1951 Movie
Dir. Emeric Pressburger & Michael Powell · United Kingdom · English
A poet reminisces over lost love in this spectacular, sung-through opera adaptation
In the last years of their partnership, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger decided to take on another art form in The Tales of Hoffmann. Jacques Offenbach’s opera is excellently adapted with similar extravagance to The Red Shoes, only this time, rather than limiting the performance in one sequence, the entire film is sung-through and plays out on what feels like a neverending stage. The split between E.T.A. Hoffmann’s three short stories can seem a bit uneven, with Olympia’s tale the longest of the three, but the outstanding cast, the fantastic costumes and sets, and the seamless cinematography takes a spectacular route into a brilliant conclusion. Most people’s mileage of this film would depend on their appreciation of the mediums of opera and movie musicals, but fans of both would adore The Tales of Hoffmann.
A melancholy poet reflects on three women he loved and lost in the past: a mechanical performing doll, a Venetian courtesan, and the consumptive daughter of a celebrated composer.
"A worthwhile component of Powell and Pressburger's inestimable legacy."
— Trevor Johnston
"A lush, resplendent production that's a treat to eye and ear."
— Variety Staff
A poet reflects on three women he once loved and lost: the beautiful automaton Olympia, the seductive courtesan Giuletta, and the consumptive opera singer Antonia.
This might be a quirk of the opera itself, but Olympia’s tale being the longest of the three is interesting to me, because given the ending, it says a lot about how the protagonist thought about his true love.
Okay, The Red Shoes is better, but this was still so good!
Oscars
2 noms
Cannes
1 win
Berlin
2 wins
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
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