La forza del destino (1950)
Film version of the Verdi opera about lovers on the run after the accidental death of the girl's father.
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good back-story, and good acting
Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.
The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.
Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.
La Forza Del Destino is not my favourite Verdi, the drama is rather sprawling at times but I cannot deny the magnificence that is the music. And while not my favourite Forza, the 1958 and 1978 performances were superior, this is a film worth watching. The lip-synching however is off in places, so much so it is comical, and while it is well made with good sets and costumes I found the 1949 film of Il Trovatore a little more adeptly made(though the drama in this film is much more convincing I found). The orchestral playing, conducting and chorus are superb. Gino Sinimberghi is a handsome and darkly intense Alvaro, with Alvaro's vocals not large in size but well-phrased and nice on the ear. Nelly Corradi is a moving Leonora with Caterina Mancini's soprano expressive enough. There is also a sympathetic Padre Guardinio(couresy of the rich voice of Giulio Neri) and a sexy Preziosilla, but the performer who dominates is Tito Gobbi. His voice, which I have never really considered the most powerful or beautiful I've heard, has nonetheless been growing on me with some striking tone colour, and his intelligence, intensity, acting skills and musicianship as ever are just impeccable. All in all, a very well done film even with the lip-synching. 8/10 Bethany Cox