsley, but since
the 1970's the tonal scheme has been modified to be more eclectic. Since 1911 additional
pipework has been supplied by Moller, Cavaille'-Coll, Bonavia-Hunt, Aeolian-Skinner,
Stinkens, Bier and others. In the 1930’s the organ would have had about
8000 pipes. (no console is shown in the film). This organ was featured in a PBS TV
special in 2005 called "America's Greatest Houses of Worship". [%]
used a real 18th c, Spanish organ with two keyboards added by the studio. The organ is now in the San Fernando Mission near L.A.
La
symphonic Pastorale (1948), Based on the novel by Andre' Gide, directed by Jean Delannoy with
Michele Morgan. Pierre Blanchar and Jean Desailly. The pastor of a French Lutheran church falls
in love with a blind girl he took care and asks his son Jacques (Jean Desailly) to teach her how to play
the organ for the services. After Jacques returns from a trip to study organ performance, he plays Bach
prelude from Prelude and Fugue in A minor BWV 543. Very good
suspense and organ music...
This film portrays the life and legacy of Lon Chaney(played by James Cagney). In at least two scenes, background music for the filming of silent film scenes is furnished by two live musicians. One is a violinist and the other is a man playing a folding reed organ. The organ music is prominent. In the recreation of Lon's role as The Phantom of the Opera, the famous "unmasking scene" is portrayed. Cagney is seated on a rather ornate church-style bench at a large two manual console with rocker stoptabs and a single row of facade pipes. Convincing organ music is played by what is obviously a theater organ
From a reader:
you are getting your "Man who knew too much"
listings horribly confused
brief appearance (see
"Mannequin" movie for info on this organ )
The TV
cast travels to Sydney, Australia and some of them get to "doodle" on the 5
manual German tracker pipe organ in the famous sail-shaped Sydney Opera
House, constructed in the 1970's. [%]