Hoffmanns Erzählungen (1951)

Hoffmanns Erzählungen: Directed by Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger. With Moira Shearer, Ludmilla Tchérina, Ann Ayars, Pamela Brown. A melancholy poet reflects on three women he loved and lost in the past: a mechanical performing doll, a Venetian courtesan, and the consumptive daughter of a celebrated composer.

“u0026quot;The Tales of Hoffmannu0026quot; (1951) – a beautifully photographed film version of Jacques Offenbachu0026#39;s opera, his final masterpiece is a magic (and there is no other word to describe it) blend of Adventure / Romance / Fantasy / with an endless stream of gorgeous melodies, seductive and tender love scenes, bizarre characters – comic, romantic or villainous, and tragic climaxes. The film was a follow-up to u0026quot;The Red Shoesu0026quot; (1948) a fantasy/musical/romance/drama set in the world of ballet with the same directors, stars, and production designers.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn u0026quot;The Tales of Hoffmannu0026quot;, Robert Rounsevill stars as E.T.A. (Ernst Theodore Amadeus) Hoffmann, the poet and writer who tells three stories of his great but unhappy loves all ending tragically thanks to the meddling of his enemy, a supernatural villain (Robert Helpmann as quadruple evil, Lindorf, Coppelius, Dapertutto and Dr Miracle). Objects of Hoffmannu0026#39;s love and admiration include Olympia the wind-up doll (Moira Shearer who also plays Stella the dancer, the fourth and yet another Hoffmannu0026#39;s misadventure), Giulietta, the Venetian courtesan who sails away after trying to capture Hoffmannu0026#39;s soul (Ludmilla Tchérina -absolutely brilliant as the siren and the seductress who elegantly walks over the dead bodies, literally), and Antonia the beautiful opera-singer with the fatal voice and deadly illness. One of the greatest choreographers and dancers of the last century, Léonide Massine shines in three absolutely different roles demonstrating his talent as a dancer, strong emotions and tremendous humor.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat makes u0026quot;The Tales of Hoffmannu0026quot; not just an ordinary screen adaptation but the stunning unforgettable event, the film which had inspired the future famous directors George Romero and Martin Scorsese to become the filmmakers is the perfect combination of fantasy, classical music, ballet, singing, stunning visual effects, imaginative and often bizarre and even disturbing images that would fit a horror movie (deconstructing Olympia –the doll is horrifying), incredible but calculated feast of colors, their mixture, the unique color palette to match each story, camera work that is so innovative and dynamic that even now, 56 years after the film was made, looks fresh and modern. The feast for eyes, ears, and feelings, u0026quot;The Tales of Hoffmannu0026quot; is the love child of incredibly talented people from different epochs and countries. The opera by Jacques Offenbach, the French composer is based on the dark romantic fairy tales by the German E.T. A. Hoffmann. The team of two directors known as u0026quot;The Archersu0026quot;, the British Michael Powell and the Hungarian Jew Emeric Pressburger who had to flee his country before the WWII, and their international team of stars, color consultants, choreographers and production designers made this miracle happen. The last but not the least is legendary Sir Thomas Beecham conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.”