At this time it is very easy to pan this outrageously inept rendition of the James M. Cain groundbreaking novel. People forget that back in 1955 it would have been impossible to film "Serenade" as written by the author. You can also say that Anthony Mann was not the ideal director for this kind of musical melodrama since he was more at home in the film noir and western genres. In spite of all that, "Serenade" is not a bad movie and can be enjoyed by all but most specially by opera lovers. Mario Lanza is mesmerizing singing some of the world's most beloved music. In my opinion he was never more effective as a singer than on this Warner Bros Technicolor production. As an actor Mr. Lanza has some good and bad moments playing Damon, the humble California vineyard worker who achieves fame and fortune only to be destroyed by his obsessive passion for beautiful socialite Kendall Hale (Joan Fontaine) who enjoys making stars out of her lovers and then dropping them for the next hopeful in line. When he hits rock bottom in Mexico he is rescued and rehabilitated by a wealthy bullfighter's daughter, the earthy and also beautiful Juana Montes (Sarita Montiel). When Damon goes back to the U.S. with Juana to re-launch his career, Miss Hale shows up again with every intention to manipulate the singer once more. Will she succeed? All that mayhem is worthy just to listen to Lanza's glorious voice sing with outstanding gusto "Torna a Sorrento", a most moving "Ave Maria" (Schubert) or Puccini's "Nessum Dorma" from "Turandot". As both a singer and an actor Lanza is particularly effective in his rendition of Verdi's "Dio Ti Giocondi" from "Othello", doubtless one of the artist's best moments in film. I find the supporting cast brilliant with special mentions going to Vincent Price as the sarcastic, witty opera manager and the gorgeous Sarita as the temperamental Juana.
Review of Serenade
