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IMDb > The Tales of Hoffmann (1951)
The Tales of Hoffmann
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The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   619 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 6% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Dennis Arundell (English libretto)
Jules Barbier (from the French text by)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Tales of Hoffmann on IMDbPro.
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

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)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann (UK) (complete title)
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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 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Company:
Archers, The more

Fun Stuff

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. 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:
Featured in The Dead Will Walk (2004) (V) more
Soundtrack:
Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann, A Fantastic Opera more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
18 out of 18 people found the following comment useful:-
What a gorgeous film!, 1 June 2004
Author: DOUG DEUSS (SHADO57) from Phoenix, Arizona USA

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!

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