For the First Time ** (1959, Mario Lanza, Johanna von Koczian, Kurt Kasznar, Zsa Zsa Gabor) – Classic Movie Review 11,683

Director Rudolph Maté’s sentimental 1959 musical film For the First Time is Mario Lanza’s ironically titled swansong, filming For the Last Time in a tailor-made role as a temperamental operatic tenor called Tony Costa who falls in love for the first time with pretty, deaf young German woman (Johanna Von Koczian) on the isle of Capri and then tours Europe to raise money for her operation to -restore her hearing.

The daft script unashamedly manipulates the tearducts (particularly when the hero sings ‘Ave Maria’ to test the heroine’s hearing in hospital) but Lanza looks comparatively slim and is in fine voice, and the film looks and sounds good with its agreeable music and attractive location shots. Lanza’s singing of ‘Vesti la Giubba’ from Pagliacci and the Death Scene from Otello are the highlights.

The musical director is Georgie Stoll.

Mario Lanza’s final film was released by MGM six weeks before his death. Lanza died soon after of a coronary following a crash diet. On 25 September 1959, he entered Rome’s Valle Giulia clinic to lose weight for a new film. While there he underwent a controversial weight loss programme dubbed ‘the twilight sleep treatment’ requiring patients to be kept immobile and sedated for prolonged periods. On 7 October 1959, Lanza died of an apparent pulmonary embolism aged 38.

For the First Time was shot at the Spandau Studios in Berlin and on location in 1958 in Capri, Salzburg, Berlin and at the Rome Opera House. The sets were designed by Hans Jürgen Kiebach, Fritz Maurischat and Heinrich Weidemann.

The cast are Mario Lanza as Tonio Costa, Johanna von Koczian as Christa, Kurt Kasznar as Tabory, Zsa Zsa Gabor as Gloria De Vadnuz, Hans Söhnker as Professor Bruckner, Annie Rosar as Mathilde Faktotum, Sandro Giglio as Alessandro, Walter Rilla as Dr Bessart, Renzo Cesana as Angelo and Peter Capell as Leopold Hübner.

The film cost $500,000 and earned $1,685,000, resulting in a profit for MGM.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,683

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