"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" is apopular song with music bySammy Fain and lyrics byPaul Francis Webster.[1] The song appeared first in the movieLove Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955), and it won theAcademy Award for Best Original Song in 1956.[1] From 1967 to 1973, it was also used as the theme song toLove is a Many Splendored Thing, thesoap opera based on the movie.
Many versions of the song have been released. The best-selling version was recorded byThe Four Aces, whose recording reached number two in theUK Singles Chart,[1] and number one on both theBillboard andCash Box charts in 1955.[2]
The music was commissioned by 20th Century Fox for the movieLove Is a Many-Splendored Thing. The film producerBuddy Adler asked composerSammy Fain and lyricistPaul Francis Webster to write a title song for the film.[3] The film was adapted from the bookA Many-Splendoured Thing, so the songwriters wrote the song based on that title. However, it was then decided that the title of the film would be better if preceded by the words "Love Is", and Fain and Webster wrote a second song using that title. This second song with a new set of lyrics was then used as the title song, while the first song was discarded.[3]
The song has been noted for its similarity to thearia "Un bel dì vedremo" fromGiacomo Puccini’sopera,Madama Butterfly in its downward moving thirds.[4] This song is also noted for its memorable lines: "In the morning mist, two lovers kissed, and the world stood still".
The song was initially used only as background music in the film, but the film was recalled and the words sung to make the song eligible for theBest Original Song category of the Academy Awards.[5] An orchestral version of "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" accompanies the title sequence of the film, while a vocal version performed by a chorus is played at the end. Before the film was released,Don Cornell andthe Four Aces recorded the song which they released as singles.[6] Many major artists, includingNat King Cole,Eddie Fisher andDoris Day, were first contacted to record the song, but they disliked it and refused to record it. However, they recorded the song after the version by the Four Aces became a hit.[7][3]
Sammy Fain andPaul Francis Webster won an Oscar for Best Original Song at the28th Academy Awards, their second Oscar after winning the award for "Secret Love" in 1953.[8] The background score for the film, composed and conducted byAlfred Newman, was built in parts around the melody of the song, and it also won an Oscar forBest Original Score for Newman.[9]
| "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byThe Four Aces | ||||
| from the album Hits From Hollywood | ||||
| B-side | "Shine On, Harvest Moon" | |||
| Released | July 22, 1955 | |||
| Recorded | 1955 | |||
| Genre | Traditional pop | |||
| Length | 2:56 | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Songwriters | Sammy Fain,Paul Francis Webster | |||
| The Four Aces singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The song was covered byThe Four Aces featuring Al Roberts backed by theJack Pleis Orchestra and issued byDecca Records as catalog number 29625. The film studio 20th Century Fox was said to have subsidized an album ofThe Four Aces so that they could release it as a single to help promote the film.[7] The song was released backed with "Shine On, Harvest Moon" in July 1955,[10] and first reached No. 1 on the Best Sellers chart in October 1955.[11] It also became the first number one onBillboard's new Top 100 chart, released in November 1955.[12][13] It was ranked No. 8 onBillboard's 1955's Top Tuneyear-end chart.[14]
The recording by The Four Aces is featured in the filmCookie (1989). It became agold record.[citation needed]
| Chart (1955) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (AMR)[15] | 3 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] | 6 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[17] | 2 |
| USThe Top 100 (Billboard)[12] | 1 |
| USCash Box[18] | 1 |
Don Cornell recorded a version around at the same time as the Four Aces. It was issued byCoral Records (catalog number 61467) backed with "The Bible Tells Me So". The song reached No. 26 onBillboard' Top 100 chart.[19] A number of orchestral versions were also released in the same year and reached the Top 100 chart;David Rose and His Orchestra reached No 54,[20] whileWoody Herman and His Orchestra reached No. 79.[21]
Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1955[22] for use on hisradio show and it was subsequently included in the box setThe Bing Crosby CBS Radio Recordings (1954–56) issued byMosaic Records (catalog MD7-245) in 2009.[23] The song has also been recorded byRay Conniff (on his 1958 album''Hollywood In Rhythm'')Ringo Starr (on his albumSentimental Journey),[24]Frank Sinatra,Andy Williams,Shirley Bassey (1962),Nat King Cole andBarry Manilow.Neil Sedaka recorded the song inItalian as "L'Amore E' Una Cosa Meravigliosa".
Connie Francis recorded the song in Italian in 1960 during the work for her albumMore Italian Favorites, although this version remains unreleased to this day. Francis also recorded the original English lyrics in 1961 for her albumConnie Francis Sings 'Never on Sunday' and Other Title Songs from Motion Pictures. The instrumental playback of this 1961 recording was also used when Francis cut a German-language version, "Sag, weißt du denn, was Liebe ist", in 1966.[citation needed]
The song was also performed byFairuz inArabic ("Zar Bisukun Al Lail"). French-Malaysian singerShake recorded a French version of the song in 1977 titled "Rien n'est plus beau que l'amour".[25] Adisco version was recorded byTina Charles in 1980. It was also covered by the Bina Vokalia Children's Choir under the direction of Pranadjaja onDendang Buah Hati concert in 1996.[26]Jeff Lynne recorded his version for his nostalgic cover albumLong Wave in 2012.
Barry Manilow recorded a version which reached No. 32 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 2006.[27]
This song has been a staple ofEngelbert Humperdinck's live show since 1995.
The song is played in the opening scene ofGrease.[3] Other films that used the song includeCircle of Friends,Private Parts,St. Trinian's,St. Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold, andThe Nutty Professor 2.[citation needed] The song, among others, was referenced inMoulin Rouge! when Christian says, "Love is like oxygen - love is a many splendored thing - love lifts us up where we belong! All you need is love!"[citation needed]
In an episode of theAmerican sitcomFamily Ties, an overjoyedAlex sings the song as he comes home after falling for a girl at his college. His father, Steve, joins in.[28]
It has been also heard in the seriesBones, in the 14th episode of the third season sung by Dr. Zack Addy (Eric Millegan).[29]
