Vince Di Placido's Lanza Music Videos

[Derek McGovern]

I thought it'd be a good idea to create a separate thread for announcements/comments about Vince Di Placido's magnificent Lanza music videos. To start the ball rolling, here are all the previous posts relating to these vids.

[Derek McGovern]

Finally had a chance to look at your vid of Lygia, Vince. I don't know how you did it, but you managed to make Robert Taylor seem animated!

I love the matching of "They're bright as candles" with that lingering shot of Deborah Kerr (always a very interesting actress, by the way) and "Leave the shadows behind you." Romantic stuff!

The print quality and colours were excellent, by the way, and reinforced just how ridiculous it is that The Great Caruso (also released by MGM that same year) hasn't had the same restoration treatment.

 

[Vincent Di Placido]

Thanks for the seperate thread, Derek! You spoil me :-)

Derek, you made me laugh quite a bit with your line, "I don't know how you did it, but you managed to make Robert Taylor seem animated!"

He was a bit wooden wasn't he, he was a big favourite of my dad back in the day but he wasn't the most animated or emotional actor, he was a true matinee idol in the late 30's/early 40's, he was so handsome he didn't have to act :-)

I always liked Deborah Kerr. "Black Narcissus" is one of my favourite films.

By the way thanks Derek for noticing my silly little editing moments, nice to be appreciated...

 

 

[Vincent Di Placido]

It's been a late night but I just finished a new video...

I know as Lanza fans we can get a bit jaded with the ever present "Be My Love" but I wanted to put something together to show it in it's best light on Youtube, I like this one, it turned out nicely. I have to say Mario does some lovely singing on this, his most famous recording, I hadn't listened to it in a while & it was actually quite fresh to me again, it must have been a bolt from the blue when it was released back in 1950, such a lovely & glorious outpouring of sound from Mario... That first "Love" on the first phrase always gives me a little shiver, don't know why, it's just beautiful...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t_D9zqyphw

[Vincent Di Placido]

Thanks Gill! The next one will definitely be Italian :-)

I'm not sure that Lygia was a big hit, I know it was kept in print mostly because of it's inclusion on the 1958 "You do something to me" album, it was a great collection of song & arias...

[Derek McGovern]

Goodness, Vince: Mario's charisma just leaps off the screen here! Great choice of shots, and the colour has never looked better or more vibrant. Nice idea incorporating bits of the first Shower of Stars Show too (and, oddly enough, it wasn't jarring visually despite the fact that Mario's probably 40 pounds heavier there).

That was cute how you matched "There'll be no one but you for me" (the first time round) with Mario's counting of the arms on that ornament-thingy on the mantelpiece :)

Another triumph!

[Jan Hodges]

Be my Love a bolt from the blue? You never spoke a truer word Vince ! I was a tender 13 year old fan of the Hit Parade and after a plethora of Guy Mitchell and Rosemary Clooney to hear this voice left me "gob smacked" and with goose bumps. When I heard the final note I don't think I closed my mouth for a good five minutes. This set me off on a venture into classical music and singing. Thank you Mario. And thank you once again Vince for your wonderful compilations. I have downloaded them all' Jan

[Vince Di Placido]

Hi, everybody! I just did a quick bit of editing on a song that I
played this morning a couple of times & to be honest it practically
edited itself :-)
I'm really enjoying these...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jin0s5HJAQg

After this Gill the next one will be Italian... :-)

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Vince: I can see you had fun with that one! Sarita's appearance with "Whenever you appear, dear" and the storm scene for "Now your lips on mine" made me smile. Nice job of synchronizing the final note too!

I've just realized I never included your music video of Song of India in my first post. Here's that link in case anyone missed it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kpBge6lCu4

Cheers

Derek

[Vincent Di Placido]

Thanks Derek, I do like that song & Mario is on fire. The trickiest part was cutting out the video of the syllable "NADE" out of Mario's last line in the film "our sereNADE of love" & slowing it down, worked out ok...

I do love Sarita, what a beautiful woman, I found a very funny photo of someone posing with one of her album covers...

 

[Vincent Di Placido]

Thanks for including "Song of India", Derek & just to be a completist, I thought I would post the link to "Passione", what a beautiful song & a stunning performance! One of Mario's masterpieces :-)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PHSMdPM20s

[Vincent Di Placido]

Just a quick update the "Che Gelida Manina" link is now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOPvS5mYX70

(I had to fix something that was bothering me so there was a new upload...)

[Vicki]

This is so beautiful. Thank you for posting. You made my day.

[Lover of Grand Voices]

Thank you Vince for taking so much time and effort to make this
contribution to the Lanza audio visual library. I read some of the
comments in You Tube and everyone is grateful, as am I. Happy New
Year to you and all our friends, Emilio

On Dec 20, 9:52 pm, Vincent Di Placido <vincent.diplac...@gmail.com>
wrote:
> Just a quick update the *"Che Gelida Manina"* link is now...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOPvS5mYX70

[Vincent Di Placido]

Here is a video focusing on Mario's impressive 1950 recording of Andrea Chenier's Improvviso

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pahN2h2qZ_8

[Derek McGovern]

Well, that was entertaining, Vince! It must have taken you ages to put it together. Very clever how you matched the angry "bestemmiando" (swearing) bit with Mario gesticulating to Alfredo in The Great Caruso. Then there was the matching of "Ecco la bellezza..." ("Here is the beauty...") with the shot of Mario caressing Johanna Von Koczian's face in FTFT. Ha!

You must have had to rack your brains to think of a film scene in which Lanza ends a song or aria with "amor" :)

Many thanks, Vince!

Derek 

[Vincent Di Placido]

I have always loved Mario's recording of "Never Till Now" one of Johnny Green's themes from the score of "Raintree County" with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. Mario's reprise on "Somehow I wasn't aware that life was so beautiful" is sublime.

I remember seeing the film starring Montgomery Clift (one of my favourite actors), Elizabeth Taylor & Eve Marie Saint many years ago & enjoyed hearing the "Never Till Now" theme throughout the film. I couldn't resist using Mario's recording as a soundtrack to some images from this 1957 MGM film. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLKC__fIORQ

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Vince: I'm a huge fan of Montgomery Clift (truly one of the finest film actors the US has produced), so it was very nice to see this. 

Naturally, I couldn't help thinking of the sad parallels between Clift's life and Lanza's: two incredibly gifted and sensitive men born little more than three months apart, neither of whom ever truly recovered from events that occurred while at the peak of their respective careers. 

 

[Vincent Di Placido]

I was listening to Mario's 2nd, English, recording of "Arrivederci Roma" & thought I'd put some visuals to this lovely recording...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZqyUau5Qyw 

 

[Derek McGovern]

Another lovely job, Vince! (I'm surprised so few of our members have been commenting on your video efforts.) Nice synchronization with the film Arrivederci Roma, and I loved the way you edited the various shots of Mario strolling through Rome. (I've always liked that brief night scene, incidentally, when he's walking reflectively along the Tiber. Nice atmosphere.) And having Mario applaud at the end was a cute touch!

It's interesting seeing his weight fluctuations in this Seven Hills montage. He obviously filmed all his scenes with Peggie Castle (Carol) when he was at his heaviest -- in the earlier stages of shooting.

Cheers
Derek

[Michael McAdam]

I think so few here have been commenting on Vince's crafty video montages because the young Paddy has been so ultra-prolific of late that we are likely 'boggled' and are only slowly (between jobs) getting to his posts containing these clever compilations (I still haven't advanced past that marvelous 'Song of India' clip. I keep going back to it)

Rest assured, Vince, as a techno-geek myself, you certainly are aware I am wowed by your video cobblings but.....you are competing with Angela Gheorgiu  right now as I am (temporarily?) besotted with her. That's what happens when you put the old country boy on Hi-Speed Internet. Download Mania sets in ;-))

 

BTW, my choice of cuts for I'll Walk With God on the CD I sent you must have made you nod and say "yeah, that's the one!". I see you recently put this Cathedral clip from the film on YouTube (the film is so well-photographed isn't it? What a pity our boy couldn't have been in it).

Keep up the great stuff, Vincent.

 

Cheers, Mike

[Michael McAdam]

P.S: I chuckled at the closing footage of Mario applauding himself for the lovely job on the song ;-)

Mario's diminuendo at song's end is a little ragged isn't it? Derek and others commented previously on that.

Your choice of clips here was very good, Vince and boy, Mario's weight fluctuation is s-o-o evident in that 'Come Dance With Me' snippet where he's wearing the blue suit, da? 

[gary from NS]

Hi Vince et al.

Another terrific video to view and listen to. What a talent Vince.

I loved Mario applauding at the end,as well he should.

Cheers
Gary

[leeann]

Dear Vince, like others, I'm behind and looking forward to a snowy day, headphones, a cup of coffee, and watching your wonderful work. I love Never 'Til Now and your work with it.  The closeups of facial expressions are magnificent. Thanks! Lee Ann

[Vincent Di Placido]

Aw! Shuks lads! You are too kind. Derek, you hold great sway, one word & everybody comments :-) Only joking, it's nice to get feedback but I understand not everybody can make the time, as long as you are watching & enjoying them that's fine with me.

Yes! Mike that ending is a bit rough, definitely re-take territory there but as we know too well Mario was not always willing (although definitely able) to do a re-take when necessary. It's almost as if on that last note on "Heart" that Mario hadn't made his mind up what he was going to do exactly, he doesn't handle the diminuendo well which is a shame (Di Stefano excelled in these moments)

I still love this recording, Mario is in good voice as we know from the other recordings from this session, "Never Till Now" & a remake of "Younger Than Springtime" & has some lovely moments...

I couldn't resist Mario applauding at the end, as you say, Derek, very cute :-) 

[Vincent Di Placido]

A little film of Mario's Ave Maria...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O0pJqjkdIM

[Derek McGovern]

Seamlessly edited and very touching, Vince. And that's from someone who much prefers the Serenade version of the Schubert "Ave Maria" to the rendition you've used here!

Coincidentally, I found out just today -- courtesy of some press clippings that I'd received from Lee Ann -- that Mario actually sang another Schubert composition, the famous "Serenade," at a concert in 1949. This was at the annual spring concert of the Marshall Field & Co. Choral Society on 22 April 1949. According to reviewer Seymour Raven of the Chicago Daily Tribune, Lanza was neither faithful to Schubert nor familiar with the music:

"The sensible approach was lacking . . . in Lanza's joint effort with the chorus in Schubert's 'Serenade.' While the group was doing its share confidently from memory, Lanza was grimly leafing his sheet music, only to roll it up triumphantly for a closing high note that Schubert never wrote."

Ha! Naughty Mario!

Still, the reviewer liked him, praising his "great talent" and declaring that, "Neither we nor anyone else could have come away from the concert with anything less than a conviction that he has a golden voice of strength and brilliance that comes near moistening your eye with the hope of what it could grow to be."

Cheers
Derek

[Vincent Di Placido]

Hello Derek! I prefer the 1955 Ave Maria as well BUT it was filmed beautifully & exists as a little film itself & I've always wanted to put visuals to ALL of Mario's 1958 recording as he only sings parts of it on screen in "For The First Time" as you know of course :-)

As regards Mario's 1949 Schubert Serenade performance, naughty Mario is right :-) I still would love to hear it though... It's a beautiful song!

 

[Vincent Di Placido]

Mario Lanza's "A Kiss" with a bit of inspiration from one one of my favourite films, "Cinema Paradiso"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U4Nnx7rRHw

[Derek McGovern]

I love Cinema Paradiso too, Vince (and can never make up my mind whether I prefer the shorter version that most people know, or the more obscure & much longer original version). You did a great job in blending the kiss clips from that film with Lanza's, and I loved the fact that you included the kiss from Snow White for "the reason storybooks must end with a kiss" line :) Very cute!

You know, while listening to Mario's singing here, it struck me that his voice has seldom been better recorded -- or sounded more breathtakingly beautiful -- than it does here. And listen to what he does with this song! Could anyone else make such awful lyrics as "That's kissing's fun/ we know/ But time will show/ it's much more than this" actually work? Talk about vocal alchemy! There's some lovely lovely phrasing in this song ("two willing lips can tell," etc). And vocally, it's no mean feat either. I'd like to hear any other tenor try the climactic line "It all dePENDS on whom you kiss" -- very tricky stuff indeed! 

Cheers

Derek

[Derek McGovern]

I thought I'd duplicate Vince's latest post here, since it fits in nicely with this existing thread.

And Vince: that's great news! Now that you've got the film clips running at the right speed, I'll be able to use your much-superior versions of Because, the Otello Monologue, etc in the embedded clips from YouTube on our main site. 

Cheers

Derek 

Vincent Di Placido  6 October 2013

                I have uploaded some new versions of some of the Lanza film clips I had put on Youtube, better resolution & aspect ratios & also correct pitch now that I am not using PAL versions.

I thought I'd post the links here just for reference...

Because - http://youtu.be/Qp7LIQ6tqyg

Beloved - http://youtu.be/zw7bNOi6ZUM

Come Prima - http://youtu.be/UUb9sz1XGEg

Deep in My Heart Dear - http://youtu.be/rGf758oM5aQ

Di Rigori Armato – Amor Ti Vieta - http://youtu.be/LGgSwmehjzQ

Dio Mi Potevi - http://youtu.be/F7HXVRZqSU8

Drink. Drink, Drink! - http://youtu.be/y1bficWrjgc

E Voi Ridete - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn2oHrVyEjE

Golden Days - http://youtu.be/4YoWXdZB6oI

Granada - http://youtu.be/cWXNSlZU0Us

I’ll Walk With God - http://youtu.be/_OQ2Cc6yFz4

Lamento di Federico - http://youtu.be/KKU3XEtUEGI

Niun Mi Tema - http://youtu.be/_FwNvoNM86A

O Paradiso - http://youtu.be/657ZZ3fXAyM

O Sole Mio - http://youtu.be/1X27O50Xq4U

Serenade “The Student Prince” - http://youtu.be/5pjEWzgz8zU

Summertime in Heidelberg - http://youtu.be/NCiaR_cz6Yo

The Lord’s Prayer – http://youtu.be/4a3ZzPDvWDE

Vesti La Giubba 1951 – http://youtu.be/-vDLTcheSBQ

Vesti La Giubba 1958 - http://youtu.be/rRhmogBs-gU

A Vucchella - http://youtu.be/h_Vo1RQwkNc

Celeste Aida - http://youtu.be/FZAgkjfg94s

Flower Song - http://youtu.be/orKx5UDpDck

La Danza - http://youtu.be/Dvp0B6-XI1M

La Donna e Mobile - http://youtu.be/9xVic0_Eo48

Libiamo - http://youtu.be/8XFhi29A2e4

Mamma Mia, Che Vo’ Sape - http://youtu.be/YPZtTj4bGfI

O Terra Addio - http://youtu.be/6A419ZTGm-w

Una Furtiva Lagrima - http://youtu.be/8Qaq4KMXDPU

 

Vogliatemi Bene - http://youtu.be/KAeQkyNgGDk

[Vincent Di Placido]

Hello Derek! Thank you for the housekeeping I forgot that you created this thread for YouTube videos...
I'll try get a few more up, there are far too many dodgy versions on Youtube (I include my original uploads which I have deleted, it was heartbreaking because of so many beautiful comments, I'm not exaggerating when I say it almost moved me to tears to delete them...) Mario deserves the best versions to be up there...

[Vincent Di Placido]

a few more uploads...

Addio Addio - http://youtu.be/qpVIly4ZoE8

Addio alla Madre - http://youtu.be/2a61qa-2tAg

Ave Maria – Serenade - http://youtu.be/zl3fGCSlYa0

Ave Maria – The Great Caruso - http://youtu.be/L8kvYYkTyec

Che Gelida Manina - http://youtu.be/tbsIdA_5NPo

Chi Mi Frena In Tal Momento - http://youtu.be/WuNUs3Z7f9A

Ergo Bibamus - http://youtu.be/El46yMynlpU

Marta Finale - http://youtu.be/uJ5gwu102yE

Mattinata - http://youtu.be/FBrSDOt8-Ro

My Destiny - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKwPUc2BLCo

Operatic Montage 1 - http://youtu.be/res12vC2xSU

Operatic Montage 2 - http://youtu.be/qrzJylLjRSU

Serenade – Soft Version - http://youtu.be/Uguj0ytXHJw

The Song Angels Sing – http://youtu.be/cqXAIQC4pNs

Torna a Surriento – Soft Version - http://youtu.be/MzJd3_SRGOk

Torna a Surriento - http://youtu.be/RW9WGF__rCA

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Vince: You've certainly kept me busy updating the links to your YouTube videos on our main site and re-embedding them in many cases :) We have about 130 pages, and you'd be surprised by how many of your clips are tucked away on this page or that. 

Anyway, the new clips look magnificent, and I'm so pleased to be able to feature the likes of "Granada" and "The Lord's Prayer" from Because You're Mine---at the right speed at last and in the best possible quality---on pages like this and this. Unfortunately, many of the Lanza film clips on YouTube are at the wrong speed, and being sped up by a semitone (as happens on European and Australasian broadcasts and video releases) certainly robs Mario's voice of its natural resonance, particularly in the cases of The Great Caruso and Because You're Mine. So I hope your clips quickly become the versions of choice for YouTube users! Besides, I doubt that anyone clicking on, say, your clip of the Otello Death Scene has ever seen better picture quality for a Lanza film on YouTube :) 

The great thing about having these clips embedded on various pages on our site is that for anyone unfamiliar with Lanza who happens to land on one of them, they instantly help to explain what all the fuss was about! 

Cheers

Derek

[leeann]

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!  Lee Ann

[Vincent Di Placido]

It's just great to have these clips in such good quality, it annoys me to see some of the dodgy sound & picture clips of Mario on Youtube.

Derek, the Mario Lanza, Tenor site is amazing, yourself & Lee Ann have done incredible work, it's such an honour to help in any way with such a great tribute to our Mario.

[Vincent Di Placido]

Celeste Aida “That Midnight Kiss” - http://youtu.be/YJ8GbDpPT1k

I Know, I Know, I Know – http://youtu.be/TTuFrpqErjA

Love is Music – http://youtu.be/ZXS269nKqCo

Triumphal March - http://youtu.be/nD_5aLAUKMQ

[Derek McGovern]

VIDEO #1: VOGLIATEMI BENE (Hollywood Bowl, 1947)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FccefrUX8uY 

Mario Lanza and Frances Yeend live at the Hollywood Bowl, 28 August 1947.  

**************************************************************************************************************************************************

VIDEO #2: SILENT NIGHT (Coke, 1951)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_55y7UOiBQ

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************

Derek McGovern 
Dec 3, 5:04 pm

Very nicely done, Vince! I especially liked the beginning, with Mario looking reflectively into the mirror -- quite poignant, actually. 

Cheers 
Derek 

*******************************************************************************************************************************************

Jan Hodges 
Dec 3, 6:27 pm

Beautifully done Vince.... I loved the pics that you chose of Mario when he was looking young and healthy. 
Jan


********************************************************************************************************************************************
VIDEO #3:  THINE ALONE (Hollywood Bowl, 1948)

Vincent Di Placido 
Dec 10

Hi! I know it is a flawed performance, mostly because of Miklós Rózsa's slow tempo dragging at Mario & Kathryn but I have always had a soft spot for their Hollywood Bowl performance of Victor Herbert's "Thine Alone". I love the song & the first version I heard was this 1948 live performance. I tried to do this little film years ago but with a better copy of That Midnight Kiss & better editing it has turned out well I think... 

***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************


Derek McGovern 
Dec 10

Hi Vince: To be honest, I've probably only ever listened to that performance two or three times in my life. Hearing it for the first time as a teenager (before I'd even seen That Midnight Kiss or Toast 
of New Orleans), I just couldn't get past Kathryn Grayson's voice, which I found incredibly grating! (And that final note of hers -- aargh!) To this day, I can't understand what her many admirers hear in 
her. Is it sentimental attachment because she co-starred in Mario's first two films, or are they blinded by her looks? 

But she certainly was attractive, as your beautifully edited clip shows. She's particularly stunning in her red dress at the two-minute mark, and I can appreciate why MGM matched her with Mario. Yes, visually, they do make a beautiful couple, and I love the colours and lighting that Norman Taurog used here to enhance their romantic aura. 

Ah, Miklos Rozsa and his slow tempi! It's a pity he wasn't used on the Coke Shows or on some of Lanza's 1950 RCA operatic recordings, where the tempo was far too fast :) Rozsa would never have allowed a galloping Questa o Quella or a frantic Flower Song! 

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Norma  Dec 13 Thanks a million for the youtube of Mario and Kathleen Grayson singing Thine Alone.The shots from That Midnight Kiss fit beautifully.  Norma ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** VIDEO #4: LYGIA Vincent Di Placido Dec 16 Following on from the Miklós Rózsa theme I worked on Mario's recording of his "Lygia" theme from "Quo Vadis". Mario does some lovely things with this song & I have always liked this performance. I have had this idea in my head since I was a young boy, nice to have it done finally... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqmB5lnpDyg ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* Jan Hodges Dec 16, 11:23 am That video of Lygia was absolutely beautiful Vince. Thanks for all the other videos you have done as well.  Jan

[Derek McGovern]

I see that Vince has been at it again! :)

He's compiled all of Lanza's film trailers into one convenient, chronologically organized collection: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MZDkfp_AdU 

Just a few scattered thoughts:

1) The trailer to That Midnight Kiss is certainly very effective in building up Mario! And it's not every day that a trailer includes the film's closing shots :)

2) The best thing about the trailer for Toast of New Orleans is the footage from That Midnight Kiss! In every other respect, it's disappointing, with poor choices of musical selections and very disjointed editing. This one really dumbs down the film. MGM needed a Vince to work on it!

3) I loved the original trailer to The Great Caruso. What a contrast to the Toast trailer! And as a bonus, Vince has included a reissue trailer that is quite unlike any other Lanza film trailer (pity about the very obvious splice we hear on the Celeste Aida that closes it, though!).

4) The Because You're Mine trailer is different from the one that I grew up with (that version included Granada and also a number of shots that weren't actually in the movie). So-so musical choices, and too much Bobby Van! :)

5) The Serenade trailer is quite something! While I wish the makers hadn't highlighted the bleary, strained Serenade that ends the film, it's a cleverly edited trailer (favourite moments: going from the sustained high A that ends La Danza and straight into Otello, plus the dramatically inserted lightning). And what a great idea to begin with the ending to O Paradiso.

6) And the award for lying on a Trumpian scale goes to the Seven Hills of Rome trailer, with its claim that the film contains "dozens and dozens" of songs :)

Great work, Vince!         

[Steff Walzinger]

Hi Derek,

Let's give me a quick thought on one of the two films you skipped, which is "For the First Time."

I am surprised that the movies' official trailer completely leaves out the opera scenes, that actually almost make up the majority of the film, compared to the "lighter repertoire." (Or am I wrong?).

The German trailer, on the contrary, is much longer (double length) and includes the opera sequences, as it should be. And this is why I find its "advertising effect" much more successful than that of the short American version - especially with all the "headlines" that show up. There's more of Johanna von Koczian than in the American trailer, who rather focuses on Zsa Zsa Gabor who, of course, was, unlike Johanna, well known in America. And the trailer ends with the Aida scene:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stNyJvcubNs

Steff

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Steff: The fact that the US For the First Time trailer left out the opera scenes suggests that MGM was pitching the film at a different audience than was the case in Germany. Marcia Landy in Stars, The Film Reader (2004) even argues that the film was "an obvious bid to a young audience as reflected by the on-screen teenage audience":  

I'm not sure that I entirely agree with her. In the marketing of the film to English-speaking audiences, perhaps, yes, but the actual film itself has enough opera to suggest it was aimed not just at teenagers (who might usually run a mile at the thought of an aria from, say, Otello), but also at seasoned music lovers.

Anyway, good on the Germans for producing a much more representative trailer of the film's musical content!

[Steff Walzinger]

Hi Derek,

Pardon me, but this sounds like the analysis of a psychiatrist! Landy sees things and reads more in the plot than a general/average viewer - who just wants to enjoy an - if only trivial - story,  would do ("consistent with rebelliousness" - What about Mario's rebelliousness in "The Toast of New Orleans"?). "Troubled with masculanity," (this might apply to his role in "Serenade") - Goodness!!! Is she real? If I had the chance to ask her some questions, I first would like her to explain to me, why the film has so many opera scenes. "Hence, the emphasis on opera is more restraint." - Are you sure Landy watched the same film as we did?

If one would not know the film, one would think, based on her remarks, that here we have to deal with a socio critical drama, However, I am surprised that Landy did not notice the self-irony in the film (for example, Mario joking with his weight problems - he standing on the scales or pouring all the parmigiano on the spaghetti).

As for the German trailer and its length, I tend to believe that it was owed to the fact that it was Mario's first German film. Certainly a sensation combined with the great hope that there was more to come.

Steff

[Derek McGovern]

If you haven't already caught up with Vince's two most recent music videos, here are links to these unmissable gems:

1) Favourite Mario Moments: Lanza's Vocal Poetry

This is a deeply moving compilation of some of Lanza's most exquisite phrasing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeSNxXy_cuI&t=0s

2) The Ultimate "Vesti la Giubba" Duel: Lanza vs. Lanza

Here Vince offers a chance to compare the 1950 Great Caruso rendition of "Vesti la Giubba" with the 1958 For the First Time rendition---and he does so in his usual highly creative way: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsSajtVwM8c  

Enjoy!!!

[Derek McGovern]

Steff wrote:

Pardon me, but this sounds like the analysis of a psychiatrist! Landy sees things and reads more in the plot than a general/average viewer - who just wants to enjoy an - if only trivial - story,  would do ("consistent with rebelliousness" - What about Mario's rebelliousness in "The Toast of New Orleans"?). "Troubled with masculinity," (this might apply to his role in "Serenade") - Goodness!!! Is she real? If I had the chance to ask her some questions, I first would like her to explain to me, why the film has so many opera scenes. "Hence, the emphasis on opera is more restraint." - Are you sure Landy watched the same film as we did?

If one would not know the film, one would think, based on her remarks, that here we have to deal with a socio critical drama, However, I am surprised that Landy did not notice the self-irony in the film (for example, Mario joking with his weight problems - he standing on the scales or pouring all the parmigiano on the spaghetti).

Sorry for the delay in replying to you, Steff. 

Yes, Landy certainly gets a bit carried away here. True, Lanza's character in For the First Time is no longer "a worker to be discovered," but that's hardly surprising given that he's visibly approaching middle age. Apart from Serenade (and, even in this film, some critics complained that he was already too old to be discovered), Mario hadn't played the young worker who gets a lucky break since The Great Caruso. And, as you say, "rebelliousness" pops up in his other films as well---arguably all of them!---while "troubled masculinity" is definitely part of his character in Serenade.  

I think Landy is right to a point that Seven Hills and For the First Time, with the mock-Calypso "There's Gonna Be a Party Tonight" and Imitation sequence in the former, and "Come Prima" and "Pineapple Pickers" in the latter, represent a conscious attempt by the film-makers to appeal to teenagers. But given the amount of opera also included in FTFT, I agree that it's ridiculous of her to claim that operatic content is restrained in the film. She should have made that claim about the opera-lite Seven Hills instead!     

Also, as far as Mario's character being relatively "subdued" in FTFT is concerned, I think that has more to do with the man himself than the way the character of Tony Costa was written. Lanza was tired when he made the film, and it shows in many of the scenes.

Cheers,

Derek   

[Derek McGovern]

Vince has just created another stunning (and extremely moving) video:

Raphaela & Mario Lanza: Love & Friendship

https://youtu.be/tU8Vao-ICdU

[Victoria Bigelow]

This is beautiful. Thank you. 

Vicki Bigelow, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

On Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 9:50:26 PM UTC-5 Derek McGovern wrote:

I thought it'd be a good idea to create a separate thread for announcements/comments about Vince Di Placido's magnificent Lanza music videos. To start the ball rolling, here are all the previous posts relating to these vids.

[Vincent Di Placido]

I'm so glad that my wee Lanza films are being enjoyed & appreciated. Thank you so much Derek for featuring them & sharing links.

Here is something I put together last week, I've always loved these 2 performances of Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine" & I finally got around to putting them together, with some (hopefully) subtle editing & changes in speed of the dancing performance it kind of came together as a new performance, for me at least, it's a thing of beauty for the eyes & ears.

https://youtu.be/772abjU6CTs

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[Norma Lynch]

Thank you  to Vince for all his lovely videos.I loved the one where he is rehearsing.I did not think there were any more recordings that I had not heard.Unfortunately I am unable to find it again so please could you point me in the right direction.

Sent from my iPad.                                                                            Norma

On 10 Aug 2020, at 09:36, Derek McGovern <derek.m...@gmail.com> wrote:

I see that Vince has been at it again! :)

He's compiled all of Lanza's film trailers into one convenient, chronologically organized collection: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MZDkfp_AdU 

Just a few scattered thoughts:

1) The trailer to That Midnight Kiss is certainly very effective in building up Mario! And it's not every day that a trailer includes the film's closing shots :)

2) The best thing about the trailer for Toast of New Orleans is the footage from That Midnight Kiss! In every other respect, it's disappointing, with poor choices of musical selections and very disjointed editing. This one really dumbs down the film. MGM needed a Vince to work on this one!

3) I loved the original trailer to The Great Caruso. What a contrast to the Toast trailer! And as a bonus, Vince has included a reissue trailer that is quite unlike any other Lanza film trailer (pity about the very obvious splice we hear on the Celeste Aida that closes it, though!).

4) The Because You're Mine trailer is different from the one that I grew up with (that version included Granada and also a number of shots that weren't actually in the movie). So-so musical choices, and too much Bobby Van! :)

5) The Serenade trailer is quite something! While I wish the makers hadn't highlighted the bleary, strained Serenade that ends the film, it's a cleverly edited trailer (favourite moments: going from the sustained high A that ends La Danza and straight into Otello, plus the dramatically inserted lightning). And what a great idea to begin with the ending to O Paradiso.

6) And the award for lying on a Trumpian scale goes to the Seven Hills of Rome trailer, with its claim that the film contains "dozens and dozens" of songs :)

Great work, Vince!         

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[Vincent Di Placido]

Hi! Norma,  I'm glad you're enjoying the videos. I think you are looking for a link to "Confounding the Enemy"

here it is...

https://youtu.be/jrejHiETvzw

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[Vincent Di Placido]

Hi! Everybody, here is a new Lanza project I've been working on,  a film about Mario's vocal development from enthusiastic teenager to polished professional. The origin story of the greatest tenor voice of all-time.

https://youtu.be/3no7WbtzOrE

[Vincent Di Placido]

Here are the links to a few new videos I have been working on lately:

Lanza's Influence & Legacy  

https://youtu.be/geDBnUwjJBs

Mario Lanza "Funiculì Funiculà" - Isolated Vocal Track  

https://youtu.be/Ji_DMpBZm5w

Mario Lanza "Voce 'e Notte" - Isolated Vocal Track 

https://youtu.be/oADvo6CpUuI

Mario Lanza Sings Enrico Caruso's Serenata "Memories of a Concert" with Lyrics & Translation.

https://youtu.be/rDUlm22-UuQ 

[Vincent Di Placido]

A new video.

Mario Lanza "A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody" Live Radio 1946, aged 24.  

https://youtu.be/FmLzc1tVQSU

[Emilio iodice]

Congratulations Vince and thank you.  All the best, Emilio

Bestselling Books Week Ended November 14

Bestselling Books Week Ended November 14 With data from NPD BookScan

Emilio Iodice

Author of the new International Best Seller, The Commander in Chief: The Qualities Needed of Leaders of Freedom Loving Nations, Lessons from American Presidential History

http://www.iodicebooks.com/

“I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

Etienne de Grellet, Quaker Missionary

"You can't win today's games with yesterday's home runs."

“You can never defeat a person who never gives up.”

George Herman "Babe" Ruth, American Baseball player.

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars and change the world." Harriet Tubman

"And you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free." John 8:32

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday, 18 November 2020, 11:03:08 CET, Vincent Di Placido <vincent....@gmail.com> wrote:

A new video...

Mario Lanza - A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody - Live Radio 1946  

https://youtu.be/xNDTIIldf34

On Thursday, 12 November 2020 at 21:27:26 UTC Vincent Di Placido wrote:

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[Vincent Di Placido]

A new video.

A Mario Lanza Christmas Celebration  

https://youtu.be/AE3OlL5Kh9I

[Emilio iodice]

Dear Vince:  Thank you for another splendid tribute to Mario and all those who love him.

Regards, Emilio

Emilio Iodice

Wall Street Journal Number One Best Selling Author including the new International Best Seller, The Commander in Chief: The Qualities Needed of Leaders of Freedom Loving Nations, Lessons from American Presidential History

http://www.iodicebooks.com/

“I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

Etienne de Grellet, Quaker Missionary

"You can't win today's games with yesterday's home runs."

“You can never defeat a person who never gives up.”

George Herman "Babe" Ruth, American Baseball player.

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars and change the world." Harriet Tubman

"And you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free." John 8:32

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Vincent Di Placido]

Thanks a million Emilio! I'm glad you're enjoying the Lanza Youtube material.

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[Vincent Di Placido]

A new wee video.

https://youtu.be/pr_Z2qffkcE

[Vincent Di Placido]

Here is a new video and time for a bit of fun & joy...

https://youtu.be/lb3AYVvw-0I

[Vincent Di Placido]

To celebrate Mario's centenary, here is a collection of recordings, movie & TV appearances & montages. I've a few nice editing touches in here, I hope you enjoy. This is not a "best of" but more of an editing free-flow, a kind of stream of consciousness. I also wanted to feature moments I maybe haven't focused on as much in my other videos so far. Viva Mario!

https://youtu.be/hSr_GdQzROY

[Vincent Di Placido]

https://youtu.be/s6xBbj4A3kc

[Derek McGovern]

Classy work, Vince!

It's such a beautiful little aria!! As I've written many times (including just the other day :)), the role of Dick Johnson aka the bandit Ramirrez would have been perfect for Mario, and is certainly the role I liked Domingo in the most. I saw him sing this twice at Covent Garden in 1982 with different American sopranos each night---the better of whom was Marilyn Zschau. This homemade video perfectly captures the excitement of that night; Domingo at his best! It's the scene in Act Two when Minnie has just discovered that Dick Johnson is really Ramirrez, and in the thrilling aria ("Or son sei mesi") that follows their confrontation here, Domingo/Johnson acknowledges his past while despairing that their relationship is now over. Watching this performance, it's impossible not to imagine Mario being sensational in this role.      

The aria is not as straightforward melodically as the much more famous "Ch'ella mi creda," but it's wonderful all the same---especially from the 3:09 mark onwards (from "E il labbro mio mormorò un'ardente preghiera" to "vergogna"). Fantastic music, and great singing!   

[Steff Walzinger]

Well done Vince!

Vince and Derek, as I already commented on you-tube, apart from the L'Improvviso from Andrea Chénier,"Ch'ella mi creda" is my other favourite opera aria, (But Vince, unlike you and your Dad, though, I don‘t like this Wild West plot). It's one of those arias with such expressive lyrics ("tu della mia vita mio solo fior" - so beautiful!), and ever since I heard it for the very first time, I favour it to „È lucevan le stelle.“ Yes, my regret is that Mario never recorded this aria later for a commercial release. Maybe it was not popular enough at that time? I see on the Metoperafamily website that the opera was not performed at the Met after December 1931 (Martinelli as Dick Johnson) until October 1961 (with Richard Tucker)! 30 years! That says a lot! „Andrea Chénier,“ by way of comparison (an opera which I would not really regard as being popular) had a good run in the 1950s).

Derek, I can only agree with what you’ve said about Plácido Domingo. He surely made Dick Johnson one of his roles. He was fantastic and convincing in this Covent Garden production.   Listening to his "Ch'ella me creda" from that performance on you-tube, I think his voice was on the peak then. And yes, I can well imagine Mario in this role. I wonder if this is one of the operas -I understand it was Tony Cocozza’s favourite opera- he knew and had memorized in its entirety?

As an addition, just a few words from Maestro Puccini (1908) about the opera:

New American Opera Plans – Puccini will have „The Girl of the Golden West“ ready next year:“

By Marconi Transatlantic Wireless Telegraph to the New York Times.

Rome, Febr. 8 (by telegraph to Clifden, Ireland; thence by wireless) – It is as difficult to catch Maestro Puccini as it is a butterfly: either he is buried in his villa at Terra [Torre] del Lago, like a chrysalis in its cocoon, or he is fluttering about from one foreign land to another. Just now he is in Egypt, but I was fortunate enough to catch him and detain him for a while on his way thither. He talked about his new opera, based on „The Girl of the Golden West,“ which he will call „La Fanciulla des Occidente.“ He informed me that he had just received the libretto and added:   

„I shall begin work on it about March 1. It is in three acts and is taken, as you know, from Belasco’s successful play. The only act in the opera which will appear different from the play is the last, which represents the forests of California in the full luxuriant glory of that beautiful land. Every effort has been made to bring out local color and atmosphere, as I desire that the characters who live through my work should retain their rude strength.

„I shall endeavor to construct a work of actual life, and not of dreams and unreality. This is my ideal, and it is just what causes me such difficulty in finding my subjects. I have before me a year of intense, unceasing but enthusiastic work, and then ‚The Girl of the Golden West‘ will be ready to make her bow to the American sister. If she be just as charming, just as ideally realistic, I shall be satisfied.                                                 

„Mr. Savage wished to have the première of the opera given by his American company in English, but I, remembering that the author of its being is Italian, have decided that it make its début at the Metropolitan Opera House with Caruso and Scotti. After that Mr. Savage shall have his way.                                                                                                 

"I have chosen America as the country of its first representation from a sentiment of gratitude for the kindness that I have received here, and also because it seems to belong there on account of its local color and character.“

Steff

[Vincent Di Placido]

It is a real shame that Mario didn't make a commercial recording of Ch'ella mi creda. I really think that if Caruso had recorded it in 1910 at the time of the world premiere it would have changed the profile of this amazing aria (and possibly would have gave reason to include it in The Great Caruso as it is a perfect "move aria", nice and short :-)). I don't think Gigli made a recording of it either but he performed it in concert.

Jussi Björling made a recording in 1937.

Derek, that clip from Covent Garden is stunning even with the poor quality footage, Plácido is in great form, that is some of the best singing I have ever heard from him. He definitely introduced me to this opera we had a sampling/recital Deutsche Grammophon album (I still have it :-)) of his called Viva Domingo it had Ch'ella mi creda on it and this led us to buy the complete recording it came from and I just fell in love with it.

I seem to remember a broadcast from Covent Garden around that time, I even think it was an FM radio simulcast because I remember my father setting up our hi-fi speakers either side of the TV, we did this for La bohème & La Fanciulla del West if my memory isn't failing me. (I was about 11/12 at the time)

I also love Giuseppe Di Stefano's mid 1950s recordings of both the La Fanciulla del West arias which I discovered shortly after hearing Domingo's complete recording.

[Derek McGovern]

Great posts, Steff and Vince!

I know this is veering away from the subject of this thread, but I do love discussing La fanciulla del West. (And when I have more time, I'd love to start a thread on Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, which I feel is one of the funniest and wittiest operas ever written.)

As Steff pointed out above, poor old La fanciulla languished in relative obscurity for many years---although, ironically, it enjoyed the greatest public acclaim of any of Puccini's premieres. (I've read that it had an equally successful premiere in Germany too.) I'm convinced that the dominance of Hollywood Westerns in the first half of the 20th century had a lot to do with its being under appreciated---or even scoffed at. On the one hand, snobs often associated Westerns with low-brow entertainment, while for fans of the movie genre, Puccini's opera probably seemed a bit too hokey or sentimental in comparison. But I love it, and I feel it's only because Westerns have been done to death since 1910 that its story strikes some as dated or overly familiar.

Apart from its strikingly modern score, though, Puccini creates real flesh-and-blood characters who behave in psychologically convincing ways (as indeed was his goal---and thanks for including those quotes from him, Steff). His characters actually grow as people too---and this is also a Puccini opera in which no one dies! It's a wonderful story of redemption and forgiveness. 

Domingo certainly made the role his own from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. In fact, as good as he was at Covent Garden when I saw him sing it there in 1982 (the official DVD doesn't do his voice justice, by the way---very dry sound), I think he was even better in this 1991 Met production, directed by Mario del Monaco's son. But, yes, he does sound great in the amateur video with Marilyn Zschau that I posted the link for above. 

Coincidentally, Domingo was also captured at his vocal peak in another lesser-known (but gripping) Puccini opera, Il tabarro. There's a fantastic complete recording from 1977 with Renata Scotto, but this live performance from a year or two later is equally good. Just watch and listen to his Lanzarian performance of "Folle di gelosia" here. Thrilling stuff!

[Vincent Di Placido]

https://youtu.be/PMBxeqW90Aw

[Vincent Di Placido]

https://youtu.be/pO0g5oWHyY8

[Vincent Di Placido]

https://youtu.be/5SsMSrNCwOY

[Derek McGovern]

If you haven't already watched Vince's latest (above), then I can highly recommend it. Vince offers wonderfully informed commentary, superb visuals and thrilling musical choices!

[Vincent Di Placido]

Thanks to Bob Zwolinski for trusting me with his new stereo remix. It's a revelation! 

https://youtu.be/OVhLx7xyntM

[Derek McGovern]

Hi Vince: Great idea to redo your video with this new DES (Digitally Extracted Stereo) version of Begin the Beguine!

Sound Engineer Bob Zwolinski has certainly done an amazing job of converting the recording to authentic-sounding stereo, and the mouth waters at the prospect of hearing some of Mario's other classic mono recordings in DES. 

Derek 

[Vincent Di Placido]

A little something I was working on, unfortunately Sony have this track blocked worldwide so no YouTube for this wee video :-(

But I thought I would share anyway this way.

A simple song but as usual Mario sells it beautifully. I always preferred his live performance of this at the Royal Albert Hall over his soundtrack recording.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LLnmFVlKq-1-mHAMuVW9Qn0SkF1-orz3/view?usp=sharing

[Armando Cesari]

Beautifully done, Vince! As you say, a simple song but masterly delivered by Mario. The visuals help immeasurably.

 Armando 

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[Derek McGovern]

Great job, Vince!

I played your video three times today, which is probably more times than I'd previously listened to the Albert Hall "Seven Hills of Rome" :) I've almost always stopped after the "Because You're Mine" encore when listening to that recital.  

But yes, you're quite right: Mario does sing it better than in the film---he's in superior voice here and his phrasing is gorgeous---and he certainly sells it for all it's worth. I truly enjoyed it! Great visuals too, Vince, and a clever audio edit on that spoken "written" :)

Incidentally, the group of young British women who followed Mario around on his 1958 tour recalled his mentioning that it had been incredibly difficult for lyricist Harold Adamson to come up with suitable lyrics for this song. (Young had written the melody first.) Listening to it today, I'm not surprised it was hard, as the melody in that middle section would probably challenge any lyricist. Still, what Adamson did eventually come up with isn't easy to sell: "You'll feel a glance / And a happy circumstance / Has made you know you've suddenly found romance." Mario somehow makes these lines work, though!   

Cheers,

Derek

[Vincent Di Placido]

Thank you Armando and Derek! I always liked Mario's live performance of Seven Hills, it's not a special song of course but I love that the audience were treated to a new song that evening and being told about a new movie they would have been really looking forward to seeing. It's a nice moment from that concert.

Mario phrases the song very nicely and sells it completely, one of his special gifts, lifting the "commonplace into the rare" :-)

That's interesting about the song's composition, Derek, and you are so right Mario makes it work and his commitment stops you from questioning whether it actually makes sense.

I wish it could have been shared on YouTube as it's a cute wee video but Sony seems to have a strange take on certain things being shared. Actually on my last video of Lanza in English Movie Songs I had to cut the soft Mexican "Serenade" and create a 2nd edit (that's why "They Didn't Believe Me" got used :-)) as Warner deleted the first video which had that included AND gave me a "Copyright Strike" which is not a pleasant experience if you are uploading on YouTube :-( They specifically had a problem with that "soft" clip, very strange...

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[Vincent Di Placido]

One of my favourite Live Lanza performances, that I've finally put visuals to.

https://youtu.be/sJ6rX9yK9oE

[Peter Danish]

Vince!  Another wonderful find!   Thank you so much for sharing and for taking the time to seek out and post these great memories for all of us!!!

Keep up the great work!

Best,

Peter

Peter Danish
(845)480-2273 
pe...@danishmediagroup.com    
www.peterdanish.com

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[Derek McGovern]

Terrific work, Vince! You've truly enhanced the experience of thrilling to one of Mario's greatest live recordings. It sounds fantastic too; did you use the Sepia?

Mario in the stars was quite magical :) (And at dawn too!) Matching the visuals of his Serenade performance with the Hollywood Bowl recording must have been a nightmare, but it looks seamless here. Bravo!   

Derek

[Vincent Di Placido]

Thanks Derek! (and Peter)

Yes! The sound is from our Sepia release, I gave it a plug in the YouTube video description. :-)

The star and dawn shots worked out a treat, didn't they!? They turned out just as I imagined them. A lovely effect.

Yes, Derek! The matching of the Serenade visuals was torturous, changing video speed syllable by syllable, I don't know why I do it to myself... :-)

I almost packed it in a few times but I have to say I'm happy with it and the Hollywood Bowl drone shots were a great addition.
When I was young listening to Mario, one of my wishes was that the Hollywood Bowl performances had been filmed.

[Armando Cesari]

What magnificent work, Vince! The effects are stunning and bring to life what is truly an outstanding performance of Nessun Dorma. The natural voice placement and ease of emission of the 27-year-old Mario are simply phenomenal. It moves me to tears to think that his unique gift was lost to the world of opera and his life cut short. 

Armando

P.S. You deserve an Oscar for special effects!

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[Vincent Di Placido]

Aw! Armando, you are too kind! 

I'm really happy you like it.

Working on these projects allows you to get to know the recordings in an even more intimate way.

I have to say that while listening to the Hollywood Bowl Nessun Dorma in such detail and many times, my admiration and love of this performance has soared, what incredible singing and that torturous Rózsa tempo that Mario heroically savours, it's just a magical live performance. 

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[Vincent Di Placido]

I think MGM missed a trick with the emotional "Gaudeamus Igitur” finale to “The Student Prince”.

The added emotional punch of using Mario’s vocal at that point would have been fantastic, especially as the Prince hadn't sung the sung in the film.

I couldn’t resist remixing the finale...

Of course the real trick MGM missed was to have made peace with Mario and actually have him appear in the film...

https://youtu.be/6oTGHx6GJHA

[Armando Cesari]

Wonderful., Vince, and what a great idea!  It adds to that final scene which is beautifully filmed. Ann Blyth expression always breaks me up. She was lovely as well as a good actress and singer.  A pity she came to MGM towards the end of the musical era as she is far better than Grayson. 

Armando

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[Vincent Di Placido]

Thanks Armando, it always bothered me that Mario's "Gaudeamus" wasn't in the movie and this moment was calling out for it, I think it works a treat and is actually quite emotional, especially as it is a moment of Mario's singing without Purdom lip-syncing.

I agree with you completely as regards Ann Blyth, she is a complete delight and a fantastic actress. I swear I can see it, every-time she is acting opposite Purdom, that she is wishing it was Mario in his place. 

[Derek McGovern]

Thanks so much for this, Vince. Very creative and very moving! 

I've never understood why the film didn't include Mario's "Gaudeamus"---after all, it's not as if the film is overflowing with songs, with so much of Romberg's score cut. More importantly, your edit would have given the ending so much more emotional gravitas, and the vocal equivalent to Ann Blyth's heartbreaking moment. A one-two punch! 

Cheers,

Derek

[Vincent Di Placido]

Losing Mario on-screen in "The Student Prince" was a true artistic tragedy.

What I have done in this video is pull together all of Mario’s 

musical selections and tried to have Mario more present visually 

with the use of photographs and film footage from around this time period.

In my minds eye I always see Mario in this film,

I hope this helps some fans enjoy the film a little more.

I find it heartbreaking how it all turned out.

https://youtu.be/jDYp4wGeVSw

[Derek McGovern]

This is both devishly clever, Vince, and heartbreaking at the same time. I love what you've done here. The way you've matched both photos and film footage of Mario here to the musical scenes is pure genius, and there are so many moments where---thanks to your skill---he even appears to be singing the actual selections.  

Watching this also reinforced what a fine job Edmund Purdom does with both his acting and lip-synching while simultaneously underlining how hopelessly mismatched Mario's glorious vocals and Purdom's Prince persona really are. 

This will no doubt become one of your most-watched videos, Vince!

Cheers,

Derek

[Vincent Di Placido]

Thanks, Derek! Yes! Heartbreaking is right, I was choked up a few times when certain images and music went together in a particular way.

I had wanted to do this for a while as so many people had commented that they just couldn't watch the film. I like seeing Mario now while watching. Oh! How I wish he had made that film... :-(

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[Armando Cesari]

Beautifully put together, Vince! By the time I reached the end I was once again moved to tears not only by the final scene but also at the thought of Mario not being in what, without doubt, would have been his finest film.  Thank you so much for your splendid work!  

Grazie!

Armando 

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