Helle Stimmen

I can't quite get the previous reviewer because when I saw this movie in the Apollo theater on 42nd Street,back in the '60's, it was billed as a comedy. It was a hilarious sex romp. The hero who pretended to be a castrati would romp with the wives of the senators who thought their mates were safe with him. It was a typical Italian comedy with some sad overtones and an unhappy ending but still enjoyable. Oddly enough, my husband saw it in Okinawa when he was serving there. He is the only other person I know who saw this movie. He, too, found it hilarious. I wish they would put this and other Italian classics like Made in Italy on DVD.

Back in the 60's it was a beautiful rendering of the brilliant lights but sad backstage life of the castrati. The story of a poor boy of the "popolo" in the papaline Rome of the XVII cent. His parents sell him off to the voci bianche choir, and condemn him to be evirated. He manages to avoid the cruent operation and starts to live in the collegium with the other castrati. Everything goes fine until he falls in love with the young wife of a very old and rich man, and gets her pregnant. Great performance from Caprioli as the old castrato with the cat,