The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) ( Contos de Hoffman ) ( Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann )

The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) (DVD) (*)

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Original Title: Contos de Hoffman
Alternate Title: Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Berlin International Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
Oscar Academy Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Mono )
French ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
France ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
95 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1951 and produced in:
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger

Written By:
Dennis Arundell
Jules Barbier

Actors:
Moira Shearer ..... Stella / Olympia
Ludmilla Tchérina ..... Giulietta
Ann Ayars ..... Antonia
Pamela Brown ..... Nicklaus
Léonide Massine ..... Spalanzani
Robert Helpmann ..... Lindorf
Coppelius ..... Kleinsach / Cochenille
Dapertutto ..... Crespel
Frederick Ashton ..... Hoffmann
Mogens Wieth ..... Pitichinaccio
Robert Rounseville ..... Andreas (Prologue and Epilogue)
Lionel Harris ..... Luther
Philip Leaver ..... Partner to Stella in Dragonfly ballet
Meinhart Maur ..... Nathaniel (Prologue and Epilogue)
Edmond Audran ..... Hermann (Prologue and Epilogue)
John Ford
Richard Golding

Synopsis:

Most baby-boomers are familiar with the Powell-Pressburger production of the Offenbach opera Tales of Hoffman only through the full-color stills from the film which were reproduced in the 'Motion Picture' section of The World Book Encyclopedia. If this is your only memory of the film, we advise you to seek out a copy of this lengthy but visually enthralling picture as soon as possible. Metropolitan opera star Robert Rounseville plays Hoffman, a university student who is spectacularly unlucky in affairs of the heart. Each of his love affairs with Olympia (Moira Shearer), Giulietta (Ludmilla Tcherina) and Antonia (Ann Ayars) is doomed to failure due to circumstances far beyond our hero's control (Olympia, for example, turns out to be nothing more than a life-sized mechanical doll). As in the previous Powell-Pressburger collaboration The Red Shoes, the film's best moments are its ballet sequences, choreographed by Jane Ashton. Offenbach's score is given a splendid rendition by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of the legendary Sir Thomas Beecham.

In a tavern in Nuremberg, the young Hoffmann (Robert Rounseville) tells three stories of past loves (played by Moira Shearer, Ludmilla Tchérina, and Ann Ayars). He recounts the stories during the interval of a ballet, which stars his new love Stella (also played by Shearer). Léonide Massine and Robert Helpmann have roles in each story.

This product was added to our catalog on Friday 11 June, 2021.