Man of La Mancha
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Movie Reviews of Man of La Mancha
Movie Review: Capturing Quixote
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me say first that I fly in the face of almost all the reviews I have read. I love this film-the cast, the singing, the sets, in fact every aspect is a near-perfect rendering of the vision I have of Don Quixote. I have read the book but have not seen the musical. I have the feeling that many people will never read the book-it's almost 2000 pages long and rather intimidating to people who are not readers. Many people may also never have the opportunity to see the musical, and perhaps the art snots are right and the musical is far superior to the movie. However, the movie does something that the musical and the book don't do-it makes Don Quixote accessible to everyone. Watching Peter O'Toole is to understand how a man can go out and fight windmills. Seeing James Coco at his side is to glimpse the true nature of friendship, for both as Sancho and the stage manager, Coco displays true affection and loyalty to a man whose idealism gets his friends in tight spots. Perhaps the most compelling evidence I can offer as to the value of the film is this-I have a son who is dyslexic and although I have read many books to him (The Lord of the Rings, Huckleberry Finn, Watership Down, to name a few) I never read him Don Quixote. He didn't want to try reading such a big book, but I told him about Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and we talked about the importance of following your dreams and not letting the world dictate to you. Anyway, he was deployed recently and the night before he left we watched Man of La Mancha. After it was over, he said thank you to me for sharing it with him. I'm glad that he has a better understanding now of the word quixotism, because he has always been a person of high ideals with his own mind and I hope he always will be. I will be getting the DVD the day it comes out, and I will keep it next to my copy of Don Quixote, so that I always have them both together. Walter Starkie, who translated Don Quixote, writes that Don Quixote was "created out of a life of disillusion, privation, and poverty by a maimed ex-soldier...whose noble nature and gentle sense of humerous tolerance taught him that life is an unending dialogue between a knight of the spirit who is ever striving to soar aloft, and a squire who clings to his master and strives with might and main to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground." Peter O'Toole, James Coco, Sophia Loren, and the rest of the cast bring this dialogue to life. I invite you to see this film.Movie Review: A Great Film!
Summary: 5 Stars
There are always going to be people who say that the movie isn't as good as the book, or the stage version, or is historically inaccurate. We can gripe about these things or we can take the film as it is and enjoy it. I prefer the latter. Actually this is the theme of the story---to see beauty in life or to see ugliness, naming that "reality."
Perhaps I was lucky not to have seen the original stage performance so I wasn't disappointed. But I agree with the Amazon reviewer that it's hard to imagine anyone better suited to play the role than Peter O'Toole. O'Toole, better than almost any actor I know, can walk the fine line between madness and sanity without losing his balance. He brings his own unique qualities of dignity, humour, craziness and beauty to this role. I would much, much prefer to see such a performance than that of someone who had a "better" singing voice. I loved the way he stood, stick-straight, with no dramatic gestures while singing The Impossible Dream. Just his posture and regal bearing brought a poignant quality that the best operatic tenor wouldn't have done. (Some folks here are complaining that he was miscast due to his lack of singing ability while others are complaining that his singing voice was dubbed and they didn't like that singer, either...)
I did find the acting of Sophia Loren a little wooden but she looks great and that seems important. James Coco is adorably rotund and earthy as Sancho Panza. The rest of the cast does a good job, too.
I was surprised that the film was made so long ago. It is one that certainly bears the passage of time. Cynics may want to pass on it but anyone with an open heart will love it.
Movie Review: Aldonza Becomes Dulcinea
Summary: 5 Stars
Not sure what I might have thought of this 30 years ago, but at 68, I'm feeling pretty dumb that I only just now got round to seeing it.
I was blown away!! Not since seeing the Broadway production of the musical, Les Miserables, have I been swept up in such a powerful presentation of the grace of God.
Having spent the past two days tracing down its origins, it is clear that there was an invisible hand guiding the various writers through which the life of Cervantes finally became Man Of La Mancha, the movie. Imprisoned by what was calling itself "church" in the days of the Spanish Inquisition, Cervantes, the sane man behind the mad man, Quixote, finds himself on trial on two fronts. In the dungeon, where the Inquisition has put him, he is put on trial by his fellow prisoners. He defends himself by becoming the crazy Don Quixote, the would-be knight on a quest with an Impossible Dream.
As his defense plays out, he must convince a very fallen woman, Aldonza that she is an incomparable princess. All she need do to make the transition is believe in the new name he gives her, "Dulcinea." To that end he dedicates his life. His having died to prove his unoffendable love, she sees the light, and in her seeing, transforms the others held in prison by the inquisition of that day.
In short, the Movie seemed to me to be vested with a meaning no sane person of this world intended. The original script can be found in Ezekiel Chapter 16.
Movie Review: La Mancha - a hit
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always been a huge fan of musical theatre and film and I've seen most of them from the old MGM films to most recently "Phantom".
For some reason I had not seen the film of "La Mancha". I had seen the play both as an ameteur production some 20 years ago, which I loved and a huge professional production in Sydney a couple of years ago. I have never been dissappointed in these. I avoided the film because like "My Fair Lady" it was important that the cast could sing and could not face listening to those great numbers suffering from poor vocal interpretation (Why didn't Julie Andrews play 'Eliza' in the film will remain one of the great miscastings of all time!). However I viewed the film version finally this weekend and brother what a stunner. All the cast a exceptional notably O'Toole and Loren, who bowled me over with their bravada performances and the magnificent production values. There hasn't been many musicals I've seen lately that nail the essence of the show as well as this film does. I even coped with the deletion of a couple of great songs such as 'Aldonza's "Why does he do the things he does" and the re-writing/editing of Aldonz'a great "10:30" number. Still these minor changes make no difference to the impact this movie has. WOW!
The DVD transfer if fine, no complaints there. I just wish there had been some 'extras' included. If you haven't seen it and like some meaning to your 'musical' viewing, I highly recommend this!
Movie Review: One of the best!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this movie. For those who love romance, fantasy, knighthood, gallantry, and all that, this is your thing. One reason I love it is that Don Quixote must have read (!) the saying, "When you tell a man he is brave, you are helping him to become so." The Don, this mad-man, sees nothing but the beautiful and pure in the whore Aldonza, and despite her violent rejection of his view of her and the name "Dulcinea" that he gives her, she eventually realizes HIS purity of mind and begins to think maybe there is something worthwhile in her after all. Thus, she becomes, slowly, as he envisions her. That to me is thrilling.
And, I heartily disagree with those reviewers who object to the voices of Peter O'Toole (dubbed) and Sophia Loren. Sure, they aren't the best, but taking the Don's for instance; if his voice had been any better, it would have been 'way out of character for the "Knight of the Woeful Countenance." And a Shirley Jones voice would not have been convincing for the whore Aldonza, to my way of thinking. To me, they were both perfect for their parts. Cummon, let's be realistic! If you want perfect voices, watch "Carousel" etc.
This movie is inspirational, touching, exciting, and one I watch many times, getting a thrill out of it each time. Am ordering the DVD with captions, as I don't want to miss ONE word!