Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
The Tales of Hoffmann
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger create a phantasmagoric marriage of cinema and opera in this one-of-a-kind take on a classic story. In Jacques Offenbach’s fantasy opera The Tales of Hoffmann, a poet dreams of three women—a mechanical performing doll, a bejeweled siren, and the consumptive daughter of a famous composer—all of whom break his heart in different ways. Powell and Pressburger’s feverishly romantic adaptation is a feast of music, dance, and visual effects, and one of the most exhilarating opera films ever produced.
Special Features
- 4K digital restoration by The Film Foundation and the BFI National Archive, in association with STUDIOCANAL, featuring newly rediscovered footage and with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
- Audio commentary from 1992 by filmmaker Martin Scorsese and critic Bruce Eder, newly updated by Eder
- Interview with filmmaker George A. Romero from 2005
- The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (1956), a short musical film based on the Johann Wolfgang von Goethe story and directed by Michael Powell
- Collection of production designer Hein Heckroth’s design sketches and paintings
- Gallery of production and publicity photographs
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Plus: An essay by film historian Ian Christie
Cover based on a theatrical poster by Hein Heckroth
Special Features
- 4K digital restoration by The Film Foundation and the BFI National Archive, in association with STUDIOCANAL, featuring newly rediscovered footage and with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
- Audio commentary from 1992 by filmmaker Martin Scorsese and critic Bruce Eder, newly updated by Eder
- Interview with filmmaker George A. Romero from 2005
- The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (1956), a short musical film based on the Johann Wolfgang von Goethe story and directed by Michael Powell
- Collection of production designer Hein Heckroth’s design sketches and paintings
- Gallery of production and publicity photographs
- Trailer
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Plus: An essay by film historian Ian Christie
Cover based on a theatrical poster by Hein Heckroth
Cast
- Robert Rounseville
- Hoffmann
- Moira Shearer
- Stella/His Ladylove/Olympia
- Pamela Brown
- Nicklaus
- Edmond Audran
- Cancer
- Robert Helpmann
- Councillor Lindorf/Coppelius/Dapertutto/Dr. Miracle
- Meinhart Maur
- Luther
- Frederick Ashton
- Kleinzach/Cochenille
- Philip Leaver
- Andreas
- John Ford
- Nathaniel
- Léonide Massine
- Spalanzani/Schlemil/Franz
- Alan Carter
- Bank clerk
- Ludmilla Tchérina
- Giulietta
- Lionel Harris
- Pitichinaccio
- Ann Ayars
- Antonia
- Mogens Wieth
- Crespel
Credits
- Director
- Michael Powell
- Written, produced, and directed by
- Michael Powell
- Based on the opera by
- Jacques Offenbach
- English libretto by
- Dennis Arundell
- Musical director
- Sir Thomas Beecham
- Written, produced, and directed by
- Emeric Pressburger
- Cinematography
- Christopher Challis
- Art director
- Arthur Lawson
- Editing
- Reginald Mills
- Associate producer
- George Busby
- Assistant director
- Sydney Streeter
- Choreography
- Frederick Ashton
- Assistant choreographers
- Alan Carter
- Assistant choreographers
- Joan Harris
- Recorded by
- Ted Drake
- Camera operator
- Freddie Francis
- Production design
- Hein Heckroth
- Director
- Emeric Pressburger
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Trailer for The Tales of Hoffmann
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