FOR THE FIRST TIME

For the First Time
Corona / Orion / MGM, 1959, Color, 97 minutes, ***
USA release August, 1959

The brilliance of one of the world's most beloved tenors and the exciting world of opera highlight this delightful romantic adventure set in the most beautiful cities of Europe.

Tonio Costa (Mario Lanza), the temperamental darling of the opera world, is forever missing performances because of impromptu street concerts and endless parties. But Tonio's carefree ways change when he falls in love with Christa, a beautiful deaf girl. Christa refuses to marry him until she can hear his sublime voice. So they embark upon a whirlwind concert tour of Europe where Christa consults with specialists while Tonio sings his heart out. Their love grows stronger and they realize that as long as they are together they can face whatever the future holds.

Lush, exotic locations, fabulous operatic performances and the magic of Mario Lanza give this sparkling love story the look and sound of enchantment.

Produced by: Alexander Grueter
Production Managers: Max Koslowski, Georg Von Block
Directed by: Rudolph Maté
Assistant Director: Hans Sommer
Original Story and Screenplay by: Andrew Solt
Musical Score and Direction: George Stoll
Opera Sequences Photographed and Recorded at Rome Opera House
Conducted by Constantine Callinicos
Songs: "Come Prima" by Taccani-Di Paola Panzeri; "Capri, Capri" and "Pineapple Picker" words and music by George Stoll; Bavarian Beer-Song by Karl Bette
Production Design: H. J. Kiebach, Fritz Maurischat, Heinrich Weidemann
Art Director: Fritz Maurischat
Costume Design: Alfred Bücken, Charlotte Bücken
Sound: Enzo Giordani, Eduard Kessel, Claude Hitchcock
Director of Photography: Aldo Tonti
Filmed in Technirama and Technicolor
Editorial Supervisor: Gene Ruggiero
Film Editor and Music Editor: Peter Zinner

Cast: Mario Lanza [Tonio Costa], Zsa Zsa Gabor [Gloria De Vadnuz], Johanna von Koczian [Christa], Kurt Kasznar [Ladislas Tabory], Hans Söhnker [Prof. Bruckner], Peter Capell [Leopold Huebner], Renzo Cesana [Angelo], Sandro Giglio [Alessandro]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra with some vocals by Chorus behind titles); [0:06] La donna è mobile (from the opera RIGOLETTO, sung by Mario Lanza); [0:16] Come prima (For the First Time) (sung by Mario Lanza); [0:30] Capri, Capri (sung by Chorus); [0:32] O Sole Mio (sung by Mario Lanza); [0:50] Vesti la giubba (from the opera PAGLIACCI, sung by Mario Lanza); [0:56] The Laughing Song Trio (from the opera COSI FAN TUTTE, sung by Mario Lanza and two unidentified men); [0:58] Ich liebe dich (I Love Thee) (sung by Mario Lanza); [0:59] Death Scene from OTELLO (performed by Mario Lanza); [1:05] Ave Maria (sung by Mario Lanza and Choir); [1:12] Wer Einmal Nur in Munchen War (Bavarian Beer Song, aka "Hofbrauhaus Song") (excerpt sung by Mario Lanza and Ensemble); [1:13] O, Mon Amour (Je nen connais pas la fin) (excerpt sung by Mario Lanza); [1:16] Pineapple Picker (sung by Mario Lanza and unidentified small band); [1:33] Ritorna Vincitor (?) (performed by Mario Lanza and Ensemble); also some other very short vocal excerpts and instrumentals.