La città canora

Jan Kiepura was a star at this point. He worked with talents like Anatol Litvak and Brigitte Helm. This relic (or at least part of one) places him in an over familiar story, where he's the poor Neapolitan tourist guide whose singing voice catches the attention of visiting, plausibly glamorous, British socialite Betty Stockfeld. She persuades him to accompany her to the bright lights of London's West End.

The cast are quite presentable here, as in their later appearances, but they are called on to inhabit characters who are never near convincing. Action stops every so often for Kiepura's numbers, including an empty opera house "La donna è mobile" where the pianist fortunately happens to be rehearsing and door man Miles Malleson lets Jan in on the secret financing for his big opportunity. The dance band backing the champagne diner provides a more lively track.

Celebrity cameraman Curt Courant delivers polished texture and Gallone tries to quicken attention with the occasional montage or the close up of Stockfeld halting in raising the glass to her lips as she sees Kiapura catching her out in her lie. However the Italian editor-director appears to be unaware of the fatuity of lines like "Do any of us know what we're really like?" or Betty reproaching Jan "You big baby!" All the while Heather Angel pines on the shore, despite the attentions of British artist Philip Easton and Ralph Truman, in a diner suit, moves on Stockfeld.

This was the kind of film that doomed the reputation of British production of the day.

The You Tube reel contains the London material and is contrasty with a hissing track.