This film is a rare gem. It deserves to be reissued and be made more readily available on DVD. The filming is beautifully done, with soft colourings and stylised settings that while never offending the purists, take nothing away from the familiar story. The casting seems almost ideal with the Cio Cio San, a diminutive and beautiful Japanese actress capably lip syncing to a pre-recorded soundtrack recorded in Italy. The rest of the cast also seem ideally cast and they quickly elicit all the emotions out of the well known story as if for the first time...no matter how many times you have seen the opera previously. Puccini's score has been somewhat cut and while this is a great pity, the film still stands as one of the most beautiful opera presentations ever presented on film. Like a previous commentator, it was this film that made an opera fan of me when I was only five years old. I would love to own a copy.
Review of Madame Butterfly
