The Great Caruso (1951) (1951)
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61% of users liked it
(496 ratings)
The film traces Naples-born Caruso's ascension from adolescent choir singer to the uppermost ranks of the opera world. Caruso is brought to America, getting off to a bad start by inadvertently insulting the impresario (Carl Benton Reid) responsible for his Metropolitan debut. This complication… More The film traces Naples-born Caruso's ascension from adolescent choir singer to the uppermost ranks of the opera world. Caruso is brought to America, getting off to a bad start by inadvertently insulting the impresario (Carl Benton Reid) responsible for his Metropolitan debut. This complication has a happy outcome when Caruso marries his benefactor's daughter (Ann Blyth). Refusing to spare himself or to hold back his talents from his fans, Caruso's health fails him, and he dies in 1921 at the age of 47. Featuring no fewer than 27 musical numbers, Great Caruso also stars Mario Lanza as Caruso, as well as such operatic superstars as Dorothy Kirsten and Jarmila Novotna. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Richard Thorpe
- Genres
- Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics
- In Theaters
- Apr 16, 1951 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This conventional biopic of the famous Italian tenro was one of 1951's biggest commercial hits due to Mario Lanza's popularity at the time.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Hits a few high notes over the music but hits too many low notes after fudging the biography with too much fictionalization.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Mario Lanza
as Enrico Caruso
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Ann Blyth
as Dorothy Benjamin
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Dorothy Kirsten
as Louise Heggar
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Jarmila Novotna
as Maria Selka
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Richard Hageman
as Carlo Santi
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Carl Benton Reid
as Park Benjamin
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Eduard Franz
as Giulio Gatti-Casazza
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Ludwig Donath
as Alfredo Brazzi
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Alan Napier
as Jean de Reszke
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Carl Milletaire
as Gino
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Shepard Menken
as Fucito
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Vincent Renno
as Tullio
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Nestor Paiva
as Egisto Barretto
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Peter Edward Price
as Caruso as a boy
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Mario Siletti
as Papa Caruso
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Angela Clarke
as Mama Caruso
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Ian Wolfe
as Hutchins
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Edith Angold
as Hilda
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David Bond
as Father Angelico
- Robert Bright
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Peter Brocco
as Father Bronzetti
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Argentina Brunetti
as Mrs. Barretto
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Teresa Celli
as Opera Montage
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Mae Clarke
as Woman
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Yvette Dugay
as Musetta Barretto
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John Hamilton
as Foster DeWitt
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Paul Harvey
as Benefit Spokesman
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Sherry Jackson
as Musetta as a Child
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Marina Koshetz
as Opera Montage
- Silvio Minciotti
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Matt Moore
as Max
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Bert Roach
as Technician
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Gilbert Russell
as Opera Singer
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Maurice Samuels
as Papa Gino
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Blanche Thebom
as Opera Montage
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Minerva Urecal
as Carmencita Toscano
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Giuseppe Valdengo
as Opera Montage
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Tito Vuolo
as Pietro Toscano
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Charles Evans
as Finch Benjamin Butler
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Pal Javor
as Antonio Scotti