Adventures of Don Quixote / G.W. Pabst, Feodor Chaliapin

G.W.Pabst's film version of "Don Quixote", originally filmed in three languages, but with the same leading actor, may not please all lovers of the great Cervantes novel, but it makes a fascinating document for music lovers and opera buffs. Although not based at all on the Jules Massenet opera in which he sang the title role, this is the only chance to see and hear the great Russian basso Fyodor Chaliapin in one of his greatest roles.Chaliapin revolutionized the art of opera acting, and if he had wanted to, could have been an equally effective non-singing actor, although his English is heavily accented and he tends to declaim rather than just speak. His singing voice in this film is probably not what it once was, but he is so charismatic that he holds the audience riveted.(You may squirm through some of the songs, though - this isn't Massenet's opera, or "Man of La Mancha", for that matter.)The supporting cast is quite good in both English and French versions (I haven't seen the German one), and Chaliapin himself speaks and sings better French than English. The photography is beautiful, although this really isn't Spain,and the windmill sequence is a flabbergasting accomplishment for 1933. You may like a little more emotional involvement in your movies, though.

This review is specifically for this Triad Edition of G.W. Pabst's Don Quixote, not of the film itself.I am returning this DVD to Amazon. There is nothing "enhanced" about it. The picture quality is worse than the VHS tape I want to replace, overly bright and washed out. The lengthy scrolling introductory titles are unreadable.The Amazon listing specifies a runtime of 73 minutes, but the actual time is only 55 minutes. This disc contains only the English language version of the film, whereas the VAI tape and DVD both contain both the English and French versions. They are NOT identical, some scenes are very different. Also, Chaliapin's English is nearly unintelligible. His French is quite good, and the VAI version has subtitles. The four songs Jacques Ibert wrote for the film are also badly translated into English.Pabst's films (there was also a German version which I've never seen) are masterpieces. They should be seen by anyone interested in the great Russian basso Fyodor Chaliapin, and anyone interested in the history of acting, as it is said that Stanislavsky devised his Method from watching Chaliapin. BUT wait for a better edition or buy the VAI edition.

There are few experiences in the movies where one can go back in time a century...as it truly was. Chaliapin was Russia's greatest opera singer who thrilled the Imperial Czars with his acting and voice. The ONLY full length film of his performance is this one of Don Quixote. We might have preferred one of his Russian operas, but Chaliapin is really very dynamic in this role - one he created in 1910. Don't miss it.

An earlier reviewer is quite correct: this edition contains only a 55 minute English version rather than the longer one claimed. The container for the disc correctly gives that information. I did not try the French version so have no idea whether or not that was omitted. Were we to be getting a sample of the Great Chaliapin's singing as one would have heard it in an opera house or concert hall, it might be worth some money; however, the songs are inappropriate for his style, are nothing much by way of composition, and pretty much wasted talent. The rest of it........at least in this abbreviated form is somewhat less interesting than watching the Beverly Hillbillies of early TV fame. There must be some decent recordings with Chaliapin (its a while since I purchased anything but visual opera and ballet) that would be far more inspiriting than this film.(Naturally, if you are a collector who must have everything that preserves the voice or image of the Master......none of these comments apply.)

If the above information is accurate, that means this DVD is only a transfer of the VHS (which I sent back as soon as I received it 3 years ago) where about 2 x 15 minutes are missing : the runtime for these movies (english & french versions should be around 150 min., and not 120 min. as shown in 'product information'.Of course my rating doesn't apply to the movie, which is the ONLY ONE where one can listen to Feodor Chaliapin Sr.'s voice. When the nerds pretending to enforce copyrights are going to understand that butchering movies is the worst offence? Or maybe they only want to enforce crooks' rights, and believe customers have only the right to be cheated!!!!!

i thought i never would see this pabst film which is discussed sometimes in the history books.for this pleasure alone ,to be able to watch it,i must recommend this dvd and it's producers.will it be worth their efforts?i do not know.still:there are many other pabst films to discover from his german ,french,italian and american period.this film was interesting for it's good photography and picture composition (as always with pabst's films).also, Chaliapin - the Adventures of Don Quixote (1933) [DVD ] to encouter the famous chaliapine was an experience.long live dvd!although this particular one should have had a better transfer quality. Chaliapin - the Adventures of Don Quixote (1933) [DVD

chaliapin en images animées : quel bonheur. on ne connaissait que quelques trop rares enregistrements sonores de cet extraordinaire ténor. aujourd'hui, en quichotte, il s'anime. et c'est pabst aux commandes. pas un grand pabst comme celui qui régna sur loulou, mais il a encore de beaux restes. merci pour l'excellent envoi

Ce film est un document très intéressant, à la fois pour l'histoire du cinéma (Pabst), de la musique (Ibert) et enfin et surtout pour l'art de Chaliapine, qui donne une dimension émotionnelle étonnante au personnage et nous y fait adhérer. En particulier l'interprétation du dernier aria, le célèbre "Ne pleure pas Sancho..." Mérite de figurer dans toute collection des amateurs de voix. J'ai beaucoup aimé aussi Dorville dans le rôle de Sancho qu'il interprète avec beaucoup de finesse et d'humour, sans en faire un bouffon ridicule.

Chef-d’œuvre avec le merveilleux Fedor Chaliapine et tous les autres acteurs émouvants et merveilleux; à voir car aujourd'hui comme hier le rêve figure l'essentiel d'une vie : film de 1933 à une date où les nazis brûlaient les livres !