Sérénade

I just discovered Mario Lanza and I loved this first film of his that I saw...can't wait to see more. Joan Fontaine and Vincent Price provide excellent supporting roles too! A total class act through and through.

This is Mario Lanza's best movie and best performance. The story is great. It's about an opera singer falling in love with the wrong woman, his benefactor. He is surrounded by great actors: Joan Fontaine, Sara Montiel, Vincent Price, and a great supporting cast. I believe, this is Joan Fontaine's second bad girl role. She is a hoot! Sara Montiel is her rival and plays her good girl role to the hilt. They are both fun to watch. Lanza doesn't play himself this time. He plays an opera singer who can't decide who he loves.

This film includes Vincent Price and Joan Fontaine. And the stunning beauty of Sara Montiel (whose professional bio is remarkable). But the star of this film is Mario Lanza's voice. Lanza's career was brief. He is only credited with seven film roles, but he was the premier tenor of his time and, some will say, any time. Thankfully, we have this film to record some of his best performances. For that reason alone, the film deserves a "9". A must see for those who appreciate spectacular singing. Anything else I might write would be superfluous. But another line is required to finish this review.

I really enjoyed this movie. Mario Lanza's voice is so powerful and beautiful - the most emotionally charged voice I have ever listened to. He was God's gift to us with a beautiful powerful tenor voice. His 'Ave Maria' inspires even if you are an ardent Protestant. This man could sing beyond belief. Any one out there with a musical ear let him hear this man's voice - it will exalt you to the heavens. The story line is good and the acting okay. I found it thoroughly engaging and who could refuse to like this film when Vincent Price is in it. What a class act he is. Voice, presence, poise - this actor had it all. We will never hear a voice like Lanza again. The tenors of today are technically good but they have no heart, soul and emotion although they try very hard. My eyes are moist whenever Lanza sings it is so beautiful. What a joy to hear him sing. "And Flights of Angels Sing Thee to Thy Rest"!

I cannot condone the fact that Mario was substandard in this film. He had been under the restrictions of an MGM ban, before Warners offered him a chance to return to the filmworld. He was naturally nervous (it shows in some of the scenes) as he had not worked for about three years and his voice was taking on a darker hue. Yes, he was a little overweight, but his singing was superb. He could sing anything and did, with complete conviction. His operatic arias in this film are superb and those of us who are lucky enough to have heard the outtakes from the soundtrack will agree that he was coming to terms with the fact that he had to adjust to his voice getting bigger. It was a really awesome instrument. The power was immense, but he could also sing falsetto when required. His "Ave Maria" in this film is one of the most moving I have ever heard. A good effort by him to re-establish himself and his fans will bear me out. To hell with the plot - listen to the voice of the century.

By far, Mario Lanza's greatest film. He really showed that he could do some fine acting here in addition to his phenomenal operatic voice. A temperamental opera singer, who falls under the spell of Joan Fontaine, a wealthy patron of the arts, but in reality a Jezebel if ever there were. For a change, Vincent Price projects no evil and that is why his performance is rather restrained. Here is the story of a man who threw away a career for the love of a temptress, who would go from man to man. It's the story of the wealthy woman who just doesn't know what she wants out of life. Described best by Harry Bellaver, who was so good as Georgie the year before in "Love Me or Leave Me.," as a tramp. The picture reveals that salvation is achieved by going back to the land and working on it and meeting the love of his life. I vividly remember when "Serenade" played at the Radio City Music Hall. Those were the years of quality films, not most of the garbage we have today.