Madama Butterfly

This stand out filmed opera was released in the US with an added English narrator who talks at length, at first setting the stage for the story,then periodically intruding during the course of the opera to explain what is going on, occasionally speaking over the singing, as an alternative to subtitling all of the lyrics which could have been distracting. While this strategy allows the listener to bask in the gorgeous music, it can be annoying.But it kind of fits the authentically recreated Oriental settings and costumes as the Japanese cinema long had a tradition of off screen commentators, the Benshi. Director Carmine Gallone was a veteran of filmed classical music performance and brought his mastery from years of experience to this crowning achievement.The opera is beautifully sung,orchestrated and recorded.The mise en scene is striking and the Technicolor lensing by Claude Renoir is breathtaking.And best of all, the coproduction allows all the Asian roles to be played by Asian actors (,while the singing is dubbed in by Italians) so the embarrassment of watching white performers doing yellow face is completely avoided.

I'm another one who saw this (also without surtitles) as a six year old and it started a lifelong love of music and opera. Just to add to those that said most Japanese don't believe this - the story of Butterfly was based on a real event not long after the opening up of Japan. This version is embellished with a ten minute intro that sets the scene and then the opera begins. There are so many lovely touches - chocolate box colours and a lovely Japanese actress playing Butterfly and always the heart wrenching music. It really has something special all of its own. Little wonder it has so many fans around the world even though it was made in 1954.

Other purists will note the score has been quite heavily cut- but even this is forgivable and even perhaps part of its charm when it serves as an introduction for first timers - it remains something unique and wonderful.

This film is a rare gem. It deserves to be reissued and be made more readily available on DVD. The filming is beautifully done, with soft colourings and stylised settings that while never offending the purists, take nothing away from the familiar story. The casting seems almost ideal with the Cio Cio San, a diminutive and beautiful Japanese actress capably lip syncing to a pre-recorded soundtrack recorded in Italy. The rest of the cast also seem ideally cast and they quickly elicit all the emotions out of the well known story as if for the first time...no matter how many times you have seen the opera previously. Puccini's score has been somewhat cut and while this is a great pity, the film still stands as one of the most beautiful opera presentations ever presented on film. Like a previous commentator, it was this film that made an opera fan of me when I was only five years old. I would love to own a copy.

I saw this movie in Honolulu in 1956. What sets it apart from all other versions is that the heroine was sang and played by a Japanese artist (rather than the clownish effect caused by a caucasion artist being disguised as oriental ) and the magnificent scenery...it was shot on location in Japan. The lead male singer, Filacuridi, and supporting cast, delivered a superb presentation. Another reviewer stated; "...no Japanese believes it is true..."...well, most great operas were based on myth and fantasy, as witnessed by Wagner's, The Ring, in my opinion, the greatest of them all.

I love the opera, while the story is not always plausible it is nevertheless moving and the music is gorgeous as is typical of Puccini. This 1954 film, despite some of the cutting of the score, is lovely, and as fond I am of the 1983 production and the 1975 Jean Pierre-Ponnelle film this Madame Butterfly is one of favourites. The scenery is magnificent, the costumes are stunning and the photography is simply beautiful, so visually this Madame Butterfly is a feast. The gorgeous music is played and conducted with pathos and commitment and the dubbed singing is beguiling. Kaoru Yachigusa is perfect in the title role, and Nicola Filacuridi's Pinkerton is an ideal match for her. Suzuki and Sharpless are excellent as well. Overall, a truly lovely Madame Butterfly. 9/10 Bethany Cox