Five film favorites - piano scenes

I was sent for piano lessons when I was a kid. I hated them and didn't pay attention.

But like most people who had the same experience, I wish now that I could play the piano.

It's an instrument that I've always loved and it's amazing how those innocent-looking black and white keys can produce the most amazing music.

I've also got several favorite musical scenes from films and I realized that several of them feature the piano so I've collected them together here.It's a pretty eclectic collection that's for sure, but I have a wide range of favorite films - comedies, classics and more - but quite often, music is a huge feature in the movies I prefer.

I wonder if you'll agree that these are great scenes?

There are many romantic pieces of music in many movies but this is probably the most famous of all.This classic was made in 1942 and the famous line which supposedly caused him to play this song was never actually said in any of the scenes. You can see that in the clip below. The song itself was written eleven years before the movie was made and is considered one of the best songs in film by the American Film Institute. In fact, it's the second in their list preceded by Over the Rainbow. I disagree!She asks for the song but the pianist says he's forgotten how to play it. Actually, his boss has told him to never play that particular melody. I'm pretty sure that you can guess what this one will be...

What makes this so appealing to me is that the instrument sounds out of tune but that makes it seem even more macabre.This song is called The Loneliness and it was written by the director of this movie's father. The composer was also a flutist, playing with well-known orchestras. His granddaughter was also in this movie as a baby. This film was part of a trilogy. Have you guessed which this scene could be? As you might expect from this genre, at the end of this video, the visuals are not for the squeamish...

This was made in 2002 and is an adaptation of a classic play. This is set in Victorian times and the entire film is fabulous as it stars some very well known and prestigious actors. The original play was written by an Irishman and some of his best quotes come from this play. It was first performed in London on Valentine's Day, 1895 and yet the dialogue is as crisp and amusing today as it was then. Does this give you clues as to what this one will be?The actor who plays the piano on this clip was classically trained.Part of the reason I love this song is the way the singers move as and when necessary - complete with servants carrying the bulky instrument.

The person playing the keyboard here isn't usually known as a pianist. And yet, if you watch his hands carefully, I'm sure that he is genuinely playing. He started his career in vaudeville where performers were all expected to be able to sing, dance, act and play musical instruments. That was a great apprenticeship. He played the clarinet and the accordion too and he certainly could act, dance and sing.In vaudeville, he was in a double act with his sister. (I think you've guessed now who this is going to be). I love this clip because I love all his movies. Note the cigarette!

It's hard to choose one favorite from my list of piano scenes from the movie world. In this scene, the actor isn't playing the keyboard himself - but he had to train hard during the making of the movie to be able to look convincing.The younger protagonist is entirely fictional but the older guy playing the part of a famous jazz pianist - one of the forerunners in jazz in the early twentieth century. One of his pieces was the first recording ever of jazz piano.This entire film is one of my favorites. Coincidentally, like the last clip, a cigarette feature at the end but is far more important to the story.Note - f-word alert in the dialogue.