Program Notes

Based on Ernest Hemingway’s first bestseller “The Nick Adams Stories,” Jerry Wald’s 1962 film represents a journey on two different levels. The physical journey charts Nick Adams’ flight from his home in Michigan to New York to World War I Italy and back home again while the emotional journey covers the hazardous road from boyhood to maturity and understanding.

Richard Beymer portrayed Nick Adams while Susan Strasberg was his ill-fated Italian girlfriend Rosanna in the 20th Century Fox release directed by Martin Ritt.

On screen, Waxman presents “Rosanna’s Theme” complete with mandolin accompaniment, in a fairly straightforward form. In the opening shots, we see Rosanna pushing Nick along the river in a wheelchair. As the ‘bridge’ part of the theme is heard, Rosanna shows Nick her special places, including her family archives and talks of her childhood. A dramatic, five note motive in the low brass interrupts the flow as Rosanna shows Nick the tomb of Juliet (both the music and the allusion to the Shakespearean play foreshadow the tragedy to come). Rosanna’s theme returns in a brief rhapsody for piano and orchestra as she makes a wish for Nick by throwing a coin in the “wishing fountain.”

Richard Hayman has presented “Rosanna’s Theme” in concert both as conductor and harmonica soloist.