Gigli, Schipa: Mad About Opera
In this screwball comedy a group of Italians presents an  opera concert in London, with Schipa, Gigli, Caniglia, Gobbi and Bechi. The  singers play themselves, with Bechi and Gobbi getting the most singing and  screen time. (Gigli's contribution, Chenier's "Si, fui soldato," is taken  from the filmSolo per te, BCS Video #502.) The arias are fully  staged, vividly filmed with lots of closeups. With few exceptions the  camera stays directly on the singers. The print is superb.Nobody ever sang "Figaro, Figaro, Figaro" with more inflections than Bechi.  But the highlight that really leaps out is the "Toreador Song," where he  provides a walloping spinal chill. Bechi was the most exciting baritone of  the post-war period. Gobbi was the most artistic--here he sings the  "Prologo" and "Dicitencello vuie" silkily, with exquisite legato. Schipa  imbues every word of "Se il mio nome" with meaning, so that it becomes  spoken song. Gigli is a perfervid Chenier. The legendary Caniglia makes the  only on-screen appearance of her career, singing "Casta diva." The  20-year-old, pre-Hollywood Lollobrigida looks innocent yet nubile.--Stefan  Zucker