Prelude to Fame

Prelude to Fame
Prelude to Fame
Directed by	Fergus McDonell
Written by	Aldous Huxley (story "Young Archimedes"); Robert Westerby; Bridget Boland
Produced by	Donald B. Wilson
Starring	Guy Rolfe ; Kathleen Byron ; Kathleen Ryan
Cinematography	George Stretton
Edited by	Sidney Hayers
Music by	Muir Mathieson
Production; company	Two Cities Films
Distributed by	General Film Distributors
Release date	2 May 1950;
Running time	78 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Prelude to Fame is a 1950 British drama film set in Italy, directed by Fergus McDonell and starring Guy Rolfe, Kathleen Byron and Kathleen Ryan. It is based on the 1924 story "Young Archimides" by Aldous Huxley, about a mathematical prodigy who is also gifted in music.

Plot

While vacationing in Italy, Nick Morell, son of John Morell, a famous English philosopher and amateur musician and his wife Catherine, becomes friendly with young Guido. Morell discovers Guido has an extraordinary instinct for orchestration and a phenomenal music memory. A neighbouring couple, Signor and Signora Boudini, become aware of the boy's talents, and the Signora appeals to Guido's parents to let her educate him musically. Torn between their love for their son and the duty they feel to let the world hear his talent, they eventually consent.

Guido is tutored by Dr. Lorenzo. Signora Bondini denies the boy all contact with his parents and everyone else except her. She also neither sends his letters to his family, nor lets him see the ones they have sent to him. He becomes phenomenally successful and makes the grand tour of Europe, while Signora Bondini is enraptured by the acclaim given her through her "discovery" of the boy. She prepares to take him to America and also prepares adoption papers.

Cast

Guy Rolfe as John Morell
Kathleen Byron as Signora Anne Bondini
Kathleen Ryan as Catherine Morell
Jeremy Spenser as Guido Ferugia
Henry Oscar as Signor Mario Bondini
Rosalie Crutchley as Carlotta Ferugia
John Slater as Dr. Lorenzo
James Robertson Justice as Sir Arthur Harold
Ferdy Mayne as Carlo Ferugia
Robert Rietty as Giuseppe
Robin Dowell as Nick Morell
Hugo Schuster as Dr. Freihaus
Michael Balfour as Lucio
Christopher Lee as Newsman
David McCallum Sr. as Leader of orchestra, Royal Albert Hall
Dora Hyde as Leader of orchestra, Naples
Michael Croudson as Nick's Friend
Don Liddel as Benjamino
Ben Williams as Car Driver
Alex Fields as Doorkeeper
Penny Dane as Maid
Leonard Trolley as Waiter

Production

It was made at Pinewood Studios with sets designed by the art director Frederick Pusey. This was the last film produced in the Rank Organisation's "Independent Frame" production system, an attempt to innovate filmmaking.^[1] When 12 years old Jeremy Spenser was given the part, he spent many weeks before filming began being taught how to conduct an orchestra by Marcus Dods, who was, at that time, assistant to film composer / conductor Muir Mathieson, with the result that Jeremy's conducting scenes looked convincing.