THE GREAT CARUSO

The Great Caruso
MGM, 1951, Color, 109 minutes, ***
Released April, 1951

Philadelphia's own Mario Lanza, in his best-remembered role, portrays the turn-of-the-century opera star who many say was the world's finest voice. Selections from famous operas highlight this beautiful screen biography.

Produced by: Joe Pasternak
Associate Producer: Jesse L. Lasky
Directed by: Richard Thorpe
Written by: Sonya Levien and William Ludwig
Suggested by Dorothy Caruso's biography of her husband
Musical Supervision and Background Score by: Johnny Green
Operatic Numbers Staged and Conducted by: Peter Herman Adler
Song: "The Loveliest Night of the Year" Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster, Music Adaptation: Irving Aaronson
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons, Gabriel Scognamillo
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Associate: Jack D. Moore
Women's Costumes by: Helen Rose
Men's Costumes by:Gile Steele
Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff
Make-Up Created by: William J. Tuttle
Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Joseph Ruttenberg
Special Effects: Warren Newcombe
Montage Sequences by: Peter Ballbusch
Color by Technicolor
Technicolor Color Consultants: Henri Jaffa, James Gooch
Film Editor: Gene Ruggiero

Awards: Academy Award for Best Sound Recording; Academy Award nominations for Best Score (Musical) and Best Costume Design

Cast: Mario Lanza [Enrico Caruso], Ann Blyth [Dorothy Benjamin], Dorothy Kirsten [Louise Heggar], Jarmila Novotna [Maria Selka], Richard Hageman [Carlo Santi], Carl Benton Reid [Park Benjamin], Eduard Franz [Giulio Gatti-Casazza], Ludwig Donath [Alfredo Brazzi], Alan Napier [Jean de Reszke], Paul Javor [Antonio Scotti], Carl Milletaire [Gino], Shepard Menken [Fucito], Vincent Renno [Tullio], Nestor Paiva [Egisto Barretto], Peter Price [Caruso as a Boy], Mario Siletti [Papa Caruso], Angela Clarke [Mama Caruso], Ian Wolfe [Hutchins], Yvette Dugay [Musetta Barretto], Argentina Brunetti [Mrs. Barretto], Edit Angold [Hilda], Peter Brocco [Father Bronzetti], David Bond [Father Angelico], Matt Moore [Max], Anthony Mazola [Fucito at Age 8], Mae Clarke [Woman], Blanche Thebom, Teresa Celli, Nicola Moscona, Giuseppe Valdengo, Lucine Armara, Marina Koshetz, Robert Bright, Gilbert Russell [Opera Singers], Mario DeLaval [Ottello Carmini], Sherry Jackson [Musetta as a Child], Maurice Samuels [Papa Gino], Charles Evans [Finch, Benjamin's Butler], Tito Vuolo [Pietro Toscano], Minerva Urecal [Carmencita Toscano], Paul Harvey [Benefit Spokesman], John Hamilton [Foster DeWitt], Bert Roach [Technician]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture: "Vesti La Giubba" (music played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:02] unidentified hymn (Peter Price and Boys Choir); [0:05] unidentified hymn (Peter Price and Boys Choir); [0:07] unidentified aria or song (Mario Lanza); [0:14] La danza (Mario Lanza); [0:17] Montage: excerpt from AÏDA (Mario Lanza as part of Chorus) / excerpt from TOSCA (Mario Lanza and unidentified soprano) / excerpt from CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA (Mario Lanza and unidentified soprano) / Cielo e mar (from LA GIOCONDA, Mario Lanza); [0:25] La Donna è mobile (from RIGOLETTO, Mario Lanza); [0:31] excerpt from AÏDA (Mario Lanza and Dorothy Kirsten); [0:33] Celeste Aïda (from AÏDA, Mario Lanza); [0:44] unidentified aria (Mario Lanza); [0:44] duet from AÏDA (Mario Lanza, Dorothy Kirsten and Chorus); [0:55] aria from LA BOHÈME (Mario Lanza); [0:59] Mattinata (Mario Lanza); [1:00] Montage: Ah che la morta ognora (Miserere) (from IL TROVATORE, Mario Lanza and Ensemble) / Quartette (from RIGOLETTO, Mario Lanza and Ensemble) / aria from TOSCA (Mario Lanza and Ensemble) / aria from CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA (Mario Lanza and Ensemble); [1:08] Sweethearts (Dorothy Kirsten); [1:14] Vesti la giubba (from PAGLIACCI, Mario Lanza); [1:14] Ave Maria (Mario Lanza and Boys Choir with Boy soloist); [1:25] Happy Birthday to You (Ensemble at cafe); [1:25] The Loveliest Night of the Year (Ann Blyth, while dancing with Mario Lanza); [1:28] Chi mi frena (sextet from LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, Mario Lanza and Chorus); [1:35] Under the Bamboo Tree (short excerpt, Mario Lanza and Ann Blyth); [1:35] Because (Mario Lanza); [1:38] The Loveliest Night of the Year (short reprise, Mario Lanza); [1:41] M'appari tutt' amor (from MARTHA, Mario Lanza); [1:45] finale from MARTHA (Mario Lanza, Dorothy Kirsten and Chorus)