Cinderella Man: A Movie Centered Around Classical Music
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Cinderella Man is a movie that centers around the life of classical musician James J. Braddock. The film tells the story of how Braddock rose to fame in the early 1930s after defeating heavyweight boxing champion Max Baer.
The movie features several classical music pieces, including works by Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. It is a great film for those who appreciate classical music and the story of an underdog rising to the top.
The movie’s connection to classical music
Cinderella Man is a movie set in the time of the Great Depression starring Russell Crowe. Throughout the film, various classical pieces are played in the background. The movie highlights how, despite the despair of the time period, people still found joy in small moments and human connection.
Some of the classical pieces featured in Cinderella Man include:
-Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor
-Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C-sharp Minor
-Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake
These pieces are all well-known and highly regarded within the classical music world. They are known for their beauty, power, and emotion. The movie does a great job of capturing the hope and resilience of the human spirit through its connection to classical music.
The different classical pieces used in the movie
The different classical pieces used in the movie were:
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Orchestra: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
Performed by: Oscar Levant (piano)
Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467
Orchestra: The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Conductor: Neville Marriner
Performed by: Stephanie Grappelli (violin) George Shearing (piano) Cyril Blake (bass) Alan Bush (piano)
String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat major, Op. 130
Performed by: members of the Juilliard String Quartet: Samuel Barber (1st violin), Robert Mann (2nd violin), Roger Sessions (viola), and Mischa Mischakoff (cello).
How the music affected the characters and plot
Cinderella Man is a movie set in the early 1900’s during the great depression. The movie is centered around the life of a boxer named James J. Braddock. Braddock is a down on his luck boxer who has to take odd jobs to provide for his family after he breaks his hand and can no longer box. He is eventually given a chance to fight for the heavyweight championship and becomes an underdog that everyone gets behind. The movie does an excellent job of illustrating the grim reality of the time period. One way it does this is through its use of classical music.
Throughout the film, various classical pieces are played. They are often used to foreshadow future events or to build tension. For example, when Braddock is first introduced, he is shown walking home from one of his odd jobs as “O Fortuna” from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana plays in the background. This immediately sets the tone for the rest of the film. It lets the audience know that this is going to be a story about someone who is struggling, but still manages to overcome adversity.
Another example is when Braddock is offered a chance to fight Max Baer for the heavyweight title. Baer was considered to be a ruthless fighter who had killed two men in the ring prior to fighting Braddock. When Braddock’s wife hears about the fight, she becomes very worried and doesn’t want him to take it. As she pleads with him, “Allegiance” from Sergei Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky starts playing in the background. This helps convey her feelings of fear and desperation to the audience.
The use of classical music in Cinderella Man was crucial in helping establish both setting and mood throughout the film. It helped transport viewers back in time and gave them a better understanding of what life was like during that era
The different emotions that the classical music conveyed
Throughout the film, various classical pieces are prominently featured. Each one is carefully chosen to enhance the emotional impact of the scene it accompanies.
The opening scene, for example, uses “O Fortuna” from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. This piece is full of energy and drama, which perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the film.
In contrast, during a heart-wrenching scene near the end of the movie, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18” is played. This slow and somber piece conveys the sadness and desperation of the characters on screen.
By using classical music throughout Cinderella Man, the director is able to elicit a wide range of emotions from the audience.
The movie’s overall message about classical music
Cinderella Man is a movie that is centered around the love and passion for classical music. The main character, named Jim Braddock, is a man who is struggling to provide for his family during the Great Depression. He turns to boxing as a way to make money, and ends up becoming a world champion. Throughout the movie, classical music is used as a way to connect with Jim’s emotions and experiences. The movie ultimately argues that classical music can be a powerful force in people’s lives, and that it should be valued and appreciated.