An Iron Man Actress Concertina Connection?

[Bruce McCaskey]

Does anyone know if there's substance to this statement I found in a 2011 online edition of The Accordion Weekly News?

 

"Gwyneth Paltrows mother, actress Blythe Danner, said Paltrows foray into music began in 1995 when she played a concertina for the score of a film she was starring in, Jefferson in Paris."

 

Here's a link to the source: http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx/ro-ro/mailto?d=11-Mar-2011

 

If you're wondering how I ended up on The Accordion Weekly News, it started with me looking at reviews for the latest "Iron Man" movie, from there I moved on to reviews of associated actors, and in scanning a list of search results I noted a link that included her name and concertina in the subtext.

 

I haven't seen the film (Jefferson in Paris) to know if a concertina is even heard, and a review of credits for the soundtrack released on CD didn't turn up her name. That said, I see a statement on Wikipedia that lists her as a musical performer for a couple of pieces in the movie, but I interpret it as saying she wasn't on the CD that was released later. It also states that she played harpsichord by herself, but doesn't mention concertina.

 

A link to the Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_in_Paris

 

The Accordion Weekly News doesn't automatically have credibility with me, but it did peak my interest sufficiently to inspire me try a little research and that took me to Wikipedia. I don't believe everything I see on Wikipedia, but I consider it a good source of insight for most things.

 

I also found the same information on the Diatonic News (the result of a pointed search for her name associated with concertina), but while the page doesn't seem to be intended as a spoof, I did note the April 1st date:

 

http://www.diatonic-news.com/?d=apr-2011

 

Of course with so little information, even if the statements are true, from what little I've found so far I can't tell what sort of "concertina" is being referred to here.

[Irene S.]

The film is set in 18th century Paris, so, even given the anachronistic tendencies of film producers and directors, the appearance of a concertina is exceedingly unlikely. I have also found reference to the young Paltrow playing a harpsichord or a piano in the film - a much more likely choice (given that the film is supposed to be full of baroque music).

[Stephen Mills]

A scant bit of more detail here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/07/blythe-danner-gwyneth-paltrow-singing_n_832611.html

 

the relevant quote:

In fact, Danner said that Gwyneth's career in music started much earlier than most people realize -- it goes all the way back to a film she starred in in 1995.

"When they shot 'Jefferson In Paris,' they gave her a concertina to practice on, and she was so good at it, she wouldn't read music, we'd give her music lessons, she wouldn't read the music, she'd just play," Danner revealed. "She was so good, they used her for the score."

 

 

She would have been about 13 in 1995.

Edited June 8, 2013 by Stephen Mills

[David Barnert]

She would have been about 13 in 1995.

No, she was born in 1972, so she'd be 23.

 

My wife and I see plays at the Williamstown Theatre Festival several times every summer. Blythe Danner was in residence there throughout much of the 1970s and 80s, so the young Gwyneth was often seen (on stage and off). We like to say that we remember the days when she was an ugly teenager (see the 1993 movie "Flesh and Bone").

 

I know nothing of her concertina-playing tendencies.