Mad About Opera

It's a fastpaced, fast talking comedy. There's such a lot of wheeling and dealing going on in this film even from the start. Guido Marchi is a journalist with the idea of raising funds for rebuilding their damaged Italian church in post-war London. He hopes to succeed and thereby persuade Uncle Carlo to allow his daughter Dora to marry him. With a bit of sleight-of-hand he obtains letterhead stationery on which to arrange agreements with a handful of world famous singers to come and give a benefit performance.

We get to see and hear Gigli, Bechi, Gobbi, Schipa, and Maria Caniglia in popular operatic arias. Guido's sweetheart Dora (Gina Lollobrigida) tries to help him but she can get jealous when he strays too far in the company of Margaret (Constance Dowling). Tito Gobbi has more acting and singing than the rest, which is always special.

At the benefit concert Gigli sings from Andre Chenier; Caniglia sings the legendary 'Casta diva' aria beautifully; Gobbi performs his great piece de resistance, the 'Prologo' from Pagliacci; and Bechi shines in the 'Toreador Song'. All very interesting and enjoyable entertainment.