Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Sadly Over-hyped

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

If you did not know much about the Great Caruso before you watched this film, you will be none the wiser after this film.It really is a bread and butter straightforward romanticised and fictionalised film starring Mario Lanza, filmed in the Hollywood backlot. The film has little to do with Caruso's life.If you want operatic singing and hear Lanza's voice then this is the film for you. I was underwhelmed.

I enjoyed the great talent of Mario Lanza who portrayed Caruso. Although I'm not an opera fan, I appreciate the pageantry and the rich, full voices.I realize that this movie was made in the l950s when out of wedlock children portrayed in film weren't readily accepted. But, the real Caruso did father several children in addition to the baby daughter mentioned in the movie. He had a long relationship with an older lady.They could have mentioned his other children without getting into details. They may have still been alive when this movie was made. Their children and grandchildren, I'm sure, would've appreciated the acknowledgement of their existence and the respect.Also, here's another minor objection: When Caruso was showing off his baby to his friends a week after her birth, the nurse enters and berates him loudly in front of his friends for having the baby in the roomNow Caruso, being the dominant personality that he was, wouldn't have accepted that disrespect from her. A man like Caruso would have seen the baby as being his to do as he pleased, the nurse was working for him and could have been replaced.I could've seen him firing her on the spot for the disrespect and sending one of his assistants to go out and find another baby nurse.Minor complaints...otherwise I enjoyed this movie very much.

I was 12 living in the coastal industry city of Luleå. I had never heard of Opera. My father was a movie projectionist. One evening i happened to see The Great Caruso. It was a breathtaking experience deep into my body. I was caught for ever by opera and I remember the deep sadness I felt in 1959 when my idol Mario Lanza died (similar to my sons feelings some 30 years later when John Lennon was killed). I have the Video and I have seen it many times on TCM Cabel TV - The Great Caruso will stay forever as the film that opened my eyes and emotions for music in general and opera in particular. Thank You MGM, Caruso but in particular thank You Mario Lanza.

Mario Lanza was wonderful in the lead role, with a voice like an angel, however, the movie itself lacked something as a biography.There was very little mention of the great tenor's true life and death, leading you to believe that his father-in-law was a total jerk. No mention whatsoever was made of his two illigitimate sons, which would have made a difference when viewing his personality. Caruso truly was a peasant, and not a proper husband to a socialite.They would have you believe that he valiantly finished his performance as he died, when in reality, he probably died in bed.I would only watch this movie a second time for the brilliant musical performances.