Serenade

Serenade


Warner Bros., 1956, Color, 121 minutes

Released March, 1956



"Don't let anything sidetrack you," the impresario (Vincent Price) tells his new discovery. The young tenor (Mario Lanza) doesn't know it but he's already careening off the tracks. He's fallen for a socialite (Joan Fontaine) who uses men like pawns in her game of love.



A rising opera star's life is as turbulent as the on-stage roles he plays in this emotion-swept musical drama based on a James M. Cain novel and filmed almost entirely in Mexico. As the young vocalist who emerges from the obscurity of the vineyards, Lanza impressively hoists the lead role onto his wide shoulders. In a dazzling display of the power that made him a sensation of the musical screen, the renowned tenor sings "Ave Maria," excerpts from "La Bohéme," "Don Giovanni," "Otello" and "Il Trovatore," plus other selections from a long songlist, including "Serenade" and "My Destiny," written for the film by Nicholas Brodszky and Sammy Cahn.

Producer: Henry Blanke

Director: Anthony Mann

Screenplay: Ivan Goff, Ben Roberts and John Twist

(based on the novel by James M. Cain)

Song Score: Nicholas Brodszky and Sammy Cahn

Art Direction: Edward Carrere

Set Decoration: William Wallace

Costume Design: Howard Shoup

Cinematography: J. Peverell Marley

Film Editing: William H. Ziegler



Cast: Mario Lanza [Damon Vincenti], Joan Fontaine [Kendall Hale], Sarita Montiel [Juana Montes], Vincent Price [Charles Winthrop], Joseph Calleia [Maestro Marcatello], Harry Bellaver [Monte], Vince Edwards [Marco Roselli], Silvio Minciotti [Lardelli], Frank Puglia [Manuel], Edward Platt [Carter], Frank Yaconelli [Giuseppe], Mario Siletti [Sanroma], Maria Serrano [Rosa], Eduardo Noriega [Felipe], Jean Fenn [Soprano], Joseph Vitale [Baritone], Victor Romito [Bass], Norma Zimmer [Mimi in "La Bohème"], Licia Albanese [Desdemona in "Otello"], Francis Barnes [Iago in "Otello"], Lillian Molieri [Tosca in "Tosca"], Laura Mason [Fedora in "Fedora"], Richard Cable [Shepherd Boy in "L'Arlesiana"], Richard Lert [Conductor in "L'Arlesiana"], Jose Govea [Paco], Antonio Triana [Man in the Bull], Nick Mora [Luigi the Waiter], Joe DeAngelo, William Fox, Jack Santoro [Busboys], Mickey Golden [Cabdriver], Elizabeth Flournoy [Elevator Operator], Creighton Hale [Assistant Stage Manager], Martha Acker [American Woman], Jose Torvay [Mariachi Leader], Don Turner [Bus Driver], Johnstone White [Hughes, the Butler], Ralph Volkie [Cop], Vincent Padula [Pagnil], Stephen Bekassy [Hanson], Leo Mostovoy [Chief], Martin Garralaga [Romero], Perk Lazello, April Stride, Diane Gump [Party Guests]



Musical Program: Serenade (Mario Lanza); My Destiny (Mario Lanza); Torna a Sorrento (Mario Lanza); Nessun dorma (from the opera TURANDOT, sung by Mario Lanza); Ave Maria (Mario Lanza); Italian Tenor Aria (from the opera DER ROSENKAVALIER, sung by Mario Lanza); Lamento di Federico (from the opera L'ARLESIANA, sung by Mario Lanza); Amor ti vieta (from the opera FEDORA, sung by Mario Lanza); Il mio tesoro (from the opera DON GIOVANNI, sung by Mario Lanza); La Danza (Mario Lanza); Di quella pira (from the opera IL TROVATORE, sung by Mario Lanza); O Paradiso, sorti de l'onde (from the opera L'AFRICAINE, sung by Mario Lanza); O soave fanciulla (from the opera LA BOHÉME, sung by Mario Lanza and Jean Fenn); Dio ti giocondi (from the opera OTELLO, sung by Mario Lanza and Licia Albanese)