Tosca (1978): cast, story & where to watch
1978 · Film
Released in 1978, Tosca is a music film directed by Kirk Browning, running about 124 minutes.
What it’s about. A stellar cast brings Puccini’s spellbinding opera to life, seizing every opportunity to thrill the audience. Luciano Pavarotti is Cavaradossi, the painter and political revolutionary in love with the beautiful and famous singer Tosca (the riveting Shirley Verrett). Rome’s diabolical chief of police, Baron Scarpia (Cornell MacNeil), wants Tosca for himself—but he underestimates the fury of a woman in love. With torture, murder, and a suicide in its final moments, Tosca packs more dramatic punches than most other operas—and this classic telecast captures them all. James Conlon conducts in a production by the incomparable Tito Gobbi, one of the great Scarpias of the 20th century.
Who’s in it. Tosca stars Shirley Verrett as Floria Tosca, Luciano Pavarotti as Mario Cavaradossi, Cornell MacNeil as Scarpia and Fernando Corena as Sacristan, among others.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Tosca page.
If you liked it. Fans of Tosca tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Tosca (1978)?
- In US, Tosca is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Who stars in Tosca?
- Tosca stars Shirley Verrett, Luciano Pavarotti, Cornell MacNeil, Fernando Corena and John Cheek.
- When was Tosca released?
- Tosca was released in 1978, with a runtime of about 124 minutes.