The Great Caruso (1951): cast, story & where to watch
1951 · Film · ★ 5.6
Released in 1951, The Great Caruso is a drama and music film directed by Richard Thorpe, running about 109 minutes. “The Intimate Story of a Man with a Voice as Great as His Heart!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Loosely traces the life of tenor Enrico Caruso (1873-1921). He loves Musetta, in his home town of Naples, and then Dorothy, the daughter of one of the Metropolitan Opera's patrons. Caruso is unacceptable to both women's fathers: to one, because he sings; to Dorothy's, because he is a peasant. To New York patricians, Caruso is short, barrel chested, loud, emotional, unrefined. Their appreciation comes slowly. The film depicts Caruso's lament that "the man does not have the voice, the voice has the man": he cannot be places he wants to be, because he must be elsewhere singing, including the day his mother dies. Throughout, Mario Lanza and stars from the Met sing.
Who’s in it. The Great Caruso stars Mario Lanza as Enrico Caruso, Ann Blyth as Dorothy Benjamin, Dorothy Kirsten as Louise Heggar and Jarmila Novotná as Maria Selka, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.6/10, The Great Caruso has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Great Caruso page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Great Caruso tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Great Caruso (1951)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Great Caruso change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Great Caruso worth watching?
- The Great Caruso holds an audience score of 5.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and music. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Great Caruso?
- The Great Caruso stars Mario Lanza, Ann Blyth, Dorothy Kirsten, Jarmila Novotná and Richard Hageman.
- When was The Great Caruso released?
- The Great Caruso was released in 1951, with a runtime of about 109 minutes.