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The Toast of New Orleans (1950)
Starring: Kathryn Grayson, Mario Lanza, David Niven, J. Carrol Naish
Director: Norman Taurog

The fun movie of Mario, he looks relaxed and he seems to be enjoying himself. Kathryn is his best co-star, she is beautiful and sings magnificently, and nothing to say about Mario, he sings nice songs and Be my Love duet when first singing it at Bayou Minou is just great, and what about Madame Butterfly duet, we "see" Mario's feelings, he sings fro... (See the whole review)

(Added by Maria Teresa Camp Gozalbo on 8/18/2004, 1:27pm)

Discuss this Movie (2 messages)

Post 0

Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 4:46pm

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A few confessions:
1) If Mario Lanza had recorded the Chicago Telephone Directory, I would have three copies of it and one would be sealed and kept in a separate state known for its mild weather and political stability.
2) When I listened to it, I would cry and shout every few minutes that life is great and that I love all the people in Chicago.

So now that you understand that I am somewhat of a fan, let me say the following:
1) Giving Mario Lanza to Hollywood is like giving a bottle of Dom Perignon to a drunk; sure, he likes it, but he doesn't have any idea what it's worth.
2) Taking what is arguably the greatest voice and most enormously joyful personality you have ever encountered and having him sing 'Boom Biddy Boom Boom" one minute and the "Love Duet from Madama Butterfly" with a woman who should have been honored to press his pants instead of singing opera with him is a recipe for diaster.
So my verdict on the "Toast of New Orleans"? I love it.

Post 1

Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 6:36pm

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James is right on the money as usual. Lanza's larger-than-life personality overflows in every one of his scenes in Toast - the most joyous of all his seven movies. (His scenes with veteran character actor J. Carrol Naish are an absolute riot!) While vocally not in the same class as The Great Caruso, which came out the following year, there's still plenty to enjoy here. But like James, I'm afraid I don't share Maria Teresa's enthusiasm for Lanza's co-star, the unrepentantly screechy Kathryn Grayson. As Newsweek opined, Ms Grayson "neither sings nor acts in Lanza's league" - a verdict with which I agree wholeheartedly! Mercifully, this was to be her last film with Lanza.