YOUNG TOSCANINI

France/Italy, 1988, 120 minutes, Colour.
C.Thomas Howell, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophie Ward, John Rhys Davies, Pat Heywood, Philippe Noiret.
Directed by Franco Zeffirelli.

Young Toscanini is a film by Franco Zefirelli - but not one of his successful films. C. Thomas Howell (The Outsiders, The Fourth Musketeer) seems a strange choice for the Italian director for the life of the director Arturo Toscanini. He has a very stiff accent, trying to move away from an American accent. Also leading the cast is Elizabeth Taylor. It is hard to be persuaded that she is the diva she is portraying - audiences know her too well and it is hard to accept the fact that she is being dubbed as a singer. The supporting cast is international and includes Franco Nero as well as John Rhys Davies.

The film has an opening in Milan, Toscanini auditioning - to great disdain from the governors of La Scala. He then goes to South America, much of the film taking place on the voyage, where he encounters a young woman involved in charitable works whose other option is to be a nun (Sophie Ward). When in Brazil, he encounters slavery and reacts against it. This passion and crusade makes him confront the emperor (Philippe Noire) who has the opera diva as his mistress. However, all ends well, because during a performance of Aida, the diva herself pleads for the end to slavery and a postscript to the film indicates that this happened in the 1880s.

Zefirelli brings his lavish visual touch to the film and music lovers will enjoy the music, both orchestral as well as operatic (especially Aida).

1.The reputation of Franco Zefirelli, his lavish films, his love for music, operatic style?

2.The Italian locations, the ship, Brazil? The re‑creation of period? Decor and costumes? Opera houses? Social climate - passengers on the ship, the slaves in Brazil? The contrast with the upper classes?

3.The musical score, the orchestral works? Rehearsals and performance of Aida? Relating the story of Aida to slavery in Brazil?

4.The introduction, the auditions, the indifference of the judges, Toscanini's angry reaction? The possibilities of work? The invitation to go to South America? His relationship with his father and the farewell?

5.The voyage, the hardships of the times? The upper decks and the wealthy, the meals, the music? The rehearsals? The opera cast and orchestra? The lower decks, Margherita and her work? Sister Allegria and the concern for the poor, the ill? Nursing? Sister Allegria and her coming to the dining room and the collection, the vivid auction?

6.C. Thomas Howell as Arturo? Credible? His age, experience, musical skills? His knowledge of musical scores by heart? The rehearsals? Personable young man, interest in Margherita? His relationship with the entrepreneur?

7.Elizabeth Taylor as Nadine? Her status, her relationship with Don Pedro? Her opera career? Background, skills? The singing sequences? Introduction to Arturo, the rehearsals, the clashing with him? His being her pianist? The growing friendship, the argument about rehearsals? The issue of slavery and their clash? His interactions with the emperor? The build-up to the opening night, his being with Margherita, his concern for the poor, the epidemic? The conductor walking out of the rehearsals, their seeking him? Nadine's support of Arturo? Her final speech about the slaves? The consequences?

8.The relationship between Arturo and Margherita? Her work, the slaves, the epidemic? Margherita coming to the opera, her devotion to him, Don Pedro? Margherita and her decision not to marry Arturo? The clash about Don Pedro?, the finale?

9.Don Pedro as the emperor, social structures in Brazil, the tradition of slavery? His love for Nadine, at her house, listening to her sing, the rehearsals? His interest in Toscanini? The clash - and his speech and lecture about the possibilities for social change, the speed of change? His attack on Arturo's impetuousness?

10.The rehearsals for Aida, the conductor and his tantrums, walking out, finding Arturo, the reaction of the audience, the gradually settling down, the final applause?

11.A picture of the 19th century? Social issues, the musical background of the era?