Here is another example of running across an item totally by accident and finding something extremely worthwhile. I wasn't looking for this title. In fact I didn't even know that it existed. But what a find! This 2 disc set, VOICE OF THE CENTURY, contains a DVD and a CD of Caruso recordings and was put out by BMG Entertainment, the German conglomerate who owns the rights to the RCA Victor classical music library. The CD features arias by Verdi, Puccini, and others along with his signature tune (Vesti la giubba) from PAGLIACCI. The DVD features the A&E BIOGRAPHY episode on Enrico Caruso which runs about 45 minutes. It provides a good but superficial introduction to the great tenor but as pointed out in another review it leaves quite a few questions unanswered.
As also pointed out elsewhere the real prize in this collection is the inclusion of Caruso's 1918 silent film MY COUSIN. This rarely seen offering features Caruso in two roles. One is as a famous opera singer (naturally) while the other is that of a poor sculptor in New York's Little Italy who might be the singer's cousin. While the story is routine what makes the film so remarkable is Caruso himself and the authentic NY backgrounds including a performance inside the old Metropolitan Opera house. While you can't hear Caruso's voice (that's what the CD is for) you can easily tell what a natural and dynamic performer he must have been and why he was (and still is) so beloved. The movie was directed by Edward Jose' who is best known to silent film fans as Theda Bara's primary victim in A FOOL THERE WAS.
MY COUSIN looks to be taken from a 16mm copy but is in decent shape by silent film standards and the piano accompaniment of opera arias and popular Italian tunes works quite well. Looking at this release as a silent film fan and as a classical music lover I found it to be an unbeatable combination. Sure the BIOGRAPHY segment is not as good as it could have been and there are better Caruso recordings available elsewhere but this is the only place to get MY COUSIN. Put all three together and that makes it a must buy for the opera lover and/or the silent film enthusiast. BTW, 2021 marked the 100th anniversary of Caruso's passing...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.
