The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) + Extras
The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) + Extras
BDRip 720p | MKV | 1280 x 720 | x264 @ 2048 Kbps | 2h 13mn | 2,05 Gb + 352 Mb
Audio: English AC3 2.0 @ 160 Kbps | Subtitles: English (embedded)
Genre: Fantasy, Romance | Directors: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
BDRip 720p | MKV | 1280 x 720 | x264 @ 2048 Kbps | 2h 13mn | 2,05 Gb + 352 Mb
Audio: English AC3 2.0 @ 160 Kbps | Subtitles: English (embedded)
Genre: Fantasy, Romance | Directors: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
This a film version of the opera "The Tales of Hoffmann", however it is NOT just a film of a staged performance. 'Michael Powell' & Emeric Pressburger (and the rest of "The Archers") work their usual magic here. The opera dramatises the three great romances in the life of the poet-hero presented in a series of flashbacks. Hoffmann's tales depict the struggle between human love and the artist's dedication to his work. Hoffmann loses each of the women he loves but gains instead poetic inspiration – the ability to transform painful experiences into art.
IMDB - Nominated for 2 Oscars
What a splendid film is this combination of opera and ballet for those partial to this type of fare. The performance of Robert Helpmann in four roles is exceptional and dancer Leonid Massine makes a chilling villain as Schlemil in the utterly fantastic "Tale of Giuletta". Ludmilla Tcherina as Giuletta is an alluring sex-goddess and enslaver of men. I am totally absorbed whenever I watch this episode. Having said all this, I must also say that the "Tale of Antonia" is a severe letdown after the two preceding episodes. It is not just the film version that is bad – it was actually a letdown the first time I saw the opera live at the old Metropolitan Opera 45 years ago. Actually, there have been suggestions that the "Antonia" episode be moved from last to first episode sequentially in the opera, however I doubt if this would make a significant improvement. If I am correct, the "Antonia" episode was completed by another composer, Offenbach having died before completing Tales of Hoffmann. Ahhh…that hauntingly beautiful "Barcarolle"….nothing can compare to it!! And the film version is just icing on the cake.
(Enlargeable)
The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) + Extras
Extras:
- Martin Scorsese Introduction (3:21)
- Interview with Thelma Schoonmaker (18:56)