The Great Caruso (1951) (1951)

61% of users liked it
(487 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 has a… 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

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Richard Thorpe
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics

In Theaters: Apr 16, 1951 Wide
On DVD: Apr 1, 2008

Critic Reviews

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.
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.

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Cast

            Mario Lanza as Enrico Caruso

            Ann Blyth as Dorothy Benjamin

            Dorothy Kirsten as Louise Heggar

            Jarmila Novotna as Maria Selka

            Richard Hageman as Carlo Santi

            Carl Benton Reid as Park Benjamin

            Eduard Franz as Giulio Gatti-Casazza

            Ludwig Donath as Alfredo Brazzi

            Alan Napier as Jean de Reszke

            Carl Milletaire as Gino

            Shepard Menken as Fucito

            Vincent Renno as Tullio

            Nestor Paiva as Egisto Barretto

            Peter Edward Price as Caruso as a boy

            Mario Siletti as Papa Caruso

            Angela Clarke as Mama Caruso

            Ian Wolfe as Hutchins

            Edith Angold as Hilda

            David Bond as Father Angelico

            Robert Bright
            
            Peter Brocco as Father Bronzetti

            Argentina Brunetti as Mrs. Barretto

            Teresa Celli as Opera Montage

            Mae Clarke as Woman

            Yvette Dugay as Musetta Barretto

            John Hamilton as Foster DeWitt

            Paul Harvey as Benefit Spokesman

            Sherry Jackson as Musetta as a Child

            Marina Koshetz as Opera Montage

            Silvio Minciotti
            
            Matt Moore as Max

            Bert Roach as Technician

            Gilbert Russell as Opera Singer

            Maurice Samuels as Papa Gino

            Blanche Thebom as Opera Montage

            Minerva Urecal as Carmencita Toscano

            Giuseppe Valdengo as Opera Montage

            Tito Vuolo as Pietro Toscano

            Charles Evans as Finch Benjamin Butler

            Pal Javor as Antonio Scotti
See full cast

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