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Date: 6/13/02

Title: "Spellbinder"

Author: Richard Rees

Submitted by: Richard Rees

Submitted to: HSCL

Format: SP

Pages: 125

Draft:

Time: 1782-1840

Locale: Europe

Genre: Drama

PREMISE: Handsome, magnetic, a pop idol in his time, Nicolo Paganini was able to play the violin so mesmerically he could reduce audiences to tears -- or to fighting with swords. Also a famous womanizer, with two of Napoleon Bonaparte's sisters numbered amongst his lovers, this is the story of "The Spellbinder's" life, his music, his loves, and the truth of his reputed association with The Devil.


QUICK COMMENT: SPELLBINDER is one of those rarer than rare "period pieces" that transcends the limitations of time and commonality. It keeps us fascinated and wonderfully entertained from start to finish. Bawdy, cheeky and outrageous, we follow the intriguing life of this unique "rock star of his day."

Concept -Very good

Characterization -Excellent

Dialogue- Excellent

Story Line -Very Good

Setting/Prod.- Values -Excellent

Freshness of Story -Excellent


SYNOPSIS:

Nice, South of France, 1840. Aged 58, Nicolo Paganini, the greatest violinist the world has ever known, is on his deathbed. Reputed -- during a lifetime of playing to packed theatres throughout Europe -- to be in league with The Devil, from whom his mesmeric playing is said to have emanated, the priest at his bedside is Romolo Caferelli, Paganini's life-long enemy from their childhood days in the carrughi, Genoa's tenemented port district.

A failed violinist, Caferelli is a man twisted with jealousy over Paganini's extraordinary talent, and the fame it has brought him. Paganini refuses to confess his sins to Caferelli, or to receive absolution from him. In this state of unrepentance, Paganini dies, with only his 15 year old son, Achilles, by his side.

Backed by the Bishop of Nice, Caferelli refuses to grant Paganini a Requiem Mass, or for his body to be buried in consecrated earth. Achilles challenges the decision by taking the case to the Vatican itself, to be heard by a specially convened Commission of Enquiry, headed by Monsignor Luigi Fransoni, Archbishop of Turin.

Through the testimonies of witnesses, the Commission examines every aspect of Paganini's fascinating life, concentrating on his "unearthly" playing --as evidenced, in one famous instance at his recital at La Scala, Milan, when he causes an unruly audience to break out into sword fights, causing death. It also scrutinizes the obvious conflict between good and evil which rages in Paganini's soul, and the four women -- one man -- and a child -- who most influence Paganini's life ...

His mother, TERESA, and his extraordinary birth, during which Teresa hears a voice in a vision, telling her that her unborn son will grow up to become the greatest violinist ever. Is the voice from God? Or from The Devil?

His father, ANTONIO, who tyrannizes him to learn the violin as a child. But as many will soon find out, Nicolo's talent is natural -- thus fulfilling Teresa's vision -- so much so that at the age of eleven, before a packed congregation in Genoa's Duomo, he so outperforms the famous castrato, Marchesi, that the singer flees the cathedral in tears. On the same evening, Nicolo wins the famed Guarnerius, "del Gesu", by accepting a challenge to play a piece of music so difficult that all others before him have failed. He does so with ease ... and style.

At the age of nineteen, after a tour of Northern Italy playing to packed theatres, and receiving adulation from women of every society, he reaches the Opera House at Florence. Sitting alone in a box is the PRINCESS DIDA, six years older than him, said to be the most beautiful woman in Italy, who seduces him to her Tuscany villa, takes his virginity, and keeps him there, her willing prisoner for the next two years. And falls in love with him. But then, a quarrel over the source of his most famous composition, "Le Streghe" -- "The Witches Dance" -- which Paganini hears someone playing to him in a dream, during a violent storm, causes the lovers to part, and Paganini to turn for patronage to ...

The PRINCESS MARIE ELISA, the Emperor Napoleon's youngest sister, and ruler of the kingdom of Lucca, who, for the next ten years, is Paganini's mistress. During his time at Lucca comes the recital where every string on his violin but one breaks, but Paganini keeps playing -- bringing the audience to its feet.

But raging jealousy over his past affair with Dida, prompts Marie Elisa to demand Paganini write her a love opus. She orders Dida to Lucca to witness her triumph, but has to face humiliation when, instead of naming the opus "Scena Marie Elisa", Paganini entitles it "Scena Amorosa", and plays it so movingly to Dida that the lovers are reunited.

For the next five years they are inseparable, despite Dida being unable to conceive, until one night, after a quarrel over another of his compositions, "The Tempest", Paganini has a one night stand with a beautiful soprano, ANTONIA BIANCHI. Nine months later, during a ceremony at the Vatican at which Paganini is knighted "Chevalier of the Golden Spur" by Pope Leo XII, Bianchi, hoping to become Paganini's wife and share the stage with him, brandishes the child to Dida and Paganini. Instead, Paganini calls her bluff and buys the child from her -- names him Achilino, and grows to adore him -- but the episode causes Dida to leave him once more.

The next five years a lonely Paganini devotes himself to bringing up his beloved ACHILLES, but then, at his comeback concert at Vienna, Dida is present. In the performance of his life, Paganini woos her back again with his amazing violin.

Achilles takes to Dida as his mother, but then disaster strikes again when Paganini is diagnosed with terminal tuberculosis. Not wanting Dida to see him deteriorate, he sadly sends her away. Taking Achilles with him, a haunted but still inspired Paganini tours Europe for another three years, still receiving the reception, and the adulation from packed audiences everywhere.

Finally, ever failing health forces Paganini to retire to Nice, where his parish priest turns out to be Romolo Caferelli, his childhood adversary from their childhood days in the carrughi. It is in Nice, some two years later, that Paganini dies, refusing to accept Caferelli as his confessor.

The Commission hears the evidence in four sessions, over six years, during which time Paganini's body has to be moved by friends from one bizarre hiding place to another, to keep Caferelli and his hired men from finding it and dumping it in the Mediterranean, thus disposing of the problem.

It is another 30 years before the Church of Rome reaches its verdict. With very different emotions, Achilles, Dida, and Caferelli wait. Finally it arrives. Is it Heaven? Or is it Hell?

This is a story telling of the Spellbinder, his music, his loves, and the truth of his reputed association with The Devil.

COMMENTS: SPELLBINDER is one of those rarer than rare "period pieces" that transcends the limitations of time and commonality. It keeps us fascinated and wonderfully entertained from start to finish. Bawdy, cheeky and outrageous, we follow the intriguing life of this unique "rock star of his day,"--always enchanted by his innocent hubris, artistry and the wakes caused by his presence.

The script brims from wit and anecdote. We also get insightful glimpses at the all too relatable foibles of his powerful and superstitious enemies. His violin performances are palpable. They will jump off the screen. He moved and upset the minions of his day and he will do the same for us.

SPELLBINDER'S got the rooting interest and pathos of SHINE. The class and style of QUILLS. And the offbeatness and bite of I CLAUDIUS.

Rees is a first class writer. This is a magnificent piece of work. Fresh, different and in a real way, very hip.

Paganini is still happening!

Wow.

CONTACT:
Richard Rees
richardrees@marlbooks.fsnet.co.uk