mario lanza and of course and be the great caruso in this 1951 film also star ann blyth and dorothy kirsten and eduard franz and ludwig donath . this be a highly fictionalized biography of the legendary and world renowned tenor whose name be know even today . the film be opulently produce and and the music be glorious and beautifully sing by lanza and kirsten and judmila novotna and blanche thebom and and other opera star who appear in the film . if youre a purist and see people on stage smile during the sextet from lucia will strike you a odd even if caruso wife dorothy just have a baby girl . also it highly unlikely that caruso ever sing edgardo in lucia while the role lay too high for him . in take dramatic license and the script leave out some very dramatic part of caruso life . what be so remarkable about him be that he actually create role in opera that be today in the standard repertoire and yet this be never mention in the film . these role include maurizio in adriana lecouvreur and dick johnson in girl of the golden west and there be a famous photo of him pose with a sheet wrap around him like a toga . the reason for that photo . his only shirt be in the laundry . he be one of the pioneer of recorded music and have a long partnership with the victor talk machine company ( later rca victor ) . he be sing jose in carmen in san francisco the night of the earthquake . instead and the mgm story basically have him die on stage during a performance of martha and which never happen . he have a hemorrhage during lelisir damore at the met and could not finish the performance while he only sing three more time at the met and his last role a eleazar in la juive . what kill him . the same thing that kill valentino peritonitis . his first role at the met be not radames in aida and a indicate in the film and but the duke in rigoletto . so when it say on the screen suggest by dorothy caruso biography of her husband and that what it be suggest . what be true be that dorothy father disown her after her marriage and and leave her $ 1 of his massive estate . they also do have a daughter gloria together ( who die at the age of 79 on 10/7/2007 ) . however and caruso have four other child by a mistress before he marry dorothy . some people say that lanza voice be remarkably like caruso and but just listen to caruso sing in the film match point caruso voice be remarkably unlike lanza . in fact and from his sound and have he want to and caruso could have sing a a baritone . he be think to have have some trouble with high note and further evidence of baritone leaning while and the role he be prepare when he die be othello and a dramatic tenor role and which lanza definitely be not . lanza voice deserve not to be compare with another . he make a unique contribution to film history and popularize operatic music . he sing the music in the great caruso with a robust energy while he be truly here at the peak of what would be a short career . his acting be natural and genuine . ann blyth be lovely a dorothy and get to sing a little herself . really a film for opera lover and lanza fan and which be probably one and the same .