I spied a photo I'd not seen before, went on a google search, Et voilà: Cary Grant as Pinkerton! What a thrill! Like found treasure in nana's attic.
An adaptation of the original play, a few years pre-opera and Japan open to west still fairly new, was relevant for its time, although, a little different from the Puccini. In some ways, however, the story makes more sense. Sorry Giac!
Sylvia Sydney is incredible. She's more convincing as the embodiment of Cho Cho San, than most actors of the era, who seemed largely to be playing as if to audience than camera. (Not that I'm knocking it, the 30s and silent are my favs. Just sayin'. Psst it's the scenes and costumes. Moving Art.)
This version of Madame Butterfly absolutely worthwhile! If for the performance of Sydney and her costumes alone. Okay, and Grant's pretty face. One warning for opera lovers though: Other reviews point to Puccini's "incidental" music throughout. I may be wrong, but I only heard the overture at the opening credits and the main aria at the end. Everything in the middle not Puccini as far as I can tell. I say, still worth it.
