Lanza Trivia Question Time

[Derek McGovern]

Joe recently suggested that I start a regular Lanza trivia question thread. So here goes!

#1 In how many Lanza films do Mario's parents appear?

[Barnabas Nemeth]

"Because you're mine", and ? I can't recall more...Barnabas

2012/11/11 Derek McGovern <derek.m...@gmail.com>

[zsazsa]

Hi Derek,

my answer is 

The Great Caruso and Because You`re mine 

Ciao Susan

[Joseph Fagan]

I will go with zsazsa's answer above , however Mario's father's name was used in the arrested line-up of the movie FTFT, I think.

[norma]

On Sunday, November 11, 2012 8:57:12 AM UTC, Derek McGovern wrote:
> Joe recently suggested that I start a regular Lanza trivia question thread. So here goes!
>
> #1 In how many Lanza films do Mario's parents appear?

One

[Derek McGovern]

Well, I can see that I'm going to have to make these questions a lot more difficult!

Yes, Susan and Joe are right: Lanza's parents did appear in two of his movies: The Great Caruso (as guests in the "Loveliest Night" birthday party scene) and Because You're Mine. (And, of course, as an in-joke, Antonio Cocozza's name was called out in the courtroom scene in For the First Time as one of the arrested men.)

A tougher question will be appearing soon!

Cheers

Derek

[Derek McGovern]

OK: here's a more difficult question :)

 

What famous (living) leading man of TV and films once said that he would like to be reincarnated with the voice of Mario Lanza?

[Steff]

Hi Derek,

 

I give it a try, that's the result of my researches (what else? Smile):

 

It might be Terence Stamp (born 1938), because he said in an interview:

 

"If I have another reincarnation I'd settle for a voice like Mario Lanza's or to be able to play

 the alto sax like Paul Desmond."

 

http://www.stage32.com/blog/qa-acting-legend-terence-stamp-answers-part-ii

 

 

On a side note, here's an actress who had the same ambition: Lee/Leigh Beery:

 

"Lee Beery, a slim brunette with the complexion of a Minnesota. Well, milkmaid, used to think of herself as a tenor. While many little girls, with ambitions to sing, dream of becoming Maria Callas, Lee's goal was to be the reincarnation of Mario Lanza." (From "The Pittsburgh Press, Febr 18, 1968).

 

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19680218&id=5XgqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oE8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5515,1035504

 

Steff

 

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Steff

No, I wasn't thinking of Terence Stamp, though he almost fits the description :) True, he's appeared in the occasional television programme, but I wouldn't call him a leading man of TV exactly. The actor I'm thinking of was a major TV star and later an even bigger film star......

Cheers

Derek

[Derek McGovern]

Hint: I wouldn't call our mystery man the world's greatest actor---his range is somewhat limited, in my opinion---but what he does (and he acted as recently as last year), he does very well. 

[Michael McAdam]

Hi Derek:

 

George Clooney comes to mind?

 

Mike

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Mike: Sorry--- it's not George! Besides, I suspect this actor is too vain to reveal any grey locks :)

[Joseph Fagan]

I think I read somewhere that James Garner was a huge Lanza fan, but I suspect that is not who you are looking for. You sue picked a toughie, old sport!
On Tuesday, November 13, 2012 2:40:40 PM UTC-5, Joseph Fagan wrote:

[Joseph Fagan]

 

It just hit me: How about Eddie Albert who played in a TV series with Eva Gabor? He was a pretty good singer and I think studied some opera. May have also know Mario through the Gabor connection.

[Steff]

 

What about William Shatner?

At least I know he is a fan of Mario's.

 

Steff 

[Derek McGovern]

No, it's not James Garner, Eddie Albert or William Shatner :)

[Steff]

 

Clint Eastwood? 

 

 

Steff 

[Derek McGovern]

No, not Clint Eastwood! (Though there is a Lanza connection to him---the 1988 film Bird, which he directed, features Mario's recording of "Be My Love.")

Hint: the actor is of a similar age, give or take a few years, to Eastwood.   

Cheers

Derek

[Michael McAdam]

Okay, he's younger but I have a hunch it's John Travolta who made the reincarnation statement?

(my only other guess would be Bruce Willis)

 

M.

 

[Derek McGovern]

No, it's not Travolta, though (coincidentally), I think that once upon a time he would have been a great choice---from a purely physical perspective---to portray Lanza in a film bio. And, no, it's not Bruce Willis either :)

This will probably give the answer away, but the actor is British.

Cheers

Derek

[leeann]

Well, that totally eliminates Elvis Presley, for those who aren't completely sure he's left the building.

Christopher Lee sings, wanted to be an opera star, but his own hair is gray, and his white hairdo was enviable in Lord of the Rings.

I have a feeling this is one where we all end up hitting our foreheads and wondering why we didn't think of it. But please don't tell quite yet!  :-)

[Derek McGovern]

I promise not to give the answer away for a while yet, Lee Ann. And, yes, Christopher Lee's grey hair definitely rules him out!  

Speaking of Lee, I was reminded the other day of a lovely anecdote he once told an interviewer. (This was passed on to me by a friend.) Years ago, Sir Christopher was driving through the Italian countryside late one dark and stormy night when his car happened to break down. Needing to phone for assistance, he found a lonely cottage and knocked on the door. The elderly woman who answered took one look at him and screamed "Diavolo!" (Devil), making the sign of the cross before she darted away. A startled Lee then peeked through the door. There in the woman's living room was a black and white TV set. And screening at that very moment was one of his old Dracula films :)       

Incidentally, one of the reasons I chose this particular question is because I knew the answer couldn't easily be found on the internet. Even the mystery actor's autobiography, which I've never read (but which possibly mentions his love for Lanza), isn't available online :)

Cheers

Derek

[Steff]

Derek,

 

Your "his range is somewhat limited" made me thinking. It sounds like an actor,

who especially became famous for portraying one particular character in movies.

 

What about Roger Moore?

He's British and three years older than Eastwood (you said "give or take a few years")

Steff

[leeann]

ZING! I'm lining up behind you, Steff. Hasn't gone grey; limited roles; British; memoirs, but not online; appearances in 2011!

What a great Christopher Lee story!  No way, either, could we really classify him as a more limited actor--even though he's awfully good in villainous roles! Best, Lee Ann

[Savage]

Well, if Tony Randall were still alive he would be my choice.  Anyone else would have to be a wild guess.  Michael J. Fox?

[Derek McGovern]

Hi David: No, not Michael J. Fox :) And not Peter O'Toole either---though I see that post has now been deleted! (Incidentally, I once saw O'Toole on stage---basically playing a character very similar to himself---and he was both hilarious and charismatic. A lovable rogue! And if you've never seen his glorious Errol Flynn-like portrayal in the 1982 My Favorite Year, do check it out )

No, the answer is Roger Moore. Excellent deducing, Steff and Lee Ann! 

Moore made the comments in an interview in (I think) the late 1970s. I first heard about it from Lindsay Perigo about thirty years ago, and, remembering the comment just the other day, I checked with Armando, who was able to confirm it.  

It's sobering to think that Moore was born only six years after Lanza---and Christopher Lee a mere year later, in 1922---and yet both men are still working and (apparently) in good health. Oh, Mario: why couldn't you have taken better care of yourself?  

But let's not get maudlin. Another trivia question will be on its way soon!

[Derek McGovern]

OK: Here goes Question #3 (a double-header!):

Lanza recorded two of this composer's songs. On one of those occasions, the composer had no idea that Lanza was going to record his song, and later pronounced himself delighted by the tenor's rendition. 

Who was the composer, and what were the two songs?  

[Steff]

Okay Derek, I give it a try …..

I see the composer was still alive when Mario recorded the songs – maybe he even lived longer than Mario, so he was a contemporary of Mario’s (not necessary the same generation though). 

Consequently, I think we are not looking for opera/operetta recordings, and I would also exclude traditional Italian songs or soundtrack recordings (You said the composer had no idea of Mario planning to record the song, in the case of a soundtrack recording he certainly would be informed beforehand).

Songs that were especially composed for Mario don’t fit either. Your remark “on one of those occasions” sounds as if the composer was present at one of Mario’s recording session, so I guess we are looking for songs that were recorded for the “Coke Show.”

I do not always know who composed a song,  so I had to have a look at the listing of the Coke Shows and I see there was one composer of whom two songs were recorded on two different Coke Show session in 1952.

The songs are: “The Best Things in Life are Free” and “The Thrill is Gone”

The composer is: Ray Henderson (1896-1970)

 

Steff

 

[Savage]

I think Steff might be right.  One thing is certain.  Neither song will be found on the Lanza on Broadway lp.    My wild guess is Jerome Kern.

                                                                                                             David

[Savage]

The two songs are Yesterdays and Long Ago and Far Away

                                                            David

[Savage]

Whoops!  Kern died in 1945.  Steff did her homework and I ventured a wild guess.  Kudos to Steff.

  

[leeann]

Hi Derek, diabolical clues--"on one of those occasions" could be interpreted a couple of ways. Anyway, Puccini and Tosti are clearly out. I actually did take a look at studio recordings and sound tracks as well, and here's where that led.

Bronislau Kaper. Lanza recorded his breathtaking "I Know, I Know, I Know" as part of That Midnight Kiss in 1949. He sang Kaper's "Cosi Cosa" on the Elgin Watch Thanksgiving Show in 1948, and then again as part of the Coke Show in 1951. He's possible.

There are two Jack Taylor recordings: "This Land" and "Earthbound," but they were recorded in the same session, so I'll go with Not possible.

Now, maybe, just MAYBE Irving Aaronson could fit in there. He certainly was around for a lot of Lanza's career, including the Broadway debacle, and you'd think he'd know whether Lanza was recording one of his numbers. Anyhow,  first Lanza recorded the blockbuster "The Loveliest Night of the Year," (1951, RCA then Coke Show) then "Song Angels Sing" (1951 Because You're Mine soundtrack and 1952 RCA) I'm not sure whether he actually recorded anything else by Aaronson, despite an ongoing association. Aaronson's somewhat possible.

I'd bet there are more possibles out there. I wonder who said what to whom. The mariolanzatenor.com Discography is certainly helpful, thank you.

[Steff]

Hi Lee Ann

     You said "There are two Jack Taylor recordings: "This Land" and "Earthbound," but they were recorded in the

     same session, so I'll go with Not possible," and maybe I am wrong now but I understand these are two

     different "Taylors":  "Earthbound:" Jack Taylor and "This Land" Irving Taylor.

 

     Steff

[Derek McGovern]

Sorry, Steff, David and Lee Ann: guess again! (It's great fun reading your reasonings, though :))

By the way, I really must get around to adding the names of the composers and lyricists of the English-language songs in our Lanza Discography. But not until this latest question has been answered, of course! After all, I can't make things *too* easy...

Cheers
Derek

[Steff]

Okay Derek, another guess:

 

Noel Coward, "Someday I'll Find You" and "I'll See You Again"???

 

 

Steff

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Steff: Now there's an interesting thought! No, it wasn't Coward, though I've often wondered what he made of Lanza's interpretations of those two songs. I suspect he would have found "Someday I'll Find You" far too boisterous for his taste, but, sharpness aside, Lanza's enchanting delivery of "I'll See You Again" hopefully met with his approval. 

Side note: Coward positively loathed the 1940 Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson Eddy film version of the musical Bitter Sweet that the latter song came from. He was reportedly seen leaving the movie premiere in tears---and they weren't tears of gratitude :) 

Cheers

Derek  

[Steff]

Hi Derek,

Speaking of Noel Coward, it appears that Mario must have met him in NY during his "Winged Victory" time, provided that Mario was singing in the chorus that particular night:

From "The Billboard," 25 Dec 1943 "Hart Unsphinxes Coward"

New York, Dec.18 - Noel Coward broke his self-made rule of no personal appearances during his three-week vacation when he went backstage one night this week to brief the uniformed cast of Moss Hart's air corps show, Winged Victory.

Coward who came as Hart's guest to see the show, had no intention of being other then one of the audience until Hart asked him to say a few words to the boys.

"After all," Moss said, "you're the Moss Hart of England!"

That broke Coward's back. Coward went backstage and praised the show to the skies."

Steff

[leeann]

Hmmm...I keep wondering about Miklós Rózsa, just because he conducted the Hollywood Bowl concert, then later, Lanza sang his "Lygia" from Ben Hur.  Did Lanza perhaps record anything else from the prolific conductor/composer?  No opportunity to track down any evidence (if it exists) at the moment.

It's interesting how many composers recur throughout Lanza's career!

David, I forgot to say, what a big smile I got from your guesses about Tony Randall and Michael J. Fox--I can just picture/hear both of them saying they'd like to come back with Lanza's voice.  Totally in character!

[Joseph Fagan]

 

Who was Marco Roselli ? When I first posed this question to Derek, I had spelled it incorrectly. The name is MARCO ROSELLI.........Joe

[Steff]

 

Third guess ......

 

Rube Bloom and the songs "Day In, Day Out" and "Fools Rush In"

 

 

Steff 

[leeann]

And yet another hmmmmm....
What if we moved from composers to lyricists--How about Johnny Mercer? (As an aside, I wish I had a dollar for every Johnny Mercer song my mom knew the words to!--to say nothing of my own fondness for "Moon River" and many, many more)

He did the lyrics for "Fools Rush In".  Also "Song of India" which, I know, is on the desert island list of many Lanza fans.

Don't know if Lanza recorded more of his works--but those two, for sure.

[Steff]

Hi Lee Ann,

Might this be a hint? I see Terry Robinson mentioned the following in an interview (which is on the Rense website):

“TR: Well, you can't put your hand on any one in particular, but whenever he [Mario] sang, and gave a concert, he always sang 'O Sole Mio.' I don't know if that was his favorite...but he also did one that was very interesting that he loved. After it was finished, I remember having remarked about it...it was The Song Of India, which Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics for. Johnny Mercer was a friend of Mario, and I remember he told Johnny that he was real happy ...very happy...with the results. So that's two, but he really didn't have one favorite one.

 

However, I am a little puzzled now, as I thought we were looking for the person who wrote the music, not the lyrics. And Derek mentioned that Mario sang two of his songs, and I understand Mercer wrote the lyrics for more than two songs that Mario recorded:  “Fools Rush In,” “Song of India,” “Day In, Day Out” and “Love in a Home.”

 

Anyone else????

Steff

[Derek McGovern]

No, it's not Rube Bloom I was thinking of, Lee Ann, though for all I know he may have reacted similarly to Mr. X!

And not Johnny Mercer, Steff :)

Major hint: Of the two songs by this composer that Lanza recorded, only one of them was performed on the Coke Show.

Joe: Thanks for posing your own trivia question

[Derek McGovern]

Whoops: the system clipped the end of my above post. What I wanted to say was: don't forget that Joe has also posed his own trivia question ("Who was Marco Roselli?").

[Steff]

Derek, 

I wonder if it is Johnny Green.

 

Mario recorded his "The Trembling of a Leaf" for the Coke Show in 1952, and "Never Till Now" in 1957

for RCA at the Cinecittá studios.

 

        Steff

[Derek McGovern]

Sorry that I mixed up your earlier answers, Lee Ann and Steff. (The perils of posting from a cell phone!)

 

Yes, Steff is right: the composer was MGM conductor John Green. (He dropped the "Johnny" in later years.) He told Armando that he was very taken with Lanza's recording of "Never Till Now," which had come as a complete surprise to him. (Lanza and Green hadn't spoken in more than five years when the former recorded the song in November 1957.)

 

I never used to care much for "Never Till Now"---Mario's uncertain intonation throughout the first half of the song always bothered me---but I've come to appreciate it in my old age :) Besides, the mezza voce reprise of "Somehow I wasn't aware" is one of the loveliest moments of all Lanza's English song recordings:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLKC__fIORQ (Great video by Vince)

 

Anyway, well done again, Steff!

 

Cheers

Derek

[Derek McGovern]

Lee Ann's mention a few posts back of Johnny Mercer reminded me that jazz great Mel Tormé praises Lanza's "Song of India" in his 1988 autobiography---though more because of Mercer's lyrics than anything else. Tormé didn't care that much for Lanza---describing him (rather outrageously) as merely "an okay singer" in his later book My Singing Teachers. That's akin to saying that Michelangelo was all right with his hands :)  

[Steff]

Hi Derek,

 

    Happy to hear that it was Johnny Green. I was almost desparing .....

   

    Just out of interest, I see the song "Never Till Now" was featured in the movie "Raintree County" 

    which was released in 1957, so it was a brandnew song then - especially composed for the film?

    And I suppose that Mario was one of the first to record it?

 

    Incidentally, here's a nice picture of Johnny Green:

 

     http://www.raintreecounty.com/movie.html

 

     Steff

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Steff: I've never seen Raintree County, but I'm almost certain the song "Never Till Now," which was written for the film, is only heard as an instrumental on the soundtrack. (I'm sure someone can confirm this; Vince, perhaps?) In fact, the only other sung version I'm aware of is pop singer Joni James's recording, which predates Lanza's by a few months. (A 1961 Neil Sedaka recording with the same title is a different song.) 

Cheers

Derek 

[Armando]

Hi Steff and Derek: The theme, only, of Never Till Now is heard throughout the film which is a long, (168minutes) rambling, drawn out affair.  

The attempt by MGM to make another Gone with The Wind failed miserably, but Johnny Green’s score was nominated for an Oscar  

Ciao
Armando 

 

[Derek McGovern]

Thanks for the info, Armando. And I should add that Rense forum regular Fred "Day" has just pointed out to me that Gordon MacRae also recorded "Never Till Now." 

Speaking of MacRae, there's an excellent new photo of him with Lanza on the set of Serenade in this section of our Photo Gallery (sixth row from the bottom). This came courtesy of Steff.)  

Cheers

Derek

P.S. No one's had a stab at Joe's trivia question on this thread yet! His question was: Who was Marco Roselli? 

[Steff]

 

Hi Derek and Joe,

 

It was the character from "Serenade," played by Vince Edwards.

 

    Steff 

[Joseph Fagan]

its tuff to fool our Steffie!

[Derek McGovern]

Here's another trivia question that I think will be easier than the Johnny Green one:

On what song does Lanza not appear until almost two-thirds of the way through the recording? 

[Steff]

Hi Derek,

What about the Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod), recorded for RCA in 1950, with the violin solo prelude of Eudice Shapiro?

I understand the violin intro had to be “cut out” for the very first single release.

Steff

[Steff]

Hi Derek,

 

   The other day you mentioned in your post: 

 

   "Incidentally, one of the reasons I chose this particular question is because I knew the answer couldn't

   easily be found on the internet. Even the mystery actor's autobiography, which I've never read (but

   which possibly mentions his love for Lanza), isn't available online :)"

 

 

    I was told today that Roger Moore does NOT mention Mario in his book.

 

   

   Steff 

 

[norma]

On Wednesday, November 21, 2012 1:47:06 AM UTC, Derek McGovern wrote:
> Here's another trivia question that I think will be easier than the Johnny Green one:
>
>
> On what song does Lanza not appear until almost two-thirds of the way through the recording?

iS it Libiamo from Il. Traviata?

Norma

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Steff: No, it's not the Bach-Gounod "Ave Maria"---Mario's entry on the version with Shapiro's violin solo is before the halfway mark. I wasn't exaggerating when I wrote that he doesn't appear until almost two-thirds of the way through the recording! :) 

And Norma: Sorry, it's not the Libiamo. In fact, his entry on the commercial recording is after just twenty seconds.

Steff: It's a pity Moore doesn't mention Lanza in his autobiography. Mind you, neither does Domingo in his My First Forty Years---and yet we all know how much he admires Mario!

Cheers

Derek

[Savage]

Is it perhaps "I Love Thee."  (Grieg)   ??

                                         David

[Derek McGovern]

No, it's not "I Love Thee," David.

[leeann]

Okay, is it possibly "Only a Rose" with Judith Raskin, Vagabond King?

[Derek McGovern]

Yes!!! We have a winner.

On the duet version of "Only a Rose" with Judith Raskin, Lanza doesn't start singing until the 3:39 mark on this recording of five and half minutes. 

It's actually a very nice recording---"A tasteful, elegantly sung duet," as Henry Fogel described in in Fanfare. Raskin was a fine singer---perhaps a little too proper or matronly for some, but I like her---and Lanza gives a suave rendition. Great breath control at the end!       

[Derek McGovern]

P.S. The best reproduction of the 1959 "Only a Rose" is, surprisingly, not the 2006 SACD version, but the very first Lanza CD, The Legendary Tenor, which came out in 1987.  

And I forgot to congratulate Lee Ann by name on her fine sleuthing!

Stand by for another trivia question...:)

[Derek McGovern]

New question!

This song was associated with Lanza throughout his career, and it features a thrilling ending. However, only on the very first version that he recorded does Lanza sing the final three words in their original (written) order. (His reason for changing the word order becomes apparent when one compares his first version with subsequent versions.)

What is the song?   

[norma]

I meant. Mario's duet recording,but I take it this is incorrect.

Norma

[Steff]

Hi Derek, my guess:

"I Am Falling in Love," which was sung by Mario throughout his career. He first recorded it in 1945 (RCA test recording), and he sang it, for example, at the Royal Albert Hall.

In the 1945 recording, the last words were: "...if someone would only love me."
In other versions it was "....if someone would love only me."

Steff

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Steff: Bang on! It was indeed Victor Herbert's "I'm Falling In Love With Someone." Mario first recorded it for RCA in June 1945, then sang it live on the Red Barber Review in December of that year. He later recorded it for the Coke Shows in 1951 (two takes exist), and it was also a staple of his recital programme. We have two live versions from 1958: Albert Hall, of course, and the Saturday Spectacular TV appearance. (Of those two, I prefer the latter.)  

To be honest, I'm not crazy about the song---or, indeed, most of the rather dated Herbert numbers that Lanza recorded (Thine Alone, Gypsy Love Song, etc)---but he certainly turned it into a crowd pleaser! It was a masterstroke on his part to invert the closing words so that he could deliver a thrilling B-flat on the first syllable of "only" ("...if someone would love ONly me!") rather than making the climactic note fall on the awkward second syllable of that word, as written ("...if someone would onLY love me!").

By the way, I was wrong about one thing: Mario actually sings the original ending twice: on his RCA test record of 1945 and on the Red Barber Review.  

Cheers

Derek    

[Derek McGovern]

Norma wrote:

  I meant. Mario's duet recording,but I take it this is incorrect.

Hi Norma: Sorry, but I'm not quite sure what you mean. On the "Libiamo," Mario sings the tenor part as written, which means he is heard before the soprano---just twenty seconds or so into the duet. True, he's not heard again until after the soprano and the chorus then do their thing, but that's not the same thing as first appearing two-thirds of the way into the recording (which is what my question was about). Perhaps you're thinking of a different duet?

Cheers

Derek                                                                                           

[Derek McGovern]

New trivia question! And this time from Armando:

In what film did Mario sing only two notes of an operatic aria? Name the film and the aria.                                           

[leeann]

Hi, Derek,

Just a quick note linking to an earlier discussion on the forum that includes talk about the various endings of "I'm Falling in Love with Someone"  with links to a couple of versions and they seem to be working still.  (Here's the link off mariolanzatenor.com.) I appreciated that thread that started with a discussion of "Mattinata." The idea of changing lyrics to improve musicality as you've just explained was a new one to me--and discussion about some of Mario's digressions from the written word and why were fun! Best, Lee Ann

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Lee Ann

I'd completely forgotten that I'd already written about the various endings of "I'm Falling in Love with Someone." (I'll have to be on my guard next time I create a trivia question :)) But Lanza's digressions certainly are fascinating!

No bites yet from our members regarding the latest question, I see! 

Cheers

Derek

[norma]

On Friday, November 23, 2012 3:09:58 AM UTC, Derek McGovern wrote:
> Norma wrote:
> Sorry Derek I was writing from my bad memory.
Ihad forgotten that Mario sang at the beginning.I shall check in future before rushing to answer.
All the best Norma

[Derek McGovern]

No problem, Norma! And please don't restrain yourself from jumping in and answering whenever the mood takes you. These trivia questions are meant to be fun!

[Steff]

Hi Derek & Armando,

 

I think it is the aria "Il balen del suo sorriso" from "Il Trovatore," and the film is "Because You're Mine."

 

Steff

[leeann]

Hi, Steff, would you mind if I threw in another partial guess here? This question definitely made me wish there were time to sit down and have a Lanza movie marathon!

I'm thinking of the scene in "Because You're Mine" on Easter Day. James Whitmore (who I think is one of Lanza's best supporting actors ever--great comedic timing) is singing while Lanza is at the piano and the women fix the lasagna (which Mama didn't make :-))

I THINK the song Whitmore is singing--and which end with Lanza's two glorious notes, IS from Il Trovatore; however, I think an excerpt from  "Per me ora fatale"--part of the finale. Here's the real thing by Leonard Warren. 

Whitmore's Italian accent just might be worse than his singing here.It's a tossup, but these are the words I hear.

la gioia che m' aspetta
gioia mortal non è!
Invano un Dio rivale
s' oppone nemmeno un Dio,
donna, rapirti a me!

Best, Lee Ann

[Derek McGovern]

Actually, Steff and Lee Ann, you're both right!

It is "Per me ora fatale," which happens to be the cabaletta---or concluding section---of "Il Balen del Suo Sorriso," which the Count di Luna sings in Act II of Il Trovatore. The Count begins with "Il balen..." and then is interrupted by the character Ferrando (and some of the chorus) before launching into "Per me ora fatale."

Lee Ann: I couldn't agree with you more about Whitmore's comedic timing (and acting ability in general---remember how good he was in The Shawshank Redemption, for example?), and, yes, Lanza's two notes are glorious!  It's a fun scene, and you've just made me want to watch the film again :)    

Cheers

Derek

[Derek McGovern]

A P.S. to the above: Fred Day also answered Armando's question correctly (by email to me), and reminded me of another occasion when Lanza sings a snippet from a baritone aria. In a publicity appearance with Kathryn Grayson for The Toast of New Orleans on Dick Simmonds's radio show, Lanza begins---before he even speaks---by singing the title words of Gerard's aria "Nemico della Patria" from Andrea Chenier. The man was certainly full of surprises!

[Derek McGovern]

New trivia question! A particularly trivial one this time :)
Who, in response to a Lanza prank, reportedly asked for a day's absence from the set of one of the naughty tenor's movies so that he/she could be immunized against a deadly disease?  

[Michael McAdam]

I'm doing a bemused 'read-only' on this great Trivia thread. The likes of Steff and Lee Ann (running a very close 2nd) are too sharp for this lad!

Kudos to you both.

Cheers, Mike

[P.S: one of my deleted guesses on a previous question was was accidentally (I trust) dragged out of the 'bin' and aired for all to see so I'm 'sitting in the weeds' from now on ;-]

[Derek McGovern]

We can't have you sitting in the weeds on this thread, Mike! The more, the merrier! Besides, the incorrect guesses are all part of the fun (and often lead to interesting stuff in their own right).

I'm very curious to learn who everyone thinks this "immunizer" might be :)

Cheers
Derek

[leeann]

Oh dear, Mike. Thinking of this as a competition totally sucks out all the fun. I found that out when I got a little intense (well maybe a lot intense. Too much like school!) on the two-song composer question! My favorite answers really are David's.

I bet a great story is waiting to be told here for this one and just the teaser makes me laugh!

For some reason, I'm thinking a man, but I can' t decide who! Best, leeann

[Savage]

My guess is David Niven from Toast of New Orleans.  He strikes me as a fellow who would never be caught without hand sanitizer. He probably showered after every scene.  All of this is just a hunch, but someday I'll get an answer right!

                                                                                       David

[Derek McGovern]

Go to the top of the class, David! Great reasoning! It was indeed Mr. Niven, and it was time off for an inoculation for typhoid that he (jokingly?) requested from Toast of New Orleans producer Joe Pasternak after finding a "steaming" chamber pot "gift" outside his dressing room :)

Cheers
Derek

On Monday, November 26, 2012, Savage <scra...@gmail.com> wrote:
> My guess is David Niven from Toast of New Orleans.  He strikes me as a fellow who would never be caught without hand sanitizer. He probably showered after every scene.  All of this is just a hunch, but someday I'll get an answer right!

[Derek McGovern]

P.S. Bladder problems notwithstanding :), Lanza and Niven got on very well, and in fact the latter was slated to co-star in Seven Hills (until his part was sadly written out).

[Steff]

Hi Derek,

 

Where did this story come from? I never heard about it before.

 

Steff

[Savage]

Thanks, Derek.  I'll be out of town for a few days ( in Philadelphia) so I'll miss the next question or two.  Will catch up when I return.  This is fun, even when the guesses are wrong.

                                                                                             David

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Steff

The anecdote is mentioned on page 12 of The Films of David Niven (1975), by Gerard Garrett:

Times are rarely bad enough that the cheery Niven cannot look back and find a light side. In the case of The Toast of New Orleans, he recalls the fact that Mario Lanza had an obsessive regard for Caruso. Caruso had bladder trouble and as a result kept a suitable receptacle in his dressing room. Lanza, it seems, did the same. Each morning Niven found the foully foaming pot deposited outside his door. This nuisance was only abated when he demanded time off from producer Joe Pasternak to have an inoculation against typhoid.

Bear in mind, of course, that the always-entertaining Niven often embroidered his stories---and also made them up, as his biographers have noted. Whatever the truth, he and Lanza certainly had fun working together.

Which leads me to our next trivia question:

Lanza was once asked by an Italian reporter to name his favourite film co-stars. Lanza mentioned four people whom he had particularly enjoyed working with in the USA; who were they?

[norma]

I would guess Katherine Grayson,Ann Blythe David Niven and Sarita Montiel though he might have felt obliged to name two men.

Best Wishes Norma

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Norma: Thanks for joining in.

I think I'll be mean and wait until someone gets all four correct rather than giving any clues away :) So, yes, I'm sorry to report that you didn't get 4/4! But you're welcome to have another go...

Cheers

Derek  

[leeann]

Well, let's see.

Norma, I agree that Kathryn Grayson and Ann Blyth seem awfully likely for a lot of good reasons.

Then, too, Lanza had a long history with J. Carroll Naish--from the radio show "Life with Luigi" to That Midnight Kiss to Toast of New Orleans. They must have enjoyed each other tremendously.

Now, trying to out-think Derek (I know, not possible)--we've already had one David Niven, so maybe he's out on general principles.

Then there's the thought that Lanza might just have answered that question thinking of celebrities who would be familiar to the Italian audience. (No guesses there.)

All right. The first time around, for only a few logical reasons, I'll go with J. Carrol Naish, Joan Fontaine, Kathryn Grayson, and yes, Jose Iturbi. Best, Lee Ann

[Derek McGovern]

Well, you were absolutely spot on in your reasoning in at least one respect :) But, no, I'm sorry...please try again

Best

Derek

[Derek McGovern]

No, I'm being mean! Here's a clue: I believe I can safely say that Lanza was answering honestly, rather than thinking of his Italian audience. Does that help? 

[Steff]

Hi Derek, I have not the slightest idea, so I am only guessing "out of the blue,"

and I am sure it is no 4/4 answer .... :)

 

- Ethel Barrymore

- Carrol Naish

- David Niven

- Richard Hageman

 

Steff

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Steff: Sorry: you didn't score 4 out of 4 :( But here's a big hint for everyone: you got the ratio of men to women right! 

Cheers

Derek

[Steff]

Okay Derek,

 

Then we can summarize as follows. We are looking for

 

- 3 male but only 1 female co-stars,

 

- with whom Mario worked either in "That Midnight Kiss,"  "The Toast of New

  Orleans,"  "The Great Caruso," "Because You're Mine" or "Serenade"  and

 

- who were not necessarily well-known or popular in Italy

 

 

Steff

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Steff: Yes, that's an accurate summary! (Though you can rule out two of the films :)) Come on, everyone, let's have your guesses! 

Cheers

Derek

[leeann]

Ah ha, so the mystery unravels a little more. I had kind of hoped Mike would decide to come in out of the weeds, and that David might get back early, but in the meantime...

So, it's four people from three movies. I think I'll knock out Because You're Mine just because Lanza got off to such a bad start with Doretta Morrow and because I believe Armando writes that he and James Whitmore worked well together but didn't actually become close friends (Excuse me if I don't have that quite right.)

And if I'm reading the clues correctly, David Niven actually is still in the running.

TakeTwo:

David Niven (The Toast of New Orleans)
Jules Munshin (The Toast of New Orleans)
Vincent Price (Serenade)
Dorothy Kirsten (The Great Caruso)

There, sacrificing J. Carrol Naish, but in my head, he's still a frontrunner. Best, Lee Ann