The Tales of Hoffmann

The restored, the iconic film 1951 film of Offenbach’s only opera, The Tales of Hoffmann. This was an iconic film being the first opera filmed in colour and the first to be filmed as a film, rather than a recording of a live performance. So we had actors, or dancers, featured on[JG1] the film with others singing the roles.

I’m am not a film buff, but the restoration appeared very good, with no flickers and very good picture and sound, though it doesn’t require a wide screen. Sometimes the actors didn’t sing at all, and often they didn’t appear to be putting any effort into the singing, which was disconcerting.

The title role was acted and sung by the American tenor Robert Roundsville, who had a long career in opera and musicals, playing Mr Snow in the film of Carousel. He was very good. Playing the four villains was the Australian ballet dancer, Robert Helpmann, who gave a striking portrayal. The roles were sung by the Welsh bass-baritone, Bruce Dargaval, an excellent singer I hadn’t encountered before.

Moira Shearer danced the roles of Stella and Olympia as in this interpretation, Stella was a ballet dancer rather than an opera singer. She was very good, but I found it a bit disconcerting for her to be dancing the Doll Song. This was sung by another singer I was unfamiliar with, Dorothy Bond. This was some of the best singing I’d ever heard, but she is unknown now as she died in a car accident at the age of 31.

The Australian soprano, Margarita Grandi was the Giulietta and very good. Owen Brannigan and Monica Sinclair would both be familiar to Australian audiences because of their many recordings. 

The film was quite magical in its treatment of the opera and Sir Thomas Beecham’s masterful conducting enhanced the experience.

Well worth a look.

Graham Ford