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Overview
User Rating:
Directors:
Writers:
Dennis Arundell (English libretto)
Jules Barbier (from the French text by)
more
Release Date:
13 June 1952 (USA) more
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... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
What a gorgeous film! more (39 total)
Cast
(Complete credited 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) | |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann (UK) (complete title)
more
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
Japan:124 min | UK:138 min (reduced to 128 mins before release) | USA:128 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
UK:U | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | West Germany:12 (w)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
George A. Romero, writer/director of Night of the Living Dead (1968) and Dawn of the Dead (1978) has cited "The Tales of Hoffman" as his all-time favorite movie, saying that it was the movie that originally inspired him to get into film-making. more
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. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Hollywood Uncensored (1987) more
Soundtrack:
Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann, A Fantastic Opera more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (39 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Tales of Hoffmann (1951)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| It's the Emperor!!! | dvbar1 |
| Script available online? | jrpelt |
| on DVD? | rapanuihead |
Recommendations
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| The Red Shoes | 8½ | Stardust | The PianoTuner of EarthQuakes | Tiny Dancer |
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Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Adventure section | IMDb UK section | Add this title to MyMovies |

I saw this film when it first came out and was overwhelmed by the music (by Jacques Offenbach) and the gorgeous 3-strip Technicolor. I even bought the LP soundtrack album (twice). When the Criterion laserdisc version came out, I forked out beaucoup bucks for it -- and was not disappointed! I suspect this film was the first music video, for all the sound (singing and music) was pre-recorded, which gave it a more pure quality. Nearly all the on-camera players were ballet stars, who lip-synced singing by opera stars! It is an opera, after all, so perhaps it could be accused of being a bit stagey, but so what!! It is a pure delight, and I am now happy to report that Criterion has released the DVD! It has been restored and digitally remastered for a truly glorious presentation. Comments by Martin Scorcese only add to the release!