La traviata (1983)

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Director:

Franco Zeffirelli

Writers:

Alexandre Dumas fils (novel) and
Francesco Maria Piave (libretto)
(more)

Release Date:

18 February 1983 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Plot Keywords:

Consumption | Prostitution | Jealousy | Opera | Love

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Teresa Stratas	...	Violetta Valéry
Plácido Domingo	...	Alfredo Germont
Cornell MacNeil	...	Giorgio Germont
Allan Monk	...	Barone Douphol
Axelle Gall	...	Flora
Pina Cei	...	Annina
Maurizio Barbacini	...	Gastone de Letorières
Robert Sommer	...	Dottor Grenvil
Richard Oneto	...	Marchese D'Obigny
Renato Cestiè	...	Giovane Facchino
Dominique Journet	...	Sorella d'Alfredo
Luciano Brizi	...	Giuseppe
Tony Ammirati	...	Guardiano
Ariel Bybee	...	(voice)
Geraldine Decker	...	(voice)
Ferruccio Furlanetto	...	(voice)
Michael Best	...	(voice)
Russell Christopher	...	(voice)
Richard Vernon	...	(voice)
Charles Anthony	...	(voice)
Yekaterina Maksimova	...	Dancer (as Ekaterina Maksimova)
Vladimir Vasilyev	...	Dancer (as Vladimir Vassiljev)
Gabriella Borni	...	Dancer

Directed by
Franco Zeffirelli

Writing credits
Alexandre Dumas fils		(novel and play "La dame aux camélias")
Francesco Maria Piave		libretto
Franco Zeffirelli		writer

Produced by
Tarak Ben Ammar	....	producer
Carlo Lastricati	....	associate producer

Non-Original Music by
Giuseppe Verdi		(from opera "La Traviata")

Cinematography by
Ennio Guarnieri

Film Editing by
Franca Silvi
Peter Taylor

Production Design by
Franco Zeffirelli

Costume Design by
Piero Tosi

Makeup Department
Giannetto De Rossi	....	makeup artist
Grazia De Rossi	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Umberto Sambuco	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carlo Cotti	....	assistant director
Jean-Claude Ventura	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Bruno Carlino	....	set dresser
Maria-Teresa Barbasso	....	set designer (uncredited)
Domenico Mancino	....	blacksmith (uncredited)
Italo Tomassi	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Cesare D'Amico	....	sound editor
Jean-Louis Ducarme	....	sound mixer
Federico Osavina	....	sound mixing advisor
Claude Villand	....	sound mixer
Jean-Marc Lentretien	....	sound mix technician (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Nino Cristiani	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alberto Spiazzi	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Liberata Zocchi	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Rolf Feichtinger	....	musical advisor
Paul Goodman	....	assistant original music recordist
James Levine	....	conductor
James Levine	....	musical director
Gilbert Marouani	....	music track coordinator
Tom Rates	....	assistant original music recordist
Jay Saks	....	original music recordist

Other crew
Roberto Penna	....	production accountant
Alberto Testa	....	choreographer
Max Wilcox	....	post-production audio producer
Franco Penna	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Corrado Sofia	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Carla Zacchia	....	production accountant assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Accent Films B.V.
• Radiotelevisione Italiana

Distributors

• Universal Classics (1983) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:G | Ireland:G | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:G | West Germany:16 (bw)

Company:

Accent Films B.V.

Movie Connections:

Version of Crónica de un amor (1974)

Soundtrack:

La Traviata

An opera film for people who hate opera

A filmed version of Guiseppe Verdi's opera. It's about a love affair between beautiful Violetta Valery (Teresa Stratas) and Alfredo Germont (Placido Domingo). Their love for each other is torn apart by his father--but she still loves him. It all leads to a tragic end.

I saw this in a theatre back in 1982. They tried to play it like an opera. When I walked in the screen was covered by a red curtain (back in those days some of the older theaters still had curtains). As the lights went down the curtain parted and the film began. When the film ended, the curtains pulled back together and the lights came up. My audience applauded even after the lights were up. It gave the feeling of being at a live opera. That can't be recreated at your home but this film is still well worth seeing.

Director Franco Zeffirelli wisely did not film the opera as it is staged. He opened it up--this was set up for a film. Sequences take place outside and the inside sets are way too elaborate for an actual opera.

The costumes are beautiful and the sets are just stunning--full of color and light. Every moment of this picture is filled with beautiful imagery. It matches perfectly with the singing and the music which are just incredible. There's even a show-stopping matador dance half-way through! I've never seen the opera but I've heard this is very faithful and Stratas and Domingo have beautiful voices and also can act! The only negative here is that Domingo is way too old for his role...but that can be forgiven whenever he sings.

This was actually a sizable hit back in 1982. The same team got together a few years later and filmed "Othello". Surprisingly that was TERRIBLE and is a textbook example of how NOT to do an opera! But this one is just great and a must-see. I give it a 10.