Mario Lanza - one of my first loves!

All these years later, I still love him - and the story of the great Caruso is as tender and touching as it was fifty years ago. And, pardon me, but doesn't Mario Lanza make some of our present day tenors sound thin and reedy? I may have crossed the line there, but, for me, there is nothing like the robust, full, rich voice of Mario - singing all of our favorite arias. I learned to love opera through Mario Lanza - and, like Caruso, his life was too short. The story of Caruso is interesting - his rise from singing in Italian cafes to the Metropolitan Opera. Who doesn't love a rags to riches story? If you want a trip back in time - through a timeless story - get your hands on The Great Caruso - you'll play it, as I do, again and again. We are so fortunate that so many of these wonderful early films have been preserved.

Overwhelming Music Sang by an Overwhelming Tenor.

I was a kid when this film was released and saw it with undivided attention and was instantly in love with opera music and I still are! Some time later my Grandfather bought 78 rpm disk suite of the movie score and we played interminably. So I'm a sort of addict to this movie.
It was directed by Richard Thorpe, a prolific artisan with 186 films in his account. He has started directing movies in the silent period. He was very versatile, directed Johnny Weissmuller in four Tarzan's chapters.
Between 1951 till 1953 he delivered at least four successful movies: "The Great Caruso" (1951), "The Prisoner of Zenda" (1952), "Ivanhoe" (1952) and "The Knights of the Round Table" (1953). He retired in 1967.

The story is quite simple it follows Caruso's (1873-1921) life since childhood, his first steps as a singer, his jump to fame, his first encounter/disencounter with NYC's opera lovers, his love crash at first sight with Ms Doro, his clashes with Doro's father, his runaway, his triumphal return and love fulfillment.
Is that all? Well... no there is opera music and Mario Lanza outstanding performances. Incredible and unforgettable. Such great arias as "Vesti la Giuba" from "I Pagliacci", "E Lucevan le stelle" from "Tosca", the quartet from "Rigolleto" and more and more till the viewer has seen a full opera introduction.

Ann Blyth is delicious playing Ms Dorothy Benjamin with a very delicate touch reminding me of Audrey Hepburn at her best. Dorothy Kirsten adds her beautiful voice fleshing opera singer Louise Heggar.

Last but not least cinematography in charge of Joe Ruttenber who won four Oscar and was nominated for six more between 1939 and 1961 is luminous.

It is a great film for opera music lovers and general public. Do not miss it!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

I believe that the film is great but the vhs is terrible.

I ordered this film vhs hoping to enjoy it. I am very dissapointed as the film must be ruined. It made all sorts of noises that you could not either hear the arias or dialogue. I'm sorry that I received a damaged film.