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Broadway's musical fantasy comes to the screen, based on Cervante's Don Quixote, a searcher for 'the impossible dream'- honour, chivalry and adventure. Starring Peter O'Toole and Harry Andrews.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Surround ), German ( Mono ), Italian ( Mono ), Polish ( Dolby Surround ), Spanish ( Mono ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), English ( Subtitles ), French ( Subtitles ), German ( Subtitles ), Hungarian ( Subtitles ), Italian ( Subtitles ), Portuguese ( Subtitles ), Spanish ( Subtitles ), Swedish ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Adapting a literary masterpiece for film is a formidable challenge for directors and producers. But what if the classic work is a 17th century Spanish novel, Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote de la Mancha, being adapted for a modern English-speaking audience? And what if the filmmakers are adapting their script from a Broadway musical, Dale Wasserman's Man of La Mancha, loosely based on the original Cervantes work? The result, in the case of director Arthur Hiller's film about demented idealist Quixote, is an adventure into the bizarre. Here is a motion picture in which the great dramatic actor Peter O'Toole (Quixote) is reduced to lip-synching the Mitch Leigh-Joe Darian song "The Impossible Dream." Even worse, here is a film in which Sophia Loren (Dulcinea) sings in her own voice. Though the story is set in Spain, the motion picture unfolds in Italy with English and American actors in the main roles of Quixote and his feather-brained sidekick Sancho Panza (James Coco). What's more, though the film is in widescreen format with color by Deluxe, a combination that invites spectacular imagery, the costumes resemble garage-sale leftovers, and the setting for half the film looks like a dark and dingy dungeon. (In fact, it is a dungeon.) As for the main purpose of the Cervantes book -- to lampoon other writers who dwell nostalgically on the age of knight-errantry -- one may find traces of it when O'Toole falls...Man of La Mancha ( L'uomo della Mancha )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Johnny D
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm surprised I haven't encountered this film before now. It has certainly been around long enough - since 1972. I found it to be excellent, with great performances from Peter O'Toole, Sophia Loren and, indeed, all the cast. I was surprised just how good Peter O'Toole's singing voice was, but then I discovered that it was dubbed throughout by a professional singer, Simon Gilbert! It's very well done, though, and I could not see or hear the joins. The way the story is told is very clever as it's actually a story within a story within a story, part of it delusional. The film is limited in what it can include of the Cervantes classic, but that's hardly surprising. I just checked my book and it's over 750 pages long. It would be expecting a bit much to get all that into a two hour film. Also, the film divides its time between portrayals of both Cervantes and Don Quixote, and it certainly succeeds in capturing the essence of both individuals. This film is thought-provoking, dramatic, colourful and amusing, as well as containing some really wonderful music. Parts of it bring tears to the eyes (and that doesn't happen with me very often). Thoroughly recommended. I must buy the soundtrack.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By bernie
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
Seems that Miguel de Cervantes (Peter O'Toole) was caught performing a politically unhealthy play during the time of the Spanish inquisition. So he gets tossed in a dungeon to await trial. There he is put on trial by the others also awaiting their trial. They threaten to burn his manuscript. He explains his story by putting on a play that involves the people listening. It is the story of Alonso Quijana who in a fever becomes a great knight (Don Quixote de la Mancha); he seeks adventure and the "impossible dream."
It is the nature of plays that when preformed one tries to get the best stage actors. In film they strive for the best know movie actors. This movie has accomplished the feat. Each actor brings the character that he/she is playing alive and just as in the movie when they transit from telling the story to being the story, we go from watching the movie to being the story. The music will stay with you long after the movie has finished.
It is the nature of plays that when preformed one tries to get the best stage actors. In film they strive for the best know movie actors. This movie has accomplished the feat. Each actor brings the character that he/she is playing alive and just as in the movie when they transit from telling the story to being the story, we go from watching the movie to being the story. The music will stay with you long after the movie has finished.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By WhiteCrow
Format:DVD
This is a musical from 1972.
It is therefore amazing how much I like this film.
It has a good enjoyable story and it made me think.
Sophia Loren, even as a scruffy barmaid looks gorgeous, and Peter O'toole is ... Peter O'Toole. There are some smaller parts for other well known stars (like Brian Blessed). It is a very colourful and imaginative film, and the fact that it is a musical, doesn't mean that it lacks in meaning.
What I liked especially about it, is it's layeredness.
The story starts with Cervantes (O'Toole) being picked up and thrown into jail, to await the inquisition. In jail he (and his side-kick) needs to defend himself against the other detainees. He does this by telling and enacting his story of Don Quixote. For this he "uses" the other prisoners. So you see the same characters appearing in different roles on the one hand in prison (reality) and on the other in the play.
But that is not all.
Starting from the inside, and working your way out, first there is Don Quixote acting out his adventures (amusing, romantic, and colourful), but Don Quixote is of course only the figment in the imagination of a Spanish nobleman. So part of the play is about some of his relatives trying to shock him out of his Quixote-delusion back into the real world (which works temporarily, thus providing the heart breaking finale).
And finally of course, even the noble man is only a creation of Cervantes' who tells the story in prison. And then this leads us out of the film to us, the audience, watching the scenes in prison.
On a more philosophical level, I think the film asks you to think about two opposing ways of facing life: idealism versus realism. In this the film is clever (but disingenuous) to polarise these alternatives into idealism=romantic=noble versus realism=cynical=degrading.
All in all a very enjoyable film which I will watch a few more times (than once).
It is therefore amazing how much I like this film.
It has a good enjoyable story and it made me think.
Sophia Loren, even as a scruffy barmaid looks gorgeous, and Peter O'toole is ... Peter O'Toole. There are some smaller parts for other well known stars (like Brian Blessed). It is a very colourful and imaginative film, and the fact that it is a musical, doesn't mean that it lacks in meaning.
What I liked especially about it, is it's layeredness.
The story starts with Cervantes (O'Toole) being picked up and thrown into jail, to await the inquisition. In jail he (and his side-kick) needs to defend himself against the other detainees. He does this by telling and enacting his story of Don Quixote. For this he "uses" the other prisoners. So you see the same characters appearing in different roles on the one hand in prison (reality) and on the other in the play.
But that is not all.
Starting from the inside, and working your way out, first there is Don Quixote acting out his adventures (amusing, romantic, and colourful), but Don Quixote is of course only the figment in the imagination of a Spanish nobleman. So part of the play is about some of his relatives trying to shock him out of his Quixote-delusion back into the real world (which works temporarily, thus providing the heart breaking finale).
And finally of course, even the noble man is only a creation of Cervantes' who tells the story in prison. And then this leads us out of the film to us, the audience, watching the scenes in prison.
On a more philosophical level, I think the film asks you to think about two opposing ways of facing life: idealism versus realism. In this the film is clever (but disingenuous) to polarise these alternatives into idealism=romantic=noble versus realism=cynical=degrading.
All in all a very enjoyable film which I will watch a few more times (than once).
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous
I saw this when it first came out and cant remember year. My sister was in the stage play a long time ago and the music was good for me. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Annamaria
1.0 out of 5 stars
Incredibly dreary
Even though lightened by Loren I had trouble in getting through it, particularly the death scene at the end - incredibly long drawn out. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Honorary Auvergnat
5.0 out of 5 stars
OTTIMO SERVIZIO DI SPEDIZIONE E PREZZO SEMPRE CONVENIENTE
IL SERVIZIO DI SPEDIZIONE E' COME SEMPRE MOLTO VELOCE GRAZIE . MI TROVO MOLTO BENE CON QUESTO VENDITORE E COMPRERO' SPESSO DA LUI
Published 5 months ago by ROBY
3.0 out of 5 stars
It looks a bit dated now, but is still good fun
This musical version of the story of Don Quixote is great fun. Probably most famous now for the song 'impossible dream', it relates the tale of Cervantes 'hero'. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Simon Binning
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
Excellent product. Whole heartedly recommended. The whole buying and receiving experience was faultless and flawless. No problems at all. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Dr. Aslan Mordecai
5.0 out of 5 stars
A film that never dates
The Man of La Mancha is a brilliant story within a story; a musical with the iconic Impossible Dream encapsulating the theme throughout the film. Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2010 by Margi
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Impossible Film?
I initially approached this film with a great deal of trepidation. I had always loved Man Of La Mancha on stage - not just for its performance, story and great songs - but also for... Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2010 by Cowboy Buddha
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly enjoyable
Unexpected casting choice of Sophia Loren, but she works ... enjoyable and uplifting musical looks nice on film. Enjoy!
Published on 6 Jan 2010 by nogginthenog
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great story, music. What happened to the casting?
One of the greatest stories of all time, with a great music score. The main draw-back is Peter O'Toole; he is OK as "the author", but helpless (sic!) as the unfortunate knight. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2009 by E. Bjerknes
4.0 out of 5 stars
True to the stage show
I thought this DVD was a true interpretation of the stage show as remembered it. True, Sophia Loren and O'Tool are not renoun for their singing voices, but a great watch any... Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2006 by Mrs. Nichola Moore
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