 Ladies and gentlemen, the railroad out, comes the star-studded show train. Rhodes presents that sensational operetta success of a few seasons ago. Song of Norway, starring Gordon Macrae as Edvard Green, and his guest star, Ira Petina, in her original role of the Countess, Louisa Giovanni. Our choir is under the direction of Norman Lubov, and the music is prepared and conducted by Carmen Dragon. Yes, tonight another great musical success is brought to you by the American Railroads, the same railroads that bring you most of the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the fuel you burn, and all the other things you use in your daily life. And now, here is our star, Gordon Macrae. Ladies and gentlemen, tonight as the composer, Edvard Green, I shall tell you how he found greatness in his concerto. On an enchanted hill called Trollhagen in Norway, I used to play when I was a child. With me would be Nina Henry Card, my two dearest friends, and we three were pledged together in the solemn bond of the very young. But Nina went away, years passed. Rick began to write his great poem about Norway, and the urge began within me to set his words to music, to compose a work that would express the beauty and spirit of our dear land. A song of Norway. Nina returned to me into Rick, and we had a great reunion back in our beloved Trollhagen. Nina, is it really true that people in other countries know so little about us? Oh, they think we're scavengers. To the outside world, we're still Vikings, the people of mountains are nice. Oh, come now, Rick. You, Edvard, could do so much. A man whose music is as Norwegian as a fjord. Nina, Rick's still waving his flaming sword. Sword, fjord. I've made a rhyme. Oh, but you're not supposed to, Edvard. Rick has always been the poet, ever since we were children. And you were always the princess, Nina. And you, the minstrel, Edvard. Again we stand on to Green Hill. But asking her to marry me carried with it. My earnings as a composer were painfully small. The solution came with the arrival in our village of the fabulous Countess Louisa Giovanni, a famous opera singer. She'd come for our Midsummer's Eve festival, and our simple people stood a gate before the stasling wave. It is quite different from your grand opera, Countess. Oof, grand opera. It's pretence and tinsel. Grand opera and I have met and parted. From now on I'll- Would take in all the great cities of Europe. Then I stood there in amazement when she proposed I go along as her accompanist. I hesitated, but as far as the Countess was concerned, the matter was settled. Edvard? I must call you, Edvard. It's fast. I promised to give her my answer. So I heard to talk with Nina about it. As usual, Nina understood perfectly. Edvard, I've already asked Rick to tell the Countess that you will accept. But Nina, it means being away from you again. And here in our lovely northern twilight, I'm seeing you as if for the first time. Edvard, darling. With the sight of you comes music. Can you hear it? Yes. It's so near it touches us. Music. Of the wind and the trees. Nina has consented to be my wife. But this is our holiday. Couldn't we go tomorrow? I'm sorry. Our work together, the music for your poem. You could do it when you come back, Edvard. I'll miss you, darling, so very much. You'll never be too far away, Edvard. I shall always have your music in my heart. And his guest, Ira Petina, will how can seem far away during the months that follow. Paris, London, Vienna. With Louisa as usual and complete charge of things. Allow me to present my protégé, Edvard Green. And soon the country boy from Norway became the lion of the salon. Edvard, I want you to meet another celebrity. The famous playwright, Henry. Another coup for Louisa. Edvard agreed to collaborate with Ibsen on his play, Pier Gint. Although Nina and I had been married for some months, we were becoming estranged. This added to my distraction. She remained discreetly in the background, politely refusing Louisa's invitations. Such as the fateful night when I'd finished the music for Pier Gint, and to celebrate, Louisa had given a glittering pot. No, Louisa, and I'm grateful for everything you've done for me, but Louisa, they want you to sing. Thank you very much, my dear friends. I'll sing a song that Edvard wrote, especially for me when we were in Vienna. Remember, Edvard? Nina, I was thinking of it. And then to my astonishment, I saw her walking quickly toward me. Nina! Nina, what is it? What's wrong? Edvard, a letter just came for you. Special post. It's from Rick's father. Rick's father? Why should he write to me? Let me have it, please, Nina. Edvard, what is it? It's Rick. Rick Nina. Oh, Edvard. No. It's known. He left it for me. Dear Edvard, the day is passing and our lovely fjords sparkled the last light of a dying song. It is so with me in my life where I can hear God whisper. To you, Edvard, I leave Norway, the maid so fair like crystal to behold. Nina, we're going home to Trollhouten. I failed you as I failed Rick. Edvard, darling, you love me enough to give up all this forever? Love you enough? No, Nina. I hear you ask if I am yours for keeping. On that hill we built a house and Christmas came. Christmas in Trollhouten. Where we played and dreamed. You and I. Yes, dear Nina. It was here on our hill of dreams that you first said. I love you, Edvard. You used to write about the mountains. Tonight I keep remembering as poem. It needs your music, Edvard, he said. You will find it and make it live. Sleep? Sleep on, my sleep, as Norway. Thy chill dark star will yet burn brighter before thy sleep. The words fit into this night. Nina, as I sit here at the piano, those words bring back the memory of Rick's voice. Beyond, far beyond the span and space of all place and norm, and before, long before the face of time fell upon the fjord, the mountains love the sky. The sun knew the earth, and the land bore spring. McRae giving his warmest thanks to the members of the sporting cast. Dorothy Colter as Nina and Gilbert Russell as Rick. In Song of Norway, with musical adaptation and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest, based on a play by Homer Curran. Song of Norway was adapted for the railroad hour by Milton Lazarus, who also wrote the original stage play. The railroad hour is brought to you each week at this time by the American railroads. Remember that whenever you ship by rail, your money is working in four different ways. It pays for safe, dependable transportation. It helps ensure better economic service in the years ahead. It promotes business for industry and jobs for people in all parts of the country. And it means taxes that help pay for the education of your children and the general public welfare. Yes, for the country and for you. It's good business to do business with the railroads. And now, here is Ira Petina. It was a great pleasure appearing for this association of American railroads and its exciting production of Song of Norway. You played the Countess when Song of Norway opened in New York, didn't you, Ira? Yes. It ran three years and I'm still alive. Well, when are you going to play it again? Ira, but this is only a half hour show, I'm afraid. Well, maybe sometime from Gordon. Meanwhile, I shall be listening every week to the railroad hour. Good. And next week on the railroad hour, Naughty Marietta with Nadine Conner is our guest. Nadine, wonderful. Well, looks is already to pull out and so until next week, goodbye. Special arrangement with Edwin Lester through the courtesy of Universal International Pictures, who will soon release Ma and Pa Kettlego to town starring Marjorie Mayne and Percy Kilbride. Gordon Macrae is currently seen starring in the Warner Brothers Technicolor musical hit The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady. Our choir is under the direction of Norman Lubon and our music prepared and conducted by Carmen Dragon. This is Marvin Miller saying goodbye until next week for the American Railroad. And I'll keep tuned to your Monday Night of Music on NBC.