Don Giovanni (1979)

Screen adapatation of Mozart's greatest opera. Don Giovanni, the infamous womanizer, makes one conquest after another until the ghost of Donna Anna's father, the Commendatore, (whom ... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph Losey

Writers:

Lorenzo da Ponte (libretto), Frantz Salieri (collaboration),

Stars:

Ruggero Raimondi, John Macurdy, Edda Moser

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ruggero Raimondi	...	Don Giovanni
John Macurdy	...	The Commendatore
Edda Moser	...	Donna Anna
Kiri Te Kanawa	...	Donna Elvira
Kenneth Riegel	...	Don Ottavio
José van Dam	...	Leporello
Teresa Berganza	...	Zerlina
Malcolm King	...	Masetto
Eric Adjani	...	A Valet in Black
Roberto Del Lago
Sandro Dal Pra
Cristina Fondi
Patrizia Murari
Cristina Nizzero
Simonetta Noce

Storyline

Screen adapatation of Mozart's greatest opera. Don Giovanni, the infamous womanizer, makes one conquest after another until the ghost of Donna Anna's father, the Commendatore, (whom Giovanni killed) makes his appearance. He offers Giovanni one last chance to repent for his multitudinious improprieties. He will not change his ways So, he is sucked down into hell by evil spirits. High drama, hysterical comedy, magnificent music!

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Plot Keywords:

opera | classical music | brechtian | lifting an adult into the air | filmed opera | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Details

Official Sites:

Gaumont [fr]

Country:

Italy France West Germany

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

16 March 1980 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Mozart's Don Giovanni

Filming Locations:

Venice, Veneto, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont, Caméra One, Opera Film Produzione

Technical Specs

Runtime:

176 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Apparently, director Joseph Losey made this film without ever having seen the 'Don Giovanni' opera performed live on the stage.

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Connections

Version of Don Giovanni (1991)

User Reviews

My favorite

This is a wonderful film, the only non-stage performance I've ever seen of this incredible opera. I saw it a million years ago in college and have probably watched it a dozen times over the years. Raimondi is demonically compelling as the Don, wicked, handsome, sardonic, and Van Dam plays off him as Leporello just wonderfully, balancing humor and pathos. Riegel's Ottavio is just as he should be, a humorless square, and Te Kanawa soars as Elvira. My only casting complaint is with Moser as Anna; she sounds very shrill. I liked the hint that perhaps Anna was, despite appearances, actually quite attracted to the Don as well; her protestations to the lumpish Ottavio that she thought it was actually he who'd come to her bedroom didn't persuade (and frankly, I've always wondered why he was such a putz as to buy it). The settings are lush and lovely, including Palladio's Villa Rotonda. Of course some of the lip-syncing is off a bit, but that's to be expected. I also eagerly await a day when this film is available on DVD.