Puccini

Plot

The acclaimed Tony Palmer helmed this 1984 biopic on 19th and early 20th century Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, here portrayed by Robert Stephens. Palmer opts to focus not on the whole gestalt of Puccini's life, but on a devastating scandal that transpired in 1909, when Giacomo's wife, Elvira Puccini, accused maid Doria Manfredi of bedding her husband. The unfounded allegations prompted a massive lawsuit from the maid's family, and nearly toppled Giacomo's illustrious career. Judith Howarth co-stars. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Cast

• Robert Stephens
• Virginia McKenna
• Judith Howarth - Doria Manfredi

Andrew Cruickshank - Father Michelucci; Bill Fraser - Fucini, the Lawyer; Rupert Graves - Tomio, Puccini's Son; Hugh Hetherington - Pang; Phil McCall - Gnicche; Ronald Pickup - Giulio Ricordi; William Squire - Giacchi, the Doctor; Robert Urquhart - Doria's Father; Willard White - Timur; Peter Woodthorpe - Umberto Manfredi; Phyllis Cannan - Turandot; Elvira Puccini; Linda Esther Gray - Turandot; Eduardo Alvares - Calaf; Marie Slorach - Liu; Alan Okie - Ping; Gordon Christie - Pong

Credit

Sir Alexander Gibson - Conductor, Tony Palmer - Director, Simon Channing-Williams - Producer, Charles Wood - Screenwriter

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