Puccini Backdrop Blur
Puccini Poster

Puccini

In Torre del Lago, by Lake Massaciuccoli, Puccini is writing "The Girl of the Golden West" when his wife Elvira accuses him of a dalliance with their maid, Doria Manfredi, a young women from town. Although the maestro is frequently unfaithful, he denies the affair; Elvira insists she's right and publicly hounds Doria. Between scenes in this domestic drama that turns tragic, we watch a Scottish company rehearse and stage "Turandot," Puccini's last opera. The film finds parallels between the two stories and suggests that in the opera, Puccini expresses love for his wife and guilt in Doria's fate. Three local gentlemen provide a spoken chorus as Puccini's score plays throughout.

Top Cast

  • Robert Stephens

    Robert Stephens

    Giacomo Puccini

  • Virginia McKenna

    Virginia McKenna

    Elvira

  • Judith Howarth

    Judith Howarth

    Doria / Liu

  • Robert Urquhart

    Robert Urquhart

    Doria's Father

  • Bill Fraser

    Bill Fraser

    Fucini, the Lawyer

  • William Squire

    William Squire

    Giacchi, the Doctor

  • Peter Woodthorpe

    Peter Woodthorpe

    Umberto Manfredi

  • Andrew Cruickshank

    Andrew Cruickshank

    Father Michelucci

  • Phil McCall

    Phil McCall

    Gnicche

Overview

In Torre del Lago, by Lake Massaciuccoli, Puccini is writing "The Girl of the Golden West" when his wife Elvira accuses him of a dalliance with their maid, Doria Manfredi, a young women from town. Although the maestro is frequently unfaithful, he denies the affair; Elvira insists she's right and publicly hounds Doria. Between scenes in this domestic drama that turns tragic, we watch a Scottish company rehearse and stage "Turandot," Puccini's last opera. The film finds parallels between the two stories and suggests that in the opera, Puccini expresses love for his wife and guilt in Doria's fate. Three local gentlemen provide a spoken chorus as Puccini's score plays throughout.

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