The Barber of Seville (1947) Reviews

This Italian cinemazation of Rossinis comic opera The Barber of Seville is worth seeing if for no other reason than the presence of legendary tenor Tito Gobbi in the title role. The moment Gobbi launches the famous, tongue-twisting "Largo et Factotum," the audience is in the palm of his hand. The plot, of course, concerns the efforts of Count Almavina (Ferrucio Tagliavini) to woo and win the beautiful Rosina (Nelly Corradi) without arousing the suspicions of the heroine's overprotective guardian, but it's the music that remains in the memory. Mme. Corradi's rendition of "Une voce poco fa" is also to be cherished, though it isn't as impressive as Gobbi's solo numbers. For the benefit of English-speaking audiences, the plot is "explained" by music critic Deems Taylor, who performed a similar function in Disney's Fantasia (1940). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi