| The Maestro | |
|---|---|
![]() Official poster  | |
| Directed by | Adam Cushman | 
| Written by | C.V. Herst | 
| Produced by | |
| Starring | 
  | 
| Cinematography | Colton Davie | 
| Edited by | |
| Music by | 
  | 
Production companies  | 
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| Distributed by | Freestyle Releasing | 
Release date  | December 8, 2018 | 
Running time  | 94 minutes | 
| Country | United States | 
| Language | English | 
| Box office | $1,080[1] | 
The Maestro is a 2018 American historical drama directed, produced by Adam Cushman and David J. Phillips and written by C.V. Herst, the real-life son of the film's protagonist Jerry Herst. The film features Xander Berkeley as composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, an Italian immigrant who arrived in Los Angeles in the thirties after evading Mussolini's Italy. The Maestro premiered at the Heartland Film Festival in 2017.[2] The film was acquired for distribution by Freestyle Releasing and had a limited theatrical release in Los Angeles.[3][4]
Plot
After World War II, budding musician Jerry Herst (Leo Marks) returns to Los Angeles for one more go at becoming a successful film composer. In Los Angeles, Herst studies with the famed instructor Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (Xander Berkeley), whose students include John Williams, Andre Previn, Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle and Jerry Goldsmith. Herst, who already had a hit under his belt, 1937's "So Rare", struggles between family pressure and his musical calling, as Tedesco teaches him what it means to be a successful artist. The film also features actor Jon Polito as fictional MGM executive Herbert Englehardt in what would be Polito's final performance.
Cast
- Xander Berkeley as Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
 - Leo Marks as Jerry Herst
 - Mackenzie Astin as Sam Herst
 - Sarah Clarke as Clara Castelnuovo-Tedesco
 - William Russ as Abe Herst
 - Jon Polito as Herbert Englehardt
 - Jonathan Cherry as Ray
 - Raul S. Julia as Dave
 - Bobby Campo as Gene Kelly
 - Joelle Sechaud as Mrs. Stella
 - David J. Phillips as Jess Oppenheimer
 - Alex Essoe as Cyd Charisse
 - Kristen Gutoskie as Estelle Oppenheimer
 - Lenny Von Dohlen as Luc
 - Michael Johnston as Pietro Castelnuovo-Tedesco
 - Omar Doom as Stanley Kubrick
 
Release
The film played several festivals before its official release, receiving the Audience Award at the Tallgrass Film Festival in 2018,[5][6] the Jury Award at the Borrego Springs Film Festival in 2019,[7] the Silver Palm award at the 2018 Mexico International Film Festival,[8] and the Youth Film Award at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in 2018.[9] Actor Xander Berkeley received "Best Actor" awards at the 2017 Oaxaca Film Festival and the 2018 Albuquerque Film & Music Experience.[10][11]
On Rotten Tomatoes it has a rating of 83% based on reviews from 6 critics.[12]
References
- ↑ The Maestro (2018) - IMDb, retrieved 2020-09-14
 - ↑ "Special Events, Pavilion and Premieres Schedule". Heartland Film. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
 - ↑ The Maestro (2018) - IMDb, retrieved 2020-09-14
 - ↑ Hipes, Patrick (2019-01-18). "Xander Berkeley Pic 'The Maestro' Scores Freestyle Deal; Giant Pictures Acquires Feminist Thriller 'The Bellwether'". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
 - ↑ "Tallgrass Film Association". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
 - ↑ "Tallgrass International Film Festival (2018)". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
 - ↑ "The WINNERS!". THE BSFF. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
 - ↑ "Mexico International Film Festival (2018)". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
 - ↑ "2018 RIIFF Awards". www.film-festival.org. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
 - ↑ "Xander Berkeley". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
 - ↑ "2019 AWARD WINNERS". AFMX. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
 - ↑ "The Maestro (2019)". Retrieved 2020-09-14.
 
