Ezio Pinza Movies
The rich basso voice of Italian opera star Ezio Pinza was heard in opera houses around the world. He also appeared in a couple Broadway musicals before making his way to Hollywood to star in a few films of the late '40s and early '50s that include Carnegie Hall (1947). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1953
Tonight we Sing is the life story of legendary impresario Sol Hurok, impersonated herein by David Wayne. A lover of the arts, young immigrant Hurok despairs when he realizes he has no musical or artistic talents. Thus it is that, despite great personal and financial sacrifice, Hurok devotes his life to discovering and nurturing other performers and bringing them to Broadway. Among his more celebrated protégés are Russian opera-singer Feodor Chaliapin (Ezio Pinza) and violinist Eugene Ysaye (Isaac Stern). Other notables making guest appearances are singer Jan Peerce and Roberta Peters and ballerina Tamara Toumanova. Anne Bancroft co-stars as Hurok's gentle, patient wife Emma. Based on the autobiography by Sol Horuk (co-written with Ruth Goode), Tonight We Sing was produced for 20th Century-Fox by George Jessel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Wayne, Ezio Pinza, (more)
Ezio Pinza stars as the title character, a prince who falls for nightclub singer Fredda Barlo (Lana Turner) when the two meet on vacation in Italy. After more than a decade, they reunite, only now Barlo is a Hollywood superstar and Imperium has ascended to the throne of king. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lana Turner, Ezio Pinza, (more)
- 1951
Strictly Dishonorable is a musicalized version of Preston Sturges' cynical Broadway comedy of the same title, previously filmed sans songs in 1931. Ezio Pinza, fresh from his stage triumph in South Pacific, stars as Augustino Caraffa, an opera star whose amorous adventures are legend. Janet Leigh plays green-as-grass Southern belle Isabelle Perry, Caraffa's biggest fan. To rescue her idol from a vengeful publisher (Hugh Sanders), Isabelle agrees to an "in name only" marriage, hoping that Caraffa will eventually fall in love with her for real. Several romantic complications later, Caraffa finally begins to change his rakish ways. In keeping with Sturges' original scenario, Strictly Dishonorable is set in the late 1920s, allowing for a scene in which Isabelle is amorously inspired by a silent John Gilbert-Greta Garbo picture (accompanied on the Mighty Wurlitzer by organist Kathleen Freeman). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ezio Pinza, Janet Leigh, (more)
Auteur theorists who've charted the career of "cult" director Edgar G. Ulmer have seldom mentioned Carnegie Hall, simply because it was more expensive than most of Ulmer's films and thus can't be regarded a "low-budget masterpiece." The wafer-thin plotline concerns a young immigrant woman (Marsha Hunt) who takes a job as a Carnegie Hall cleaning woman. Her love of music leads her to a better job in the Hall, and after several years she rises to the position of concert organizer. The woman uses her clout to promote her own son's career as a pianist. Carnegie Hall showcases a number of celebrated musicians. Selections include: Arthur Rubinstein performing Chopin's Polonaise in A Flat, Jascha Heifetz performing Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in G Major by Tchaikovsky, Ezio Pinza singing both the drinking song from Don Giovanni and one of the arias from Simon di Boccanegra, Lily Pons singing The Bell Song from Lakme by Delibes, and Jan Peerce singing O Sole Mio.The film also includes musical performances by Bruno Walter,Rise Stevens, Gregor Piatagorsky, Harry James, Vaughn Monroe, Leopold Stokowski, and others. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Emile Boreo, Marsha Hunt, (more)
A Carnegie Hall employee who dreams of success for her young son raises him in the legendary concert venue in hopes that inspiration will shine through the music in this film featuring performances by Bruno Walter, Risë Stevens, Jan Peerce, Ezio Penza, Leopold Stokowski and many more. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
