The Tales of Hoffmann (1951)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Directors:

Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger

Writers:

Dennis Arundell (English libretto)
Jules Barbier (from the French text by)

Release Date:

13 June 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Romance | Fantasy | Music

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...

Plot Keywords:

Opera | Ballet | Quack Doctor | Filmed Opera | Fake Doctor

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

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)

Also Known As:

Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann (UK) (complete title)

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

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | West Germany:12 (w)

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Archers, The

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.

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.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Dead Will Walk (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann, A Fantastic Opera

A grand artistic vision

TALES OF Hoffman – Powell & Pressburger This colorful film adaptation of an by Offenbach is a musical in the truest sense, meaning every bit of narrative and dialog is put forth by means of song. I am not in general the biggest fan of such endeavors, but it works quite well for this film, although some of the love paeans may be outstaying their welcome.

In the story a poet – Hoffman – tells in episodic fashion about the many times that he has loved and lost. There have been several films made with such a theme but Hoffman stands well apart because of the Goth-fantastic nature of the narratives. Hoffman, in turn, falls in love with Olympia - a puppet, Guiletta - the temptress of a soul-stealing demon, and Antonia - a singer doomed by fatal consumptive illness.

This narrative is complemented by the brilliantly supportive artistic design of the film. The makers construct a deliberate stage-like ambiance, with the use of representative backdrops, suitably exaggerated props and striking motifs to convey the settings and moods of the various episodes. In this aspect it shares strong kinship with Masaki Kobayashi's period ghost story anthology Kwaidan. You also have the concept of the same actor returning to play different parts in the various episodes of Hoffman's life, the most notable of which is Robert Helpmann who portrays the sinister element in all the episodes (and with his vampiric menacing look, does a terrific job of it, although his motive for evil in the Antonia episode goes unexplained).

The fantastic elements of the plot, color-drenched distinctive look, intricate balletic choreography and excellent fit of all the actors in their roles make Tales of Hoffman a very interesting watching experience on the whole.

One of my caveats with the film is that Hoffman's companion Nicklaus is never properly explained. Who is this woman in man's garb and why is she doing what she does?