The Tales of Hoffmann (1951)

Directors:

Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger

Writers:

Dennis Arundell (English libretto)
Jules Barbier (from the French text by)

Release Date:

13 June 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Romance | Fantasy | Music

Tagline:

You Will Never See Anything Finer On The Screen!

Plot:

This a film version of the opera "The Tales of Hoffmann", however it is NOT just a film of a staged performance...

Plot Keywords:

Opera | Ballet | Quack Doctor | Filmed Opera | Fake Doctor

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Moira Shearer	...	Stella / Olympia
Ludmilla Tchérina	...	Giulietta
Anne Ayars	...	Antonia
Pamela Brown	...	Nicklaus
Léonide Massine	...	Spalanzani / Schlemil / Franz
Robert Helpmann	...	Lindorf / Coppelius / Dapertutto / Dr Miracle
Frederick Ashton	...	Kleinsach / Cochenille
Mogens Wieth	...	Crespel
Robert Rounseville	...	Hoffmann
Lionel Harris	...	Pitichinaccio
Philip Leaver	...	Andreas (Prologue and Epilogue)
Meinhart Maur	...	Luther
Edmond Audran	...	Partner to Stella in Dragonfly ballet
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Ford	...	Nathaniel (Prologue and Epilogue)
Richard Golding	...	Hermann (Prologue and Epilogue)

Also Known As:

Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

Japan:124 min | UK:138 min (reduced to 128 mins before release) | USA:128 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | West Germany:12 (w)

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Archers, The

Trivia:

Robert Rounseville (Hoffmann) and 'Ann Ayars' (Antonia) are the only performers in the film who both appear on screen and do their own singing. Every other character is dubbed.

Quotes:

Chorus of Students: Some drink, drink, drink, drink, drink: do you hear us about? You lazy lout! We want some beer; we want some wine! Pour out the wine, and drink and drink till morning. Pour out the wine for drinking is divine. It is divine. We want some beer; we want some wine. We want some beer; we want some wine.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hollywood Uncensored (1987)

Soundtrack:

Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann, A Fantastic Opera

Bravo, Tales of Hoffmann!

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.