ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses two French films of the Occupation period within which the role of historical music, either derived from or evoking the past, creates an important temporal interplay: La Symphonie fantastique, a life of the composer Hector Berlioz directed by Christian-Jaque; and Les Visiteurs du soir, directed by Marcel Carne. The version of Berlioz's biography presented in this film has much factual historical basis, since it adheres to the basic contours of Berlioz's life. The historical music of the castle tends more often to be attributable to a physical, diegetic source, while the magical music appears conjured out of the air. Les Visiteurs du soir is set explicitly during the medieval period. Both films contrast a solo performance with guitar/lute against a fully orchestrated one. In both La Symphonie fantastique and Les Visiteurs, many key scenes involve diegetic musical performances.
