O Grande Caruso

I have to admit I didn't find The Great Caruso note-perfect. People have already said as a biopic it is highly fictionalised, and those who say that are right- the story here is not consistent with what really happened. Also the screenplay is somewhat ramshackle and the pacing is a little slow in places.

Flaws aside, The Great Caruso is still a very good film. For starters it is gorgeous to watch. The costumes, sets and cinematography are absolutely amazing and just a feast to the eyes. Even better is the music, the music is like a treasure trove of some of the greatest tenor arias ever written. We have La Donna E Mobile from Rigoletto, Celeste Aida from Aida and Vesti La Giubba from Pagliacci, not to mention the charming The Loveliest Night of the Year beautifully sung by Ann Blyth.

I have little to complain about the performances either. Ann Blyth, Dorothy Kirsten(an underrated singer), Alan Napier, Paul Javor and Jarmila Novotna are all wonderful. I have yet to talk about the best performance, it is easy enough to say that Mario Lanza gave the best performance but vocally and acting-wise. How do you like that? A singing legend portraying another? Lanza is absolutely brilliant, he is in fine voice and wholly believable here, it is such a shame his career was cut so short. You may argue that Caruso and Lanza sound familiar in voice, personally I don't think they do. Whereas Lanza had a rich lyrical voice, Caruso's was somewhat darker and perhaps more dramatic. There is nothing wrong with that, both had naturally beautiful voices that sing all those arias with effortless ease.

Overall, flawed, but well worth seeing for the music and Mario Lanza. You may be disappointed if you are looking for a true historical music lesson, but if you want a biopic with gorgeous visuals and music I think you have met your match in The Great Caruso. 7/10 Bethany Cox

"The Great Caruso" is truly a magnificent movie. Mario Lanza does the role flawlessly, and his singing is in top form. Throughout he is depicted as a thoughtful person who went out of his way to be kind and helpful to others. Like playing Santa Claus the first night on his return to NY after a world tour. Or giving jobs to friends who had fallen on hard times. My favorite scene is where he proposes to Doro, his expressions as he pleads with her to say something, then her saying "I loved you from the first moment you sang." Ann Blyth was beautiful as his love interest. All the operatic production numbers are first-rate. I can easily see why Mario Lanza was so popular.

Let me just say this, and then feel free to comment: I truly don't think that the late, great Mario Lanza ever had a better cinematic vehicle for his talents than "The Great Caruso." His larger than life personality and magnificent voice were never better served than here.

Like Caruso before him, and long before the Three Tenors and Andrea Bocelli, Lanza became THE tenor superstar of his generation. If there is anyone who wants to know why, just listen to him sing some of the magnificent arias in this film. "Cielo e Mar," "E Lucevan le stelle," and especially his matchless "Vesti la Giubba," are evidence enough that Lanza could, indeed, have become bigger than Caruso, had not his excesses caught up with him at such a young age.

I have just a couple of negative comments to insert here. First, the plot, while it makes for a good story, actually has very little to do with Caruso's life (Read Enrico Caruso Jr.'s "Caruso: My Father and My Family" for a good, readable biography. He even compliments Lanza and his performance!). For one thing, Caruso didn't die on stage, but several months after that last performance at the Metropolitan. Second, the "Italian" mannerisms in this movie are straight out of the Henry Armetta/"Life with Luigi" school, stereotyped to the hilt.

But, given the overall scheme of things, these are relatively minor complaints. As to the rest, I say that, for those of you who've never heard Lanza and wonder why he was so great, this film will give you ample proof. For those of you who were there when Lanza was in his prime, here's a chance to live it all over again. A great film, and a matchless tribute to TWO of the legendary voices of our time.

This is a most handsome film. The color photography is beautiful as it shows the lavishness of the Metropolitan Opera House in brilliant color. Other indoor scenes at various mansions, etc are equally brilliant. As for the music, what more can be said other than that Lanza's voice was at its' peak as he sang so many of the worlds' best known and beloved arias. The marvelous Dorothy Kirsten is also a joy as her soprano voice blends with that of Lanza in delightful harmony. Of course, Hollywood took their customary liberties with the life story of Caruso. There is precious little in the story line that relates to actual events. For example, the facts relating to his death are totally fabricated and bear no relationship to the truth. There are some very good web sites that tell the true story of Caruso and contain several pictures of him. These web sites can be located by using any good search engine. There are also several books available concerning his life history. But, the fictional story line does nothing to mar this beautiful film. The voices of Lanza, Kirsten, and the chorus members are the real stars of this movie. Enjoy, I know that I sure did.

I loved this film and it's both moving and well acted. Lanza's best film I think...he really is terrific and his co-stars as well. Rent this or buy it...it's that good.