SERENADE

US, 1956,121minutes, Colour.
Mario Lanza, Joan Fontaine, Sara Montiel, Harry Bellaver, Vince Edwards, Vincent Price.
Directed by Anthony Mann.

Serenade is based on a novel by James M. Cain (The Postman always Rings Twice, By Love Possessed). It has been adapted as a wide screen, colourful vehicle for singer Mario Lanza. It was to be one of his final films after his short career on screen, especially at MGM with such films as That Midnight Kiss, The Great Caruso. Lanza is a genial screen presence and has an opportunity to sing many songs and a number operatic arias including Nessun Dorma. The femme fatale acting in a very femme fatale style with posturing and poses and smouldering looks is Joan Fontaine.

Included in the supporting cast is Vincent Price as an entrepreneur. The film is fairly conventional, relying on its being a showcase for its star. It was directed by veteran Anthony Mann, best known for thrillers, later spectacles
and a series of movies with James Stewart, including some significant westerns made during this period.

1. Star vehicle for Mario Lanza? His screen presence? His singing?

2. The San Francisco locations, the vineyards and the fields, the world of restaurants, night society and apartments, opera and rehearsals, theatre? The contrast with life in the village in Mexico, work in the fields? The staging of the opera sequences?

3. The title, the theme song, popular songs, the popular Italian folk songs, the operatic arias?

4. The portrait of Damon Vincente: Mario Lanza style, working, the background of his story with his family, the vineyards? Meeting Kendall, giving her directions? Tonio as his agent, getting him the audition, the cantankerous bar owner his being entranced by his voice? Singing, Kendal and Winthrop present? Winthrop's overtures, taking him to Kendall's apartment, singing for the maestro? Being trained by the Maestro? Being hurried into training, his performances, concerts? The collage of his success? His infatuation with Kendall, her urging him on? Her own callow attitude - and his seeing the experience with the boxer and his anger? The build-up to Othello, performance, make-up, wanting Kendall to be present, her absence, his nervousness, his walking off stage?

5. Kendall, the affluent San Francisco society woman? The initial encounter with the car? Her listening to him, her apartment, the maestro and his debt to her? Her relationship to Winthrop? The interruption by the boxer, the audience seeing him in the car, his prize fight, her absence and loss of interest? Winthrop's story about her childhood - building sand castles for the joy of having them destroyed? the romance? His gratitude to her, infatuations? Her absence Her treatment of Damon from his performance and his collapse?

6. Damon in Mexico, not knowing where he was, his illness, being trapped by Juana and her family? His recovery? Juana tending him, the lack of confidence in his ability to sing? Working with the villagers? The build-up to the festival? His refusal to sing? His gratitude towards the people in the village?

7. Juana, her kindness towards Damon? Her own history, her mother running away, the depth of her father - willing himself to die in the bullring? The background of bullfighting? The festival? Juana's song and dance re-enacting the film? Her boyfriend and his anger, her threatening him with the sword? Her going into the church? Her ability to advise Damon, her inability to help herself? His singing Ave Maria? His departure, driving him, in the storm, relying on him? Their love, the marriage?

8. Going back to San Francisco, the bar, singing, his friends, coming again? Winthrop’s arrival? Boosting him? More modest hopes, the San Francisco opera, the preparations, rehearsals, performance and success?

9. Kendal, her presence at the concert? Damon's uncertainty at her presence? Juana and her trying to get him to face the truth? Not to avoid Kendal? The invitation to the party, Kendal's humiliation, threats to Juana? Their departure?
Juana running out and being hit in the street? Damon's singing - and her recovery?

10. Winthrop as the entrepreneur, sardonic attitude towards Kendal? Supporting Damon? Tonio and his cousin, friendship, agent? Damon punching him in the dressing room? The boss of the bar and his support?

11. The boxer and the sculptor and Kendal using them?

12. Finding genuine love, finding self-happiness?