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   667 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 13% in popularity this week. See why 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:
Bravo, Tales of Hoffmann! 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)
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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:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

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:
Referenced in Hollywood Uncensored (1987) more
Soundtrack:
Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann, A Fantastic Opera more

FAQ

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16 out of 16 people found the following comment useful.
Bravo, Tales of Hoffmann!, 28 December 2004
10/10
Author: guidon7 from Gulf Breeze, Florida

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.

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