Anema e core

This movie stars the great tenor Ferruccio Tagliavini, who sang in the great opera houses of the world, including the Metropolitan Opera. During the movie we are treated to his splendid renditions of arias from Puccini's "Tosca," Meyerbeer's "L'Africana," Bellini's "La Sonnambula" as well as some sparkling Neapolitan traditional songs. The framing story is pure dross. Mr. Tagliavini plays an electrician. When his house is burglarized by two nincompoops, the two thieves decide they want to be impresarios for the owner of this great voice they overhear. And so it is. Many of the gags and lines of dialog in the movie are sophomoric, akin to The Three Stooges Meet Enrico Caruso. Yet the movie does not lack a certain kind of appeal that could get you through the film's running time as you wait for the next vocal rendition of a great singer. Mario Mattoli, who directed a number of Totò comedies, managed this affair. The film opened in New York in 1954, down the street from the Met at the Cinema Verdi, under the title "My Heart Sings."