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{{short description|1998 film by Giuseppe Tornatore}}
{{distinguish|1900 (film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = The Legend of 1900
| name = The Legend of 1900
| image = leggenda pianista.jpg
| image = leggenda pianista.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Italian poster
| caption = Italian theatrical film poster
| director = [[Giuseppe Tornatore]]
| director = [[Giuseppe Tornatore]]
| producer =
| writer = Giuseppe Tornatore
| producer = [[Giuseppe Tornatore#Personal life|Francesco Tornatore]]
| screenplay = Giuseppe Tornatore
| starring = [[Tim Roth]]<br />[[Pruitt Taylor Vince]]
| based_on = {{Based on|''Novecento''|[[Alessandro Baricco]]}}
| music = [[Ennio Morricone]]<br />Amedeo Tommasi
| starring = {{plainlist|
* [[Tim Roth]]
* [[Pruitt Taylor Vince]]
* [[Mélanie Thierry]]
* [[Bill Nunn]]
* [[Peter Vaughan]]
* [[Niall O'Brien (actor)|Niall O'Brien]]
* [[Gabriele Lavia]]
* Alberto Vazquez
* [[Clarence Williams III]]
}}
| music = [[Ennio Morricone]]
| cinematography = [[Lajos Koltai]]
| cinematography = [[Lajos Koltai]]
| editing = Massimo Quaglia
| editing = Massimo Quaglia
| studio = Sciarlò<br />Medusa Film
| distributor = Medusa Film<br />[[Fine Line Features]]
| distributor = Medusa Film (Italy)<br />[[Fine Line Features]] (International)<ref>{{cite web|title=Fine Line dives into 'Ocean'|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=13 May 1997|access-date=14 November 2021|url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/fine-line-dives-into-ocean-1116680622/}}</ref>
| released = {{Film date|1998|10|28|Italy|1999|10|29|United States}}
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1998|10|28}}
| runtime = 160 minutes
| runtime = 165 minutes {{small|(Original cut)}}<br />125 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 125:04--><ref>{{cite web | url=http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/legend-1900-1999 | title=''The Legend of 1900'' | publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=21 October 1999 | accessdate=4 January 2015}}</ref>
| country = {{Film Italy}}<br />{{Film US}}
| country = Italy
| language = English
| language = English<br />French<br />Italian
| budget = $9 million
| budget = $9 million
| gross = $259,127 (United States)
| gross = $4 million (Italy)<ref name=gross>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Screen International]]|date=10 December 1999|page=30|title=Italy: Top 5 local production companies|first=Natasha|last=Senjanovic}}</ref> $20.6 million (2019 re-release)
}}
}}
'''''The Legend of 1900''''' ({{lang-it|La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano}}) is a [[1998 in film|1998 film]] directed by the [[Italian people|Italian]] filmmaker [[Giuseppe Tornatore]], starring [[Tim Roth]]. This is Tornatore's first English-language film.<ref>[http://www.mediacircus.net/legend.html]</ref> The film is inspired by a [[theater]] [[monologue]], ''Novecento'', by [[Alessandro Baricco]]. The film was nominated for a variety of awards worldwide, winning several for its [[The Legend of 1900 (soundtrack)|soundtrack]].
'''''The Legend of 1900''''' ({{langx|it|'''La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano'''}}, "The Legend of the Pianist on the Ocean") is a 1998 Italian English-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] directed by [[Giuseppe Tornatore]], and starring [[Tim Roth]], [[Pruitt Taylor Vince]] and [[Mélanie Thierry]]. It was Tornatore's first English-language film.<ref>[http://www.mediacircus.net/legend.html ''The Legend of 1900''] at mediacircus.net</ref> The film is inspired by ''[[Novecento (monologue)|Novecento]]'', a [[monologue]] by [[Alessandro Baricco]]. The film was nominated for a variety of awards worldwide, winning several for [[The Legend of 1900 (soundtrack)|its soundtrack]].


==Plot==
==Plot==
The story is told [[in medias res]] as a series of [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]]s. Max Tooney, a musician, enters a secondhand music shop just before closing time, broke and badly in need of money. He has only a Conn [[trumpet]], which he sells for less than he had hoped. Clearly torn at parting from his prized possession, he asks to play it one last time. The shopkeeper agrees, and as the musician plays, the shopkeeper immediately recognizes the song from a broken record matrix he found inside a recently acquired secondhand [[piano]]. He asks who the piece is by, and Max tells him the story of 1900.
The story is told in the midst of the plot as a series of [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]]s. Musician Max Tooney enters a music shop and sells his old [[C.G. Conn|Conn]] trumpet. Clearly torn at parting from his prized possession, he asks to play it one last time. The shopkeeper agrees and, as he plays, the vendor recognizes the song as the same as recorded on a [[Matrix (record production)|record matrix]] (master disc) he found. He asks who the piece is by and Max tells him the story of 1900.


1900 was found abandoned on the [[Four funnel liner|four stacker]] SS ''Virginian'', a mere baby in a hand basket, and likely the son of poor immigrants from steerage. Danny, a coal-man from the boiler room, is determined to raise the boy as his own. He names the boy Danny Boodman T. D. Lemon 1900 (a combination of his own name, the year, and an advertisement found in the basket) and hides him from the ship's officers. During the early years of his life, 1900 comes across an advertisement for a man with the initials of T.D; however, on seeing the advertisement and possibly 1900's biological father, Danny decides not to tell 1900 the truth. Sadly, a few years later, Danny is killed in a workplace accident, and 1900 is forced to survive aboard the ''Virginian'' as an orphan. For many years, he travels back and forth across the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]], keeping a low profile and apparently learning the languages spoken by the immigrants in Third Class.
A baby boy is found abandoned in the first class dining room of the [[Four funnel liner|four stacker ocean liner]] SS ''Virginian''. Danny Boodman, a [[Fire iron|coal-man]] from the boiler room, names the boy Danny Boodman T. D. Lemon 1900, after himself, the fruit crate the boy was found in, and the year, and raises him as his own. A few years later Danny is killed in a workplace accident. When police officers come on the ship to take him to the orphanage, 1900 hides for several days and reappears playing a piano very well without having ever been taught.


The boy shows a particular gift for music and eventually grows up and joins the ship's orchestra. He befriends Max in 1926, but never leaves the vessel, even when presented with the opportunity to fashion a new life with a pretty immigrant girl. Apparently, the outside world is too "big" for his imagination at this point. But he stays current with outside musical trends as passengers explain to him a new music trend or style, and he immediately picks it up and starts playing it for them.
1900 shows a particular gift for music and eventually grows up, joining the ship's orchestra. When Max is hired as a member of the orchestra in 1927, the two become close friends. 1900 never leaves the vessel, as the outside world is too "big" for his imagination at this point. He stays current with outside musical trends as passengers explain new music trends or styles.


His reputation as a pianist is so renowned that [[Jelly Roll Morton]], of [[New Orleans]] [[jazz]] fame, on hearing of 1900's skill comes aboard to challenge him to a piano duel. After hearing Jelly Roll Morton's first tune 1900 plays a piece so simple and well known ("Silent Night") that the self-proclaimed inventor of jazz feels mocked. As Morton becomes more determined to display his talent, he plays an impressive improvised tune ("The Crave") that brings tears to 1900's eyes. 1900 calmly sits down at the piano and plays from memory the entire tune that Morton had just improvised. 1900's playing fails to impress the crowd until he plays an original piece of such virtuosity that the metal piano strings become hot enough for 1900 to light a cigarette. He hands it to Morton, who has lost the duel.
His reputation as a pianist is so renowned that [[Jelly Roll Morton]], of [[New Orleans]] jazz fame, comes aboard to challenge him to a [[piano duel]]. After hearing Morton's first tune, 1900 plays a piece so simple and well known ("Silent Night") that Morton feels mocked. As Morton becomes more determined to display his talent, he plays an impressive tune ("The Crave") that brings tears to 1900's eyes. He then plays from memory the entire tune that Morton had just played. His playing fails to impress the crowd until his original piece ("Enduring Movement"), of such virtuosity and superhuman speed that the metal piano strings become hot enough to light a cigarette, which he hands to Morton as a gesture of victory.


A record producer, having heard of 1900's prowess, brings a primitive recording apparatus aboard and cuts a demo record of a 1900 original composition. The recorded music is created by 1900 as he gazes at a woman (The Girl) who has just boarded and who he finds attractive. When 1900 hears the recording, he takes the master, offended at the prospect of anyone hearing the music without his having performed it. He then tries to give the master to The Girl who inspired it, but ends up smashing it when he fails.
A record producer, hearing of 1900's prowess brings a recording apparatus aboard and cuts a demo record of a 1900 original composition. He creates the piece, inspired by a woman (The Girl) who has just boarded and mesmerizes him. When he hears the recording, 1900 takes the master disc, offended at the prospect of anyone hearing the music without him having performed it live. He then tries to give the master to The Girl who inspired it, but is unable to and breaks it into pieces.


The story flashes back to the mid-1940s periodically, as we see Max (who leaves the ship's orchestra in 1933) trying to lure 1900 out of the now-deserted hulk of the ship. Having served as a hospital ship and transport in [[World War II]], she is scheduled to be scuttled and sunk far offshore. Max manages to get aboard the ship with the recording 1900 made long ago and plays it, hoping to attract 1900's attention. When it does, Max attempts to convince 1900 to leave the ship. But he is simply too daunted by the size of the world. And feeling that his fate is tied to the ship, 1900 cannot bring himself to leave the only home he has known. In the end, the ''Virginian'' blows up and sinks, presumably with 1900 still aboard.
The story flashes back to the mid-1940s periodically, as Max (who has left the ship's orchestra in 1933) is seen trying to find 1900 in the now-deserted hull of the vessel which is scheduled to be scuttled and sunk far offshore. Max returns to the ship with the recording 1900 made long ago and plays it, hoping to lure him out. Max and 1900 finally meet again and 1900 is immovable about sinking with the ship, being daunted by the immenseness of the world. He feels his fate is tied to the ship, and cannot bring himself to leave the only home he has ever known.


Returning to the present, the shopkeeper asks Max how the record got into the secondhand piano. Max says that he put it in there. Then, as Max is leaving the store, the shopkeeper gives him the trumpet and says, "A good story is worth more than an old trumpet," and Max walks out into the rain.
As Max leaves the store, the shopkeeper gives him the trumpet back, without asking for money and saying "A good story is worth more than an old trumpet".


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{div col}}
* [[Tim Roth]] as 1900 (Danny Boodman T.D. Lemon 1900)
* [[Tim Roth]] as 1900 (Danny Boodman T.D. Lemon 1900)
** Roman Kuznietcov as 2-year-old 1900
** Easton Gage as 4-year-old 1900
** Cory Buck as 8-year-old 1900
* [[Pruitt Taylor Vince]] as Max Tooney
* [[Pruitt Taylor Vince]] as Max Tooney
* [[Mélanie Thierry]] as The Girl
* [[Mélanie Thierry]] as The Girl
* [[Bill Nunn]] as Danny
* [[Bill Nunn]] as Danny
* [[Heathcote Williams]] as Dr. Klauserman
* [[Clarence Williams III]] as [[Jelly Roll Morton]]
* [[Clarence Williams III]] as [[Jelly Roll Morton]]
* [[Peter Vaughan]] as the Shopkeeper
* [[Peter Vaughan]] as The Shopkeeper
* [[Niall O'Brien (actor)|Niall O'Brien]] as Harbor Master
* [[Niall O'Brien (actor)|Niall O'Brien]] as Harbor Master
* [[Gabriele Lavia]] as Farmer
* [[Gabriele Lavia]] as Farmer
* [[Sidney Cole]] as Musician
* Harry Ditson as Captain Smith
* Adrian McCourt
* [[Kevin McNally]]
* Eamon Geoghegan
{{div col end}}


==Awards==
==Reception==
''The Legend of 1900'' received mixed critical reviews. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 54% based on 41 reviews.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/legend_of_1900/ | title=The Legend of 1900 (1998) | work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] | publisher=[[Fandango Media]] | accessdate=4 January 2015}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a 58/100 rating based on 28 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-legend-of-1900 | title=The Legend of 1900 Reviews | work=[[Metacritic]] | publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] | accessdate=4 January 2015}}</ref>

The film grossed $4 million in Italy<ref name=gross/> and $259,127 in the United States. On 15 November 2019 the film was given a wide release in China and made 130 million yuan (the equivalent of about $18.4 million) in its first two weeks.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/arts-music/article/3040504/why-forgotten-21-year-old-film-flop-has-taken | title=Why a forgotten 21-year-old film flop has taken Chinese cinema by storm and made millions | publisher=[[South China Morning Post]] | accessdate=9 December 2019}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
{{Main|The Legend of 1900 (soundtrack)}}

==Accolades==
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%; margin-right: 0;"
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%; margin-right: 0;"
|-
|-
Line 51: Line 86:
! Governing body
! Governing body
! Award
! Award
! Nominee and category<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120731/awards | title = Awards for ''The Legend of 1900'' | accessdate = 2008-09-04 | publisher = [[Internet Movie Database]] }}</ref>
! Nominee and category<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120731/awards | title = Awards for ''The Legend of 1900'' | accessdate = 2008-09-04 | publisher = [[Internet Movie Database]] }}</ref>
! Result
! Result
|-
|-
| align="left" | [[1999 in film|1999]]
| rowspan=16 | [[1999 in film|1999]]
| align="left" | [[Camerimage]]
| [[Camerimage]]
| align="left" | Golden Frog
| Golden Frog
| align="left" | [[Lajos Koltai]] for Best [[Cinematography]]
| [[Lajos Koltai]] for Best Cinematography
| align="left" | Lost to ''[[Elizabeth (film)|Elizabeth]]''<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Camerimage/1999 | title = Camerimage: 1999 | publisher = [[Internet Movie Database]] | accessdate = 2008-09-04 }}</ref>
| {{nom|Lost to ''[[Elizabeth (film)|Elizabeth]]''}}<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Camerimage/1999 | title = Camerimage: 1999 | publisher = [[Internet Movie Database]] | accessdate = 2008-09-04 }}</ref>
|-
|-
| align="left" rowspan="8"| 1999
| rowspan=8 | [[David di Donatello]]
| align="left" rowspan="8"| [[David di Donatello]]
| rowspan=7 | David
| Lajos Koltai for Best Cinematography
| align="left" rowspan="7" | David
| {{won}}
| align="left" | Lajos Koltai for Best Cinematography
| align="left" rowspan="5" | Won
|-
|-
| align="left" | [[Maurizio Millenotti]] for Best [[Costume design|Costume Design]]
| [[Maurizio Millenotti]] for Best Costume Design
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| align="left" | [[Giuseppe Tornatore]] for Best [[Film director|Director]]
| [[Giuseppe Tornatore]] for Best Director
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| align="left" | [[Ennio Morricone]] for Best Music
| [[Ennio Morricone]] for Best Music
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| align="left" | Francesco Frigeri for Best [[Production design|Production Design]]
| Francesco Frigeri for Best Production Design
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| align="left" | Best Film
| Best Film
| align="left" rowspan="2" | Lost to ''[[Fuori Dal Mondo]]''<ref name="imdb-David">{{cite web | url = http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/David_di_Donatello_Awards/1999 | title = David di Donatello Awards: 1999 | publisher = [[Internet Movie Database]] | accessdate = 2008-09-04}}</ref>
| {{nom|Lost to ''[[Fuori Dal Mondo]]''}}<ref name="imdb-David">{{cite web | url = https://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/David_di_Donatello_Awards/1999 | title = David di Donatello Awards: 1999 | publisher = [[Internet Movie Database]] | accessdate = 2008-09-04}}</ref>
|-
|-
| align="left" | Best [[Screenplay]]
| Best Screenplay
| {{nom|Lost to ''[[Fuori Dal Mondo]]''}}
|-
|-
| align="left" | Scholars Jury David
| Scholars Jury David
| align="left" | Giuseppe Tornatore
| Giuseppe Tornatore
| {{won}}
| align="left" | Won
|-
|-
| [[European Film Awards]]
| align="left" | 1999
| align="left" | [[European Film Awards]]
| European Film Award
| Lajos Koltai for Best Cinematographer <small>(also for ''[[Sunshine (1999 film)|Sunshine]]'')</small>
| align="left" | [[European Film Award]]
| {{won}}
| align="left" | Lajos Koltai for Best Cinematographer <small>(also for ''[[Sunshine (1999 film)|Sunshine]]'')</small>
| align="left" | Won
|-
|-
| rowspan=6 | Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
| align="left" | [[2000 in film|2000]]
| rowspan=5 | [[Nastro d'Argento]]
| align="left" | Golden Globes
| Maurizio Millenotti for Best Costume Design
| align="left" | [[Golden Globe Award]]
| {{won}}
| align="left" | Ennio Morricone for Best Original [[Musical score|Score]] - Motion Picture
| align="left" | Won
|-
| align="left" | 2000
| align="left" | Guild of German Art House Cinemas
| align="left" | Guild Film Award - Silver
| align="left" | Giuseppe Tornatore for [[World cinema|Foreign Film]]
| align="left" | Won
|-
| align="left" rowspan="6" |1999
| align="left" rowspan="6" | Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
| align="left" rowspan="5" | [[Nastro d'Argento]]
| align="left" | Maurizio Millenotti for Best Costume Design
| align="left" rowspan="6" | Won
|-
|-
| Giuseppe Tornatore for Best Director
| Giuseppe Tornatore for Best Director
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| Best [[Film producer|Producer]]
| Best [[Film producer|Producer]]
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| Francesco Frigeri for Best Production Design
| Francesco Frigeri for Best Production Design
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| Giuseppe Tornatore for Best Screenplay
| Giuseppe Tornatore for Best Screenplay
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| align="left" | Nastro d'Argento Speciale
| Nastro d'Argento Speciale
| Ennio Morricone for the musical research for composing the movie's original score
| Ennio Morricone for the musical research for composing the movie's original score
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| align="left" rowspan="2" | 2000
| rowspan=4 | [[2000 in film|2000]]
| [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globes]]
| align="left" rowspan="2" | [[Satellite Awards]]
| align="left" rowspan="2" | Golden Satellite Award
| Golden Globe Award
| Ennio Morricone for Best Original Score - Motion Picture
| align="left" | Francesco Frigeri and Bruno Cesari for Best [[Art director|Art Direction]], Production Design
| {{won}}
| align="left" rowspan="2"| Lost to ''[[Sleepy Hollow (film)|Sleepy Hollow]]''<ref name = Satellite>{{cite web | url = http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Satellite_Awards/2000 | title = Satellite Awards: 2000 | publisher = [[Internet Movie Database]] | accessdate = 2008-09-04}}</ref>
|-
|-
| Guild of German Art House Cinemas
| align="left" | Ennio Morricone for Best Original Score
| Guild Film Award - Silver
| Giuseppe Tornatore for Foreign Film
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=2 | [[Satellite Awards]]
| rowspan=2 | Golden Satellite Award
| Francesco Frigeri and Bruno Cesari for Best Art Direction, Production Design
| {{nom|Lost to ''[[Sleepy Hollow (film)|Sleepy Hollow]]''}}<ref name = Satellite>{{cite web | url = https://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Satellite_Awards/2000 | title = Satellite Awards: 2000 | publisher = [[Internet Movie Database]] | accessdate = 2008-09-04}}</ref>
|-
| Ennio Morricone for Best Original Score
| {{nom|Lost to ''[[Sleepy Hollow (film)|Sleepy Hollow]]''}}
|}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0120731|The Legend of 1900}}
* {{IMDb title|0120731|The Legend of 1900}}
* {{Allmovie title|174203|The Legend of 1900}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|legend_of_1900|The Legend of 1900}}
* {{metacritic film|legendof1900|The Legend of 1900}}
* {{mojo title|legendof1900|The Legend of 1900}}
* {{mojo title|legendof1900|The Legend of 1900}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|legend_of_1900|The Legend of 1900}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=The Legend of 1900}}


{{Giuseppe Tornatore}}
{{Giuseppe Tornatore}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Legend Of 1900}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Legend Of 1900}}
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:1990s French-language films]]
[[Category:1998 films]]
[[Category:1998 films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:1998 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Italian films]]
[[Category:English-language Italian films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films about pianos and pianists]]
[[Category:Films based on novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by Giuseppe Tornatore]]
[[Category:Films directed by Giuseppe Tornatore]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ennio Morricone]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1920s]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1920s]]
[[Category:Romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Films set on ocean liners]]
[[Category:Films set on ships]]

[[Category:Italian films based on plays]]
[[ar:الأسطورة 1900]]
[[Category:Italian romantic drama films]]
[[az:1900-ün əfsanəsi (film, 1998)]]
[[Category:English-language romantic drama films]]
[[bg:Легенда за пианиста]]
[[de:Die Legende vom Ozeanpianisten]]
[[es:La leyenda del pianista en el océano]]
[[fa:افسانه ۱۹۰۰]]
[[fr:La Légende du pianiste sur l'océan]]
[[it:La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano]]
[[ja:海の上のピアニスト]]
[[pl:1900: człowiek legenda]]
[[pt:La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano]]
[[ru:Легенда о пианисте (фильм)]]
[[sco:The Legend of 1900]]
[[th:ตำนานนายพันเก้า หัวใจรักจากท้องทะเล]]
[[tr:1900 Efsanesi]]
[[zh:海上鋼琴師]]

Latest revision as of 02:22, 26 October 2024

Not to be confused with 1900 (film).

The Legend of 1900
Italian theatrical film poster
Directed byGiuseppe Tornatore
Screenplay byGiuseppe Tornatore
Based onNovecento
by Alessandro Baricco
Produced byFrancesco Tornatore
Starring
CinematographyLajos Koltai
Edited byMassimo Quaglia
Music byEnnio Morricone
Production
companies
Sciarlò
Medusa Film
Distributed byMedusa Film (Italy)
Fine Line Features (International)[1]
Release date
  • 28 October 1998 (1998-10-28)
Running time
165 minutes (Original cut)
125 minutes[2]
CountryItaly
LanguagesEnglish
French
Italian
Budget$9 million
Box office$4 million (Italy)[3] $20.6 million (2019 re-release)

The Legend of 1900 (Italian: La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano, "The Legend of the Pianist on the Ocean") is a 1998 Italian English-language drama film directed by Giuseppe Tornatore, and starring Tim Roth, Pruitt Taylor Vince and Mélanie Thierry. It was Tornatore's first English-language film.[4] The film is inspired by Novecento, a monologue by Alessandro Baricco. The film was nominated for a variety of awards worldwide, winning several for its soundtrack.

Plot

[edit]

The story is told in the midst of the plot as a series of flashbacks. Musician Max Tooney enters a music shop and sells his old Conn trumpet. Clearly torn at parting from his prized possession, he asks to play it one last time. The shopkeeper agrees and, as he plays, the vendor recognizes the song as the same as recorded on a record matrix (master disc) he found. He asks who the piece is by and Max tells him the story of 1900.

A baby boy is found abandoned in the first class dining room of the four stacker ocean liner SS Virginian. Danny Boodman, a coal-man from the boiler room, names the boy Danny Boodman T. D. Lemon 1900, after himself, the fruit crate the boy was found in, and the year, and raises him as his own. A few years later Danny is killed in a workplace accident. When police officers come on the ship to take him to the orphanage, 1900 hides for several days and reappears playing a piano very well without having ever been taught.

1900 shows a particular gift for music and eventually grows up, joining the ship's orchestra. When Max is hired as a member of the orchestra in 1927, the two become close friends. 1900 never leaves the vessel, as the outside world is too "big" for his imagination at this point. He stays current with outside musical trends as passengers explain new music trends or styles.

His reputation as a pianist is so renowned that Jelly Roll Morton, of New Orleans jazz fame, comes aboard to challenge him to a piano duel. After hearing Morton's first tune, 1900 plays a piece so simple and well known ("Silent Night") that Morton feels mocked. As Morton becomes more determined to display his talent, he plays an impressive tune ("The Crave") that brings tears to 1900's eyes. He then plays from memory the entire tune that Morton had just played. His playing fails to impress the crowd until his original piece ("Enduring Movement"), of such virtuosity and superhuman speed that the metal piano strings become hot enough to light a cigarette, which he hands to Morton as a gesture of victory.

A record producer, hearing of 1900's prowess brings a recording apparatus aboard and cuts a demo record of a 1900 original composition. He creates the piece, inspired by a woman (The Girl) who has just boarded and mesmerizes him. When he hears the recording, 1900 takes the master disc, offended at the prospect of anyone hearing the music without him having performed it live. He then tries to give the master to The Girl who inspired it, but is unable to and breaks it into pieces.

The story flashes back to the mid-1940s periodically, as Max (who has left the ship's orchestra in 1933) is seen trying to find 1900 in the now-deserted hull of the vessel which is scheduled to be scuttled and sunk far offshore. Max returns to the ship with the recording 1900 made long ago and plays it, hoping to lure him out. Max and 1900 finally meet again and 1900 is immovable about sinking with the ship, being daunted by the immenseness of the world. He feels his fate is tied to the ship, and cannot bring himself to leave the only home he has ever known.

As Max leaves the store, the shopkeeper gives him the trumpet back, without asking for money and saying "A good story is worth more than an old trumpet".

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

The Legend of 1900 received mixed critical reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 54% based on 41 reviews.[5] On Metacritic, the film has a 58/100 rating based on 28 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[6]

The film grossed $4 million in Italy[3] and $259,127 in the United States. On 15 November 2019 the film was given a wide release in China and made 130 million yuan (the equivalent of about $18.4 million) in its first two weeks.[7]

Soundtrack

[edit]
Main article: The Legend of 1900 (soundtrack)

Accolades

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Year Governing body Award Nominee and category[8] Result
1999 Camerimage Golden Frog Lajos Koltai for Best Cinematography Lost to Elizabeth[9]
David di Donatello David Lajos Koltai for Best Cinematography Won
Maurizio Millenotti for Best Costume Design Won
Giuseppe Tornatore for Best Director Won
Ennio Morricone for Best Music Won
Francesco Frigeri for Best Production Design Won
Best Film Lost to Fuori Dal Mondo[10]
Best Screenplay Lost to Fuori Dal Mondo
Scholars Jury David Giuseppe Tornatore Won
European Film Awards European Film Award Lajos Koltai for Best Cinematographer (also for Sunshine) Won
Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists Nastro d'Argento Maurizio Millenotti for Best Costume Design Won
Giuseppe Tornatore for Best Director Won
Best Producer Won
Francesco Frigeri for Best Production Design Won
Giuseppe Tornatore for Best Screenplay Won
Nastro d'Argento Speciale Ennio Morricone for the musical research for composing the movie's original score Won
2000 Golden Globes Golden Globe Award Ennio Morricone for Best Original Score - Motion Picture Won
Guild of German Art House Cinemas Guild Film Award - Silver Giuseppe Tornatore for Foreign Film Won
Satellite Awards Golden Satellite Award Francesco Frigeri and Bruno Cesari for Best Art Direction, Production Design Lost to Sleepy Hollow[11]
Ennio Morricone for Best Original Score Lost to Sleepy Hollow

References

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  1. ^ "Fine Line dives into 'Ocean'". Variety. 13 May 1997. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. ^ "The Legend of 1900". British Board of Film Classification. 21 October 1999. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b Senjanovic, Natasha (10 December 1999). "Italy: Top 5 local production companies". Screen International. p. 30.
  4. ^ The Legend of 1900 at mediacircus.net
  5. ^ "The Legend of 1900 (1998)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  6. ^ "The Legend of 1900 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Why a forgotten 21-year-old film flop has taken Chinese cinema by storm and made millions". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Awards for The Legend of 1900". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 4 September 2008.
  9. ^ "Camerimage: 1999". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 4 September 2008.
  10. ^ "David di Donatello Awards: 1999". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 4 September 2008.
  11. ^ "Satellite Awards: 2000". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 4 September 2008.
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