THE GREAT CARUSO

US, 1951, 109 minutes, Colour.
Mario Lanza, Kathryn Grayson, Dorothy Kirsten, Jarmila Novotna, Eduard Franz.
Directed by Richard Thorpe.

The Great Caruso is a very entertaining biography of the great opera singer. Caruso made his mark In America at the turn of the century and was a household name. This film also helped to popularise opera for the masses and has very attractive excerpts throughout the film, well staged and attractively sung. Mario Lanza, who had just made his debut at M.G.M. in such films as The Midnight Kiss and The Toast of New Orleans, is at home In the central role. He Is supported by Ann Blyth as his wife. Lanza caused difficulties in the making of The Student Prince and only his voice was used with Edmund Purdom acting the part. Ann Blyth was the leading lady of The Student Prince and so their voices are heard once again. Direction is by Richard Thorpe who made numerous films at M.G.M. from westerns, to thrillers, to historical spectaculars like Ivanhoe, which he was to make at this time. Sentimental, slightly old-fashioned now, The Great Caruso is an attractive musical.

1. Audience interest in Caruso? Mario Lanza? Enjoyment of the biography of Caruso, the singing of Mario Lanza?

2. The style of the M.G.M. musicals of the fifties: the use of the music, scoring? The style of biography? The light presentation of events and the showcasing of the character?

3. Audience response to the opera, the atmosphere of opera? The selection of pieces from the classics, the other songs?

4. The conventions of biography? The surface presentation of the events and character? How much insight?

5. The build-up of the Italian sequence: Caruso's birth, sketching on his singing as a child, the choir, linking it to his mother's illness, the presentation of her death and his singing in the procession? The impact of his mother's death and her final words about his singing? Influence on his life?

6. The collage treatment of his young life, the transition to his singing, his love of Musetta and his deciding to work for her father, his strength, working background? The audition and his singing in the restaurant and the irony of the flower getting ruined, the challenge from Musetta's father and his responding to it?

7. The film showed an optimistic presentation of the progress of his career, the collage of his going to various countries, this was repeated later for his world tour? An effective way of communicating development and the passing of time?

8. His peasant background and the incident at Covent Garden and the spurning by the Prima Donna? The effect on him and his sense of vocation and vision of himself an a singer?

9. The Covent Garden incident as preparation for his reception by Benjamin? His nervous performance, the reaction of the Diamond Horseshoe people, the critics, the ordinary people?

10. The portrayal of Dorothy, her schoolgirl crush on Caruso, her encouraging him to understand America? Daughter of her father? The impact of the ordinary people on Caruso, his singing outside the Metropolitan?

11. The sketching in of his career, his success, the various arias sung at points in his life and career? His response to America and its opportunity?

12. The build-up to his proposal, his happiness, the birthday party and 'The Loveliest Night of the Year'? The sequence of the pregnancy, the birth of the child and the communication throughout the opera house and everybody sharing in the joy? The happiness of family lit up the promenade in New York? The pathos of Mr Benjamin not communicating with them? Caruso's devices of telling Dorothy that her father was in communication?

13. The sequence of the recording, the playing of the song for the baby? Introduction of the theme of his throat and the other? Preparation for his death? The device of using his death on the stage, the curtain not opening?

14. The contribution of the minor characters, his associates, manager and his lack of career in singing, the dresser taken from Mr Benjamin, his friend from the barber's shop? Loyalty? The Italian background and the use of Italian, and Italian style English? Italian manner, prayer? The background of the opera people, the manager of Covent Garden, Louisa and her support (her advice to Dorothy about not marrying)?

15. The achievement of Caruso and his influence on the musical world? The value of this kind of artistic achievement?