Symphony of Living

Al Shean is a symphony violinist. He injures his hand and can no longer play; his vicious children (played by John Darrow and a surprisingly uninvolved Evelyn Brent, promptly abandon him, since he can no longer provide a meal ticket. His musical friends eventually track him down and rescue him, setting him up as a teacher.

As a soap opera it is unlikely and no one in the cast seems to take that part of the story with any interest. There are a few bright spots, provided by comedy bits -- as one would expect with Shean on the cast -- and some good orchestral music. Almost all of it is by Offenbach, which is fine by me -- even if everyone seems to think that ORPHEUS EN ENFER is a symphonic piece and not an opera.

It's directed by Frank Strayer for Invincible, a Gower Gulch company that never made it. Strayer eventually made it to the relative dignity of Columbia, where he wound up directing some of the amusing BLONDIE movies.