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IMDbPro

Man of La Mancha

  • 19721972
  • PGPG
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
4.4K
YOUR RATING
Man of La Mancha (1972)
The funny story of mad but kind and chivalrous elderly nobleman Don Quixote who, aided by his squire Sancho Panza, fights windmills that are seen as dragons to save prostitute Dulcinea who is seen as a noblewoman.
Play trailer3:09
1 Video
30 Photos
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
  • Musical
The funny story of mad but kind and chivalrous elderly nobleman Don Quixote who, aided by his squire Sancho Panza, fights windmills that are seen as dragons to save prostitute Dulcinea who i... Read allThe funny story of mad but kind and chivalrous elderly nobleman Don Quixote who, aided by his squire Sancho Panza, fights windmills that are seen as dragons to save prostitute Dulcinea who is seen as a noblewoman.The funny story of mad but kind and chivalrous elderly nobleman Don Quixote who, aided by his squire Sancho Panza, fights windmills that are seen as dragons to save prostitute Dulcinea who is seen as a noblewoman.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
4.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Arthur Hiller
  • Writers
    • Dale Wasserman(musical play)
    • Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra(novel "Don Quixote")
  • Stars
    • Peter O'Toole
    • Sophia Loren
    • James Coco
Top credits
  • Director
    • Arthur Hiller
  • Writers
    • Dale Wasserman(musical play)
    • Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra(novel "Don Quixote")
  • Stars
    • Peter O'Toole
    • Sophia Loren
    • James Coco
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 77User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:09
    Trailer

    Photos30

    Sophia Loren and Peter O'Toole in Man of La Mancha (1972)
    Peter O'Toole in Man of La Mancha (1972)
    Sophia Loren in Man of La Mancha (1972)
    Peter O'Toole in Man of La Mancha (1972)
    Peter O'Toole and James Coco in Man of La Mancha (1972)
    Peter O'Toole and James Coco in Man of La Mancha (1972)
    Peter O'Toole and James Coco in Man of La Mancha (1972)
    Peter O'Toole in Man of La Mancha (1972)
    Sophia Loren, Peter O'Toole, and James Coco in Man of La Mancha (1972)
    Sophia Loren, Peter O'Toole, and James Coco in Man of La Mancha (1972)
    James Coco in Man of La Mancha (1972)
    "Man Of La Mancha," Sophia Loren.

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter O'Toole
    Peter O'Toole
    • Don Quixote De La Manchaas Don Quixote De La Mancha…
    Sophia Loren
    Sophia Loren
    • Dulcineaas Dulcinea…
    James Coco
    James Coco
    • Sancho Panzaas Sancho Panza
    Harry Andrews
    Harry Andrews
    • The Innkeeperas The Innkeeper…
    John Castle
    John Castle
    • Sanson Carrascoas Sanson Carrasco…
    Brian Blessed
    Brian Blessed
    • Pedroas Pedro
    Ian Richardson
    Ian Richardson
    • The Padreas The Padre
    Julie Gregg
    Julie Gregg
    • Antoniaas Antonia
    Rosalie Crutchley
    Rosalie Crutchley
    • The Housekeeperas The Housekeeper
    Gino Conforti
    Gino Conforti
    • The Barberas The Barber
    Marne Maitland
    Marne Maitland
    • Captain of the Guardas Captain of the Guard
    Dorothy Sinclair
    • The Innkeeper's Wifeas The Innkeeper's Wife
    Miriam Acevedo
    • Ferminaas Fermina
    Dominic Barto
    • Muleteeras Muleteer
    • (as Dominic Bartó)
    Poldo Bendandi
    Poldo Bendandi
    • Muleteeras Muleteer
    Peppi Borza
    • Muleteeras Muleteer
    Mario Donen
    Mario Donen
    • Muleteeras Muleteer
    Fred Evans
    • Muleteeras Muleteer
    • Director
      • Arthur Hiller
    • Writers
      • Dale Wasserman(musical play) (screenplay) (television play "I, Don Quixote")
      • Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra(novel "Don Quixote") (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Peter O'Toole recorded his vocal tracks for the film, but after realizing his own voice was not sufficient enough for the requirements of the music, assisted in the search for a singing voice double. The man O'Toole initially picked sounded nothing like him, so a new search was begun, and eventually Simon Gilbert was selected as the singing voice of Don Quixote, as his singing voice sounded the most like O'Toole's speaking voice.
    • Goofs
      In the film, Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra uses the story of Don Quixote to defend the hero's chivalric notions. In the final pages of the novel, and only in the final pages, he declares that his intention was to satirize and poke fun at the exaggerated books of chivalry which were then in vogue. Part I of "Don Quixote" published in 1605, is mostly comic; Part II, published in 1615, is more melancholy and psychological. Most critics feel that, despite his satirical intentions, Cervantes mellowed and began to admire Don Quixote between publication of the 2 parts.
    • Quotes

      Miguel de Cervantes: I'm a poet.

      The Duke: They're putting people in prison for that?

      Miguel de Cervantes: No, no, no, not for that.

      The Duke: Too bad.

    • Crazy credits
      During the opening credits, we see the animated sails of a windmill, which, with each turn, begin to reveal, and finally become, a sketch of the face of Don Quixote. The camera moves in for an extreme closeup of the facial features, which, as the camera gets close, reveal themselves to be a giant prop in an outdoor stage presentation during a festival. As the opening credits end, the sketch of that prop dissolves into the real item.
    • Alternate versions
      The DVD features the MGM logo in the credits, but not the United Artists one, although the film is a United Artists release. The VHS release featured both logos, and the original theatrical release only the United Artists one, along with the Transamerica logo (Transamerica once owned UA).
    • Connections
      Featured in The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Man of La Mancha
      (I, Don Quixote)

      Music by Mitch Leigh

      Lyrics by Joe Darion

      Performed by Simon Gilbert, Peter O'Toole (speaking),

      and James Coco

    User reviews77

    Review
    Top review
    Great Theatrical Experience----Good Film Experience, but......
    I was privileged to have seen "Man of La Mancha" twice in the theater. These were riveting and unforgettable moments. As those who have seen it performed already know, the play was presented without intermission. Obviously this is because the drama builds up to such an emotional high as the story unfolds that a break in the narrative would have been both jarring and disorienting.

    To that extent, the play was crafted almost in the same vein as a film-----without any break from beginning to end.

    The movie version sticks quite closely to its theatrical origins. Given the creative personnel responsible for the film, this is quite understandable.

    I thought that Sophia Loren was right for the female leading role notwithstanding her limited vocal range. She gave us an emotionally charged and powerful performance that overcame her lack of strength as a singer.

    Peter O'Toole is another matter. Not only was his singing dubbed, but O'Toole was a somewhat mannered and affected Cervantes. Admittedly, it may be a valid artistic conception to make the soldier/actor/poet/author/tilter at windmills effete and rather fragile. But the role as developed on the stage projected a man with more power as he adopted his various guises.

    Why didn't the filmmakers remember Howard Keel when they were casting the movie? He had a wonderful baritone voice, and exhibited in "Kiss Me Kate" and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" the kind of qualities that could have made Cervantes more appealing and less exhausted. Keel was a vibrant 53 in 1972------the year when the film was released (O'Toole was then 40). Certainly, that would have been an appropriate age for the role. As a footnote, Keel played Cervantes in touring and summer stock productions of "Man of La Mancha" for many years around the time the film was made.

    We should be grateful that we have a more or less complete contemporaneous film account of a legendary musical play. What a pity that this good musical film wasn't made even more memorable by casting a worthy singing film actor in the male lead. The score certainly did not benefit from being sung from the mouth of such a depleted-appearing performer as O'Toole. He should have stuck with "Lawrence of Arabia!"
    helpful•9
    5
    • malvernp
    • Jan 20, 2007

    FAQ2

    • What is the biggest difference between the stage version of "Man of La Mancha" and the film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 8, 1973 (Italy)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Mann von La Mancha
    • Filming locations
      • Tarquinia, Viterbo, Lazio, Italy
    • Production company
      • Produzioni Europee Associate (PEA)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 12 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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