Callas Forever

Starring:Fanny Ardant, Jeremy Irons, Joan Plowright, Jay Rodan, Gabriel Garko, Manuel de Blas, Justino DÃaz, Jean Dalric, Anna Lelio, Stephen Billington, Alessandro Bertolucci, Olivier Galfione, Roberto Sanchez, Achille Brugnini, Eugene Kohn, Maria del Mar Rivas, Concha Lopez, Bryan Jardine, Sorin Popa, Bill Avery (II)
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Franco Zeffirelli was and is clearly in love with Maria Callas, but unlike the average Callas fan, as a movie director, he was able to do something about it. This superbly made film, about the last few months of the great soprano's life in 1977, moves easily between fact and fantasy to express that love and to give her a more upbeat ending than the one that fate actually dealt her. It is made with the attention to small details that is a hallmark of Zeffirelli's work.

In reality, Callas became a recluse in her luxurious Paris apartment, mourning the loss of her voice, the breakup of her relationship to Aristotle Onassis and the disintegration of her career. Her final days were a nightmare. But Zeffirelli uses his imagination to rewrite that unhappy ending. He invents a rock producer, Tom Kelly (Jeremy Irons) who clearly is a Zeffirelli figure (the names rhyme). Kelly used to be her manager and has a scheme to revive her career in movies: he will film her greatest roles, using her recordings as soundtracks; she will go through the motions and lip-synch the words. It might have worked; experiments with Carmen, which she recorded but never sang onstage, were certainly promising. But Callas turned down the plan, on grounds of artistic integrity.

Amazon.com

Franco Zeffirelli was and is clearly in love with Maria Callas, but unlike the average Callas fan, as a movie director, he was able to do something about it. This superbly made film, about the last few months of the great soprano's life in 1977, moves easily between fact and fantasy to express that love and to give her a more upbeat ending than the one that fate actually dealt her. It is made with the attention to small details that is a hallmark of Zeffirelli's work.

In reality, Callas became a recluse in her luxurious Paris apartment, mourning the loss of her voice, the breakup of her relationship to Aristotle Onassis and the disintegration of her career. Her final days were a nightmare. But Zeffirelli uses his imagination to rewrite that unhappy ending. He invents a rock producer, Tom Kelly (Jeremy Irons) who clearly is a Zeffirelli figure (the names rhyme). Kelly used to be her manager and has a scheme to revive her career in movies: he will film her greatest roles, using her recordings as soundtracks; she will go through the motions and lip-synch the words. It might have worked; experiments with Carmen, which she recorded but never sang onstage, were certainly promising. But Callas turned down the plan, on grounds of artistic integrity.

Description

In this loving tribute to Maria Callas, Zeffirelli imagines what could have happened at the end of her life at the age of 53.

Customer Reviews:

Lana.......2006-10-30

When I watched the movie in the movie theater originally few years ago, the sound was so perfect. The movie itself moved me so mainly because of the powerful sound. So, I purchased the DVD few years later because I could not forget the emotional effect this movie had on me. I was shocked to learn that the DVD sound track was awful. Somebody has to have absolutely no sense of music to make a DVD for production without checking the quality of the sound. For this movie it was a killer. I am so disappointed; I want to return this DVD.

Ardant gives a "Master Class".......2006-10-24

Fanny Ardant said that she wanted to do this role because the script gave her the opportunity to have every emotion, and then on top of that, she would be playinig Maria Callas (apparently she had played Callas onstage in "Master Class" before doing this film). She was right. The words "tour de force performance" are tossed around a lot, but this is what the phrase is about. Fanny Ardant proves herself to be one of the best film actresses around in this film. Ardant is simply magnificent.
Fellini's direction is at it's finest and tightest here. His love of the theatrical gets its rightful venting in the scenes of rehearsal, and of the film within the film; but there are no extraneous flights of fancy. To me, Jeremy Irons and Joan Plowright are usually very much the same in every film, but they are greats, and they provide a perfect platform for Ardant to dive off of.
I recently saw the disappointing "Being Julia" in which Jeremy Irons also appears. Everything that film lacks, is here in this perfect, truly loving (warts and all) tribute to an immortal great. You do not have to like Opera to appreciate this film, and if you don't it is handled here in a way that will keep you engaged. If you do have an appreciation for Opera, and for great acting...you will have moments- as I did- of chills, and tears. Much more than being a tribute to Opera, this is an excellent tribute to the arts and to artists. Brava

Divine Diva to the End.......2006-08-02

I am not a professional movie critic who must judge a movie for its Oscar capabilities or its position in the world of cinema. I am not an opera "expert" who feels that tampering with a classical masterpiece (such as Carmen) is an abomination. Nor am I seeking revenge against any of the following: Franco Zefferelli, Jeremy Irons, Fanny Ardant, or Maria Callas.

I am one who loves movies, all kinds of movies, with my favorites being manner comedies in sumptuous settings. CALLAS FOREVER is part bio-picture, part comedy of manner, and part masterpiece. All I ever expect a movie to do is to entertain me. I dabble in Opera. I have the 1962 Callas Carmen CD with Nicolai Gedda as Don Jose and the Orchestre du Theatre National de L'Opera de Paris conducted by Georges Pretre, which is the music in the movie. Although not an opera snob, I find this CD particularly enjoyable as it is Callas at her peak. The way Zefferelli used this opera version illuminates the opera book, the characters, and THE music, for those who may want to purchase a copy of the recording. There are many versions of Carmen for sale on CD, but this must be the best.

Zefferelli set out as a business associate and close personal friend of Callas to show her the way that she was in her final days. He completely accomplished this by the film CALLAS FOREVER. Although, the plot is part fictional, it is a suitable vehicle to accomplish its task. It is Fanny Ardant that brings the entire production to fruition. He says repeatedly during interviews that "she is more Callas than was Callas." That is reason enough for me to accept this film from both an intellectual/artistic one and an emotional one, as Fanny Ardant made me feel that I have known Callas way more personally that by just merely listening to her sing on record or reading something. Ardant is absolutely amazing in this role.

Moreover, the gay subplot and the drama centered around artistic integrity are what makes this film real to me and not just a bio-pic.

I will continue to read the other critics, but I will always follow my heart.

Callas Forever As It Might Have Been.......2006-04-11

This was a very compelling movie, and beautiful to watch. The glaring fault in Fanny Ardant's otherwise excellent portrayal, which obviously can't be helped, was her heavy French accent - in every fictionalized drama I've seen where Maria Callas appears as a character (The Greek Tycoon, TV movies about Jackie Kennedy or Aristotle Onassis, etc) Maria is played as either having a thick Greek or Italian accent, when, as any documentary will show, she spoke with a definite American accent, only with a couple of grammatical slips and vocal inflections from having lived in Europe so much in adulthood. I wonder if any drama will ever depict Callas speaking as she actually did.

It was also an unnecessary annoyance to have Jeremy Irons' character manage that unseen British punk band. We could have done without hearing that very bad parody of what was supposed to resemble early punk rock music (but was just bad 70's rock pop music, not even heavy metal) in the opening credits.
All this depiction does is date Zefferelli's efforts and make an inaccurate foray into supposedly being "with it." There seemed to be about the entire characterization of Irons an attempt at a more contemporary portrayal of a worldly man being cool or hip, rather than a late 1970's ambience. He just seemed too flashy and involved with the trendy interests of the day to be seriously taken as an opera devotee who worshipped Callas and truly wanted to resurrect her career, although it made his character believable that he'd attract such a youthful, sexy boyfriend - who was scarcely developed as a character himself; should have had a more dramatic meeting with Callas, more interaction with her, etc - it would have been fine to develop the interesting gay love story a little more, see what happened to the characters and their relationship (salvagable, resurrected?) after Callas died, their sad reactions to her demise and so forth - but then again, it was "right" that the last scene was Callas strolling away in the Paris sunlight.

I give this movie 4 stars for the effort, for the sheer beauty of the film and the fact that there isn't a single dull, draggy moment - the viewer is mesmerized throughout, and the best scenes, accent aside, are of Callas as a lonely recluse in her elegant Avenue Foch apartment, taking pills and being anxiously attended to by her faithful maid Bruna. Ardant as Callas miming to the Madame Butterfly recording is heartbreaking. I'm glad Franco Zeffirelli at least came close to realizing his dream and making the film about Callas he always wanted to.

Phenomenal Fanny!.......2006-02-09

Since opera itself presupposes a suspension of belief - to sacrifice reason for the glorification of the passions through music and spectacle, Zeffirelli's premise in "Callas Forever" is easier to swallow. Maria Callas, that diva extraordinaire of the 1950's, became a Paris recluse in the 1970's with the death of her beloved Onassis and the loss of her beloved voice. Zefferelli asks, "What if" she could have been persuaded (as he attempted in real life) to step into the limelight once again? And so he invents a representation of himself under the guise of Callas' former business manager/promoter, and presents the Maria Callas of 1977 with an offer: Using modern recording technology, create a filmed presentation of Bizets Carmen while simultaneously dubbing the soprano's current voice with that of her former greatness. Since Carmen was an opera she sang but never performed, this could be a fresh approach to introduce one of yesterday's stars to a modern audience. Is this a fraudulent trick? Perhaps, but nonetheless the voice is Maria Callas, and so too the presence the audience will see on the screen. But still this disingenuous ruse poisons Callas' integrity, and her desire to perform once again falters. "Once there was a voice," she says with the glimmer of past glory, which fades as she solemnly closes the lid to her piano. Since Zeffirelli himself was involved in many of Callas's greatest successes, he becomes as much a part of "Forever Callas" as the cast of characters within, and so "Callas Forever" becomes a cinematic love letter and an expression of his loss . . . his longing to bring Callas back from the dead. "What if she had accepted his offer?" And Fanny Ardant's absorbing performance goes a long way toward putting flesh to the legend, and her success was so complete that Zeffirelli himself has stated that his recollections of the real Callas were being absorbed by Ardants performance and he was no longer certain who the real Callas was anymore. Still, the greatness of Ardant's performance and even the beauty of the soundtrack (the real Callas!) cannot make up for the films many weak subplots. It's as if Zeffirelli put all his creative energy into the realization of Maria Callas, forgetting that he was also making a movie.

Average customer rating:

Lana
Ardant gives a "Master Class"
Divine Diva to the End
Callas Forever As It Might Have Been
Phenomenal Fanny!

Callas Forever [Region 2]
Starring: Fanny Ardant , Jeremy Irons , Joan Plowright , Jay Rodan , and Gabriel Garko
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Maria Callas - Living and Dying for Art and Love
Maria Callas - At Covent Garden 1962 and 1964
Maria Callas - The Callas Conversations (EMI Classic Archive)
Maria Callas - La Callas... Toujours
Maria Callas - Passion / A Film by Gerard Caillat

ASIN: B00008BCVW

Amazon.com

In reality, Callas became a recluse in her luxurious Paris apartment, mourning the loss of her voice, the breakup of her relationship to Aristotle Onassis and the disintegration of her career. Her final days were a nightmare. But Zeffirelli uses his imagination to rewrite that unhappy ending. He invents a rock producer, Tom Kelly (Jeremy Irons) who clearly is a Zeffirelli figure (the names rhyme). Kelly used to be her manager and has a scheme to revive her career in movies: he will film her greatest roles, using her recordings as soundtracks; she will go through the motions and lip-synch the words. It might have worked; experiments with Carmen, which she recorded but never sang onstage, were certainly promising. But Callas turned down the plan, on grounds of artistic integrity.

Customer Reviews:

Lana.......2006-10-30

Ardant gives a "Master Class".......2006-10-24

Divine Diva to the End.......2006-08-02

Callas Forever As It Might Have Been.......2006-04-11

Phenomenal Fanny!.......2006-02-09

Average customer rating:

Callas Forever (Pal-dutch Subtitles)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

this rare import is in english with optional dutch subtitles. it is region 2, 108 minutes

Average customer rating:

Lana
Ardant gives a "Master Class"
Divine Diva to the End
Callas Forever As It Might Have Been
Phenomenal Fanny!

Callas Forever
Starring: Fanny Ardant , Jeremy Irons , Joan Plowright , Jay Rodan , and Gabriel Garko
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Maria Callas - Living and Dying for Art and Love
Maria Callas - At Covent Garden 1962 and 1964
Maria Callas - The Callas Conversations (EMI Classic Archive)
Maria Callas - La Callas... Toujours
Maria Callas - Passion / A Film by Gerard Caillat

ASIN: B00005JNSX

Amazon.com

In reality, Callas became a recluse in her luxurious Paris apartment, mourning the loss of her voice, the breakup of her relationship to Aristotle Onassis and the disintegration of her career. Her final days were a nightmare. But Zeffirelli uses his imagination to rewrite that unhappy ending. He invents a rock producer, Tom Kelly (Jeremy Irons) who clearly is a Zeffirelli figure (the names rhyme). Kelly used to be her manager and has a scheme to revive her career in movies: he will film her greatest roles, using her recordings as soundtracks; she will go through the motions and lip-synch the words. It might have worked; experiments with Carmen, which she recorded but never sang onstage, were certainly promising. But Callas turned down the plan, on grounds of artistic integrity.

Customer Reviews:

Lana.......2006-10-30

Ardant gives a "Master Class".......2006-10-24

Divine Diva to the End.......2006-08-02

Callas Forever As It Might Have Been.......2006-04-11

Phenomenal Fanny!.......2006-02-09

Average customer rating:

Zeffirelli on Callas

Callas Forever - PAL DVD

Manufacturer: CP Digital
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

This is very rare PAL DVD (EUROPEAN TV VIDEO STANDARD) without region coding, officially released in Russia by studio "CP DIGITAL". DVD has two soundtracks: original ENGLISH and RUSSIAN (voice-over), it also has optional (removable) RUSSIAN subtitles. CUSTOMERS FROM NORTH AMERICA and JAPAN: Please, make sure your DVD player supports PAL DVDS (Europe, Australia, and Asia) before bidding; otherwise you can watch PAL DVDS on computer with DVD-ROM. Paris 1977. After a disastrous tour to Japan, Maria Callas (F. Ardant), the greatest diva of all times, is convinced to have lost her voice. But to stop singing, to not perform for the public that adores her, is almost like dying... Concious of the unbearable distress of the singer, will his friend and former agent, Larry Kelly (J. Irons) be able to give her back hope ? Close friend of Maria Callas, Italian director Franco Zeffirelli (Othello, La Traviata, Hamlet) shows us, behind the myth, the real woman that she was, with her doubts, her deceptions, her demands, her capriciousness, her artistic integrity and her incredible talent.

Customer Reviews:

Zeffirelli on Callas.......2005-02-13

Franco Zeffirelli as director and co-screenwriter offers up his tribute to his friend, the legendary soprano Maria Callas. The results are a lush and beautifully filmed movie with decent performances by both Fanny Ardant, who plays Callas and in some of the scenes bears an uncanny resemblance to the singer, and the ponytailed Jeremy Irons, who plays her former manager Larry Kelly-- who is gay, not that it matters. Joan Plowright, who from where I sit always plays herself, does it again here.

The plot is all fiction and at times somewhat thin, but then that's what opera is all about; isn't it? Kelly convinces the over-the-hill Callas to stage a comeback with a production of "Carmen" with her lip-syncing to her own beautiful recordings. Forget about the plot. The movie is well worth seeing and hearing for Callas' unearthly singing and the elaborately staged production of "Carmen." Remember Zeffirelli's exquisite production of "Romeo and Juliet"? I thought of that movie while watching this one.

This production is quite a delight and easy on the eyes.

Average customer rating:

Lana
Ardant gives a "Master Class"
Divine Diva to the End
Callas Forever As It Might Have Been
Phenomenal Fanny!

Callas Forever [Region 2]
Starring: Fanny Ardant , Jeremy Irons , Joan Plowright , Jay Rodan , and Gabriel Garko
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Maria Callas - Living and Dying for Art and Love
Maria Callas - At Covent Garden 1962 and 1964
Maria Callas - The Callas Conversations (EMI Classic Archive)
Maria Callas - La Callas... Toujours
Maria Callas - Passion / A Film by Gerard Caillat

ASIN: B00007145T

Amazon.com

In reality, Callas became a recluse in her luxurious Paris apartment, mourning the loss of her voice, the breakup of her relationship to Aristotle Onassis and the disintegration of her career. Her final days were a nightmare. But Zeffirelli uses his imagination to rewrite that unhappy ending. He invents a rock producer, Tom Kelly (Jeremy Irons) who clearly is a Zeffirelli figure (the names rhyme). Kelly used to be her manager and has a scheme to revive her career in movies: he will film her greatest roles, using her recordings as soundtracks; she will go through the motions and lip-synch the words. It might have worked; experiments with Carmen, which she recorded but never sang onstage, were certainly promising. But Callas turned down the plan, on grounds of artistic integrity.

Customer Reviews:

Lana.......2006-10-30

Ardant gives a "Master Class".......2006-10-24

Divine Diva to the End.......2006-08-02

Callas Forever As It Might Have Been.......2006-04-11

Phenomenal Fanny!.......2006-02-09

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