Academy AwardÂ(r) winners* Peter O'toole and Sophia Loren are magnificent in this lavishlyproduced (LA Herald-Examiner) and beautifully acted (The New York Times) epic masterpiece. Featuring an OscarÂ(r)-nominated** score with the classic 'the Impossible Dream, this original and daring (Films & Filming) musical is an experience not to be missed! Jailed during the Spanish Inquisition for offending the church, author Miguel de Cervantes (O'toole) is forced to act out one of his manuscripts for the entertainment of fellow inmates. Cervantes delivers a rapturous performance as the legendary Don Quixote, the chivalrous knight whose choice to see lifeas it should be, not as it is, takes him into battles with an imaginary foe and into romance with the beautiful Dulcinea (Loren). *O'toole: Honorary Award (2002); Loren: Actress, Two Women (1961), Honorary Award (1990) **1972
It's hard to imagine a finer Don Quixote than Peter O'Toole, who's spent most of his career with a slightly mad, dreaming look in his marvelous eyes. O'Toole's suitability for the role is tested by the Broadway treatment of Man of La Mancha, the film version of the hit stage musical. Everybody knows "The Impossible Dream," that indomitable hymn to, well, quixotic questing, and it is indeed the best of the Spanish-inflected songs. Despite the location shooting in Italy, Love Story director Arthur Hiller can't elude the stagey concept (in which Cervantes, imprisoned by the Inquisition, acts out the tale of Don Quixote for his fellow prisoners). James Coco, as Sancho Panza, is overshadowed by the film's irresistible Dulcinea: Sophia Loren, at her mature peak. (Her singing, alas, is not as ripe as her beautiful self.) If you love Cervantes for his earthy ironies, this movie will seem a curious slice of inspirational shtick. --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Excellent movie, very enjoyable.:
I love the storyline, the acting, and all. It is a wonderful movie for people of all ages.
Man of La Mancha by Peter O'Toole:
It was okay. I was expecting more action. I fell asleep on some parts of the movie.
A Classic...sort of...:
A fine representation of the Broadway musical on film, but not a great film. It's no "Fiddler on the Roof". The sets are obviously on a sound stage, and the choreography is predictable, frequently "Mickey Mousing" the words. But I think the thing that bothered me most is, since the film was produced in England, the characters (who are supposed to be Spanish) all pronounce the author's name "Sir-VAN-tees" (van like the thing you drive in), instead of even trying to say it with a Spanish pronunciation.... more info
As good today as so many years ago.:
I really like being able to get just about anything on DVD. This classic is a good example. Now if they'd just put "No Highway in the Sky" on DVD I'd be a happy camper-but I'm on the wait list. I highly recommend this DVD. It brings back poignant memories for me of a time in my life when I was dreaming an impossible dream but she said no. I never forgot the song or the lyrics since they seemed so appropos. Thanks Amazon for making this DVD easy to buy and easy to afford. Darn,don't you all just love... more info
