Herzog Blaubarts Burg (aka Bluebeard's Castle) (1963)

A young bride (Ana Raquel Satre) comes to her groom's (Norman Foster) mysterious castle where she discovers a room with seven locked chambers. Her curiosity causes her to prod him to give her the keys to the rooms as she wants no secrets between them. Alas, her curiosity will prove fatal. Based on the opera by Bela Bartok (his only opera) with a libretto by Bela Balazs and directed by Michael Powell (BLACK NARCISSUS). Written in 1911 but not performed until 1918, Bartok's opera is not a full length opera and remained relatively unknown until after Bartok's death when interest grew. Michael Powell's love of  the fusion of music and cinema has shown itself in movies like THE RED SHOES, TALES OF HOFFMAN and OH ROSALINDA! among others. Bartok's dark opera's connection to Powell's PEEPING TOM doesn't go unnoticed. Sung in German, Powell didn't want subtitles for the libretto as he felt it would distract from the visuals and the music. There are infrequent subtitles that clarifies some action but not the libretto. Everyone knows the story of Bluebeard so the absence of subtitles are not crucial. The film is a stunning visual feast thanks to Hannes Staudinger's cinematography and Hein Heckroth's incredible production design. It's been beautifully restored under the supervision of Martin Scorsese and Powell's widow, editor Thelma Schoonmaker. For fans of Michael Powell, this is essential cinema!