After receiving bad press in Vienna for not showing up for a performance, a temperamental opera singer (Mario Lanza) hides out on the island of Capri until the heat is off. However, once there he falls in love with a deaf girl (newcomer Johanna Von Koczian) and resolves to help her to hear before they marry. To this end, they see famed specialists all over Europe. Lanza's final film (he died two months after the film opened) is a typical Lanza vehicle with an over generous dose of saccharine. All the old musical chestnuts are dragged out from
O Sole Mio to
Ave Maria to
Vesti La Giubba from
PAGLIACCI. Lanza's in fine voice and if you're a fan, you'll most likely enjoy this. I'm
not a Lanza fan and even I found it rather tolerable in spite of the treacle. The wide screen cinematography by Aldo Tonti (
NIGHTS OF CABIRIA) takes full advantage of the breathtaking isle of Capri scenery. Directed by the veteran Rudolph Mate (
WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE). With Zsa Zsa Gabor as Lanza's old flame, Kurt Kasznar, Walter Rilla and Nico (
LA DOLCE VITA).
No comments:
Post a Comment