A Clown Must Laugh

Name: Pagliacci
Genre: Musical
Released: 1938-10-11
Duration: 1 h 32 min
Rating: 6.3
Cast: Richard Tauber, Steffi Duna, Diana Napier

Original title: Pagliacci

1936
1h 32m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

YOUR RATING

Musical

Canio and his Comedia dell'Arte troupe tour Italy. His wife Nedda meets a young cadet and they plan to elope. He tries to leave her when he finds how important she is for his husband, but a ... Read allCanio and his Comedia dell'Arte troupe tour Italy. His wife Nedda meets a young cadet and they plan to elope. He tries to leave her when he finds how important she is for his husband, but a rejected trouper interferes. As jealous Canio suspects the truth the tragedy approaches. R... Read allCanio and his Comedia dell'Arte troupe tour Italy. His wife Nedda meets a young cadet and they plan to elope. He tries to leave her when he finds how important she is for his husband, but a rejected trouper interferes. As jealous Canio suspects the truth the tragedy approaches. Richard Tauber sings Pagliacci.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

YOUR RATING

5User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

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Featured review

memorable version of the immortal 'Pag'

Pagliacci is one of those fabulous mini-operas which remains accessible to a much wider audience than grand opera usually captivates, and this fairly primitive version (with colour sequences) stars the great tenor Richard Tauber as Canio.

Yes, Enrico Caruso made the definitive historical recording of this but Tauber does extremely well in the part. His reading of the part is memorable, tragic, and powerful, and for once his often over-the-top personality doesn't overwhelm the film. He may be singing at the very limit of his capability but he was such a good singer it works within this adaptation.

It isn't often that this movie is shown but if it comes to a television set or a big screen near you, make sure you catch it.