An American in Paris is one of the best American musicals if not the greatest one of all. Is there a better movie at catching the rise of US cultural dominance in the world? Levant was born to play Gershwin.
If you loved this, you should also watch "Rhapsody in Blue", where Oscar performs this song and others. It also features some amazing piano playing by Hazel Scott, and a good dose of Levant's sharp wit.
The past few days, I have been listening to a tape of Oscar playing Concerto in F. I just had to look to see if someone had put this famous scene on Youtube and sure enough, here it is. Oscar was brilliant in this movie. He was a musical genius. I love his playing. No one could play Gershwin like Oscar. A fabulous combination, Gershwin and Levant. They belong to the ages.
@Legomyegoorj Probably because most old movies on TV have been time compressed. When it was first invented they just sped up the audio to fill the higher frame rate. I first noticed it on the old Warner cartoon themes about 20 years ago. Nowadays they can crunch the audio without changing the pitch, although if it isn't done carefully music can still suffer. I've seen foreign programs that ran long have their music terribly mutilated by a bad time compressor, but it's still in key.
I've just watched this on TCM, and came right here to see if it was on YouTube, and it was... God bless YouTube, and this uploader.
Levant was a genius of such magnitude, both musically, comedically, and intellectually, that, to him, the entire rest of humanity must have seemed to have been set on slo-mo.
A section of one of my fave pieces of concert music, by one of my fave songwriters, performed by his greatest interpreter.
It's too bad that not many people know who Oscar Levant nowadays. He was a great pianist, but was torn between performing pop versus classical. He wrote some classical pieces, scored movies, acted in movies, was a great talk show guest because of his quick wit. He also wrote a couple of books. He was one of those geniuses that crossed back and forth over the line to insanity, checking himself in and out of mental hospitals.
@theswoogie When I was growing up, Oscar's name was common in our house for the reasons you mentioned. I think I have almost every recoding he ever made (including some of his not-well-known compositions which were definitely 'period' pieces). I sometimes wonder how his life would have been different if it weren't for his mother, Annie, who apparently discouraged his talents with comments like "You'll never be another Paderewski."
Quelle merveilleuse scène illustrant l'artiste au travail! J'aime cette présence d'Oscar Levant dans plusieurs rôles joués à la fois. C'est unique!!!!!!!!
@SultanaLotus its the third movement, without the intro... and i think its also missing something near the middle, but its nearly the whole third movement...
Hollywood should listen up, this sort of thing is truly great. They need to make more movies like this today. I'd love to play this piece, it would be a dream come true. Last night I was at the Fima Recital in St. Paul. People were amazed. They just don't know what they are missing. Piano playing like that is appealing because it has energy, and it rewards the listener by enriching their life with inspiration.
What an incredible pianist Oscar Levant was! I'm entranced by his playing style. And this is such a quirky sequence. One of my all-time favorite movie scenes.
I saw this for the first time the other day and I was so amazed by this song that I puased it and played the moive and played it back 6 times... SO amazing. I love Gershwin, I love An American In Paris. WOW.
I agree with you completely, Boof. This movie was the perfect marriage of music, dance, comedy and love story. And don't forget Gershwin. There has never been, nor will there ever be, another like him.
Oscar...what a genius and so funny!!! I saw An American in Paris last nite again on TCM. They don't make 'em like that anymore. Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron dancing was heavenly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Levant was a true disciple of Gershwin. Minelli was very careful to focus on Levant's hands when he did that brilliant Allegro Agitato (I believe that's what it's called) routine. Exciting & brilliant!
Be SURE to watch the rare clips of his LIVE L.A. local TV show found here on YouTube... search for "Oscar Levant Show" and watch and be amazed... Even drugged up he's a blast! Poor guy...
I LOVE this scene! Not only is it hilarious but it's also beautiful music and realistic. When he made the composer's hair all messsed up, the gong boy and the guy going BRAVA! and the composer and pianist are just like "um...thank you..." it's all so true and funny! Genius!
This idea for the ego fantasy was Oscar Levant's. In addition to being a brilliant pianist, he was also a comic genius. Thanks for posting this great scene.
Even as a kid in the 50's I loved Oscar Levant. Just something about him that got my attention. I've always enjoyed his work. Thanks Very Much for posting this so I can watch it over and over.
Is it just me? I think Oscar Levant is kinda cute...
moehowardfan 3 days ago
Comment removed
krystalmonday 5 days ago
Flippin' genius playing there.
WanderLink 1 month ago
y wld anyone dislike this vid?
zcai11 2 months ago
An American in Paris is one of the best American musicals if not the greatest one of all. Is there a better movie at catching the rise of US cultural dominance in the world? Levant was born to play Gershwin.
mrmxyzplk 3 months ago
I know he was playing the piano but was he really playing the violin? Or just dreaming?
2yearsnew 4 months ago
An American in Paris is a much better movie than Singing in the Rain
intrec1 5 months ago
If you loved this, you should also watch "Rhapsody in Blue", where Oscar performs this song and others. It also features some amazing piano playing by Hazel Scott, and a good dose of Levant's sharp wit.
zaphod115 8 months ago
The past few days, I have been listening to a tape of Oscar playing Concerto in F. I just had to look to see if someone had put this famous scene on Youtube and sure enough, here it is. Oscar was brilliant in this movie. He was a musical genius. I love his playing. No one could play Gershwin like Oscar. A fabulous combination, Gershwin and Levant. They belong to the ages.
lilypondlane 8 months ago
Why do these videos *always* seem to be in the wrong key?
When did this turn into the "Concerto in F-sharp"?
Legomyegoorj 9 months ago
@Legomyegoorj Damn, do you have perfect pitch? I'm impressed.
lasaboteuse 3 months ago
@Legomyegoorj Probably because most old movies on TV have been time compressed. When it was first invented they just sped up the audio to fill the higher frame rate. I first noticed it on the old Warner cartoon themes about 20 years ago. Nowadays they can crunch the audio without changing the pitch, although if it isn't done carefully music can still suffer. I've seen foreign programs that ran long have their music terribly mutilated by a bad time compressor, but it's still in key.
RMoribayashi 2 months ago
Charming, Amuzing, Funny, GREAT PERFORMER. An authentical GENIUS.
(Who is the MORON that dislike this?)
1962HILTON 10 months ago 2
Charming, Amuzing, Funny, GREAT PERFORMER. An authentical GENIUS.
1962HILTON 10 months ago
This is funny!
brownisuggs 11 months ago
2/10/11, 11:15 PM:
I've just watched this on TCM, and came right here to see if it was on YouTube, and it was... God bless YouTube, and this uploader.
Levant was a genius of such magnitude, both musically, comedically, and intellectually, that, to him, the entire rest of humanity must have seemed to have been set on slo-mo.
A section of one of my fave pieces of concert music, by one of my fave songwriters, performed by his greatest interpreter.
tuxguys 1 year ago
No has or ever will play the Concerto in F like our beloved Oscar.
wyvern60 1 year ago
Oscar Levant... :D SO GOOD!
cheerzmeupz 1 year ago
It's too bad that not many people know who Oscar Levant nowadays. He was a great pianist, but was torn between performing pop versus classical. He wrote some classical pieces, scored movies, acted in movies, was a great talk show guest because of his quick wit. He also wrote a couple of books. He was one of those geniuses that crossed back and forth over the line to insanity, checking himself in and out of mental hospitals.
theswoogie 1 year ago
@theswoogie When I was growing up, Oscar's name was common in our house for the reasons you mentioned. I think I have almost every recoding he ever made (including some of his not-well-known compositions which were definitely 'period' pieces). I sometimes wonder how his life would have been different if it weren't for his mother, Annie, who apparently discouraged his talents with comments like "You'll never be another Paderewski."
TheTucsonJeff 9 months ago
Quelle merveilleuse scène illustrant l'artiste au travail! J'aime cette présence d'Oscar Levant dans plusieurs rôles joués à la fois. C'est unique!!!!!!!!
Memale2009 1 year ago
which piece of the concerto is this? it's not the whole thing.. is it? i love this guy
SultanaLotus 1 year ago
@SultanaLotus its the third movement, without the intro... and i think its also missing something near the middle, but its nearly the whole third movement...
louis621 1 year ago
I don't care what Gershwin said about upper/lower bunks. Levant was a genius.
bjbell52 1 year ago
Hollywood should listen up, this sort of thing is truly great. They need to make more movies like this today. I'd love to play this piece, it would be a dream come true. Last night I was at the Fima Recital in St. Paul. People were amazed. They just don't know what they are missing. Piano playing like that is appealing because it has energy, and it rewards the listener by enriching their life with inspiration.
wildejag 1 year ago 2
Why is it that we don't make movies like this anymore?!!!!
violatione 1 year ago
What an incredible pianist Oscar Levant was! I'm entranced by his playing style. And this is such a quirky sequence. One of my all-time favorite movie scenes.
CorwynCelesil 2 years ago 3
Wonderful...and on a Knabe concert grand, no less!
knabchic 2 years ago
just jizzed a huge load in my pants
Ticalultimate 2 years ago
@Ticalultimate Indeed sir, i have jizzed as well.
CassAnayadotcom 1 year ago
Oscar was the deal now. BRAVO fursur!
?;^O
L4sleeko 2 years ago
I saw this for the first time the other day and I was so amazed by this song that I puased it and played the moive and played it back 6 times... SO amazing. I love Gershwin, I love An American In Paris. WOW.
mindbreaker4228 2 years ago 2
I agree with you completely, Boof. This movie was the perfect marriage of music, dance, comedy and love story. And don't forget Gershwin. There has never been, nor will there ever be, another like him.
warwolfii 2 years ago 4
Oscar...what a genius and so funny!!! I saw An American in Paris last nite again on TCM. They don't make 'em like that anymore. Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron dancing was heavenly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Boof5555 2 years ago 3
This is every musicians dream come true.
nosharpieeyebrows 2 years ago 2
why can't they live forever?
KOLSARNIT 2 years ago
Awesome. Oscar was one of the great comedy minds of that era of great comedy minds, plus he was an incredible musician.
Featureman 2 years ago
haha very funny
although you clipped off the funniest part which follows after, when he stops daydreaming and just gets up whistling and opens a bottle of coke!
Exactly the mind of a musician!
soulstargy 2 years ago
Levant was a true disciple of Gershwin. Minelli was very careful to focus on Levant's hands when he did that brilliant Allegro Agitato (I believe that's what it's called) routine. Exciting & brilliant!
lovelyirene2001 2 years ago
fucking geeniiuss
KOLSARNIT 3 years ago
I like in 1:27 where his hands just bounce off the piano.
"FUCK this shit. THAT's how you play, bitches."
bluebettle 3 years ago
LOL
goawayourenotmusic 3 years ago
3:57- so damned fast!!!!
Amazing technique.
salexlindsay 3 years ago
Bravo, Encore, Magnifique!
shenlongtang 3 years ago 5
Be SURE to watch the rare clips of his LIVE L.A. local TV show found here on YouTube... search for "Oscar Levant Show" and watch and be amazed... Even drugged up he's a blast! Poor guy...
musicom67 3 years ago
wonderful BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO
friederichsheim 3 years ago
GENIUS - GENIUS - GENIUS - GENIUS - GENIUS
ASTOUNDING talent
cecefranki 3 years ago 2
Yay! I love this scene!
Bethjoybollywood 3 years ago 3
I LOVE this scene! Not only is it hilarious but it's also beautiful music and realistic. When he made the composer's hair all messsed up, the gong boy and the guy going BRAVA! and the composer and pianist are just like "um...thank you..." it's all so true and funny! Genius!
511300 3 years ago 2
IT`s Supercalifradgilisticexpialidocious!
VIVA LA OSCAR!
VIVA LA GERSHWIN!
singinginachurch 3 years ago
Absolutely wonderful!!
Merveilleux!! Extraordinario!!
I Love you George ... I Love you Oscar..
yollotly 3 years ago 2
This great pianno technique compared with such of a talent of comedy? unbelievable
shunkaushte 3 years ago
This idea for the ego fantasy was Oscar Levant's. In addition to being a brilliant pianist, he was also a comic genius. Thanks for posting this great scene.
BennyComa 3 years ago 3
Bravo... Bravo... Magnifique... Merci!
onlessin 3 years ago 4
Someone asked George Gershwin who performed his piano music best. His reply: Oscar Levant. This is breath taking music!
baltogal 3 years ago 16
He was such a genius!
GayPlaywright 3 years ago 8
BRAVISSIMO!!!
C'est magnifique!
C'est formidable!
bless you for putting Oscar on the net!
alberichnib 3 years ago 3
Even as a kid in the 50's I loved Oscar Levant. Just something about him that got my attention. I've always enjoyed his work. Thanks Very Much for posting this so I can watch it over and over.
tuffchettp 3 years ago 5
I think in the same way! I`m happy he is not forgotten
shunkaushte 3 years ago
Love it, love it, love it, esp. as a former piano student. I know how difficult this piece is to learn and perfect.
serene443 4 years ago
Those parts of the movie where Oscar Levant played the piano were the best, of course ;)
GrimCRipper 4 years ago 6
The only part I liked in the whole stinking movie, except maybe the parts where Guetarry sings.
Gershwin234 4 years ago
I like the whole movie, I like it even more than Singing in the Rain! Well maybe there are some parts which I find boring, but even thought . . .
GrimCRipper 4 years ago 3
@Gershwin234
You can apreciate Levant, but sadly, you don´t understand that magnificient piece: The Entire movie.
1962HILTON 10 months ago
yes, thank you, I am going to BUY this movie now if I can. I love this man.
Sviolinist 4 years ago 2
I love this piece of Gershwin! It's probably the most dynamic & fastest piece, in terms of tempo, he ever composed in his short but spectacular life.
cscentrlvideos 4 years ago 3
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for adding this to YouTube. Oscar Levant is so awesome.
alvaroloaiza2002 4 years ago 3