Don Giovanni

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Don Giovanni

1979

2h 56m

Musical

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

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6 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Based on the Mozart opera, "Don Giovanni" follows the titular womanizer (Ruggero Raimondi) as he seduces women, especially brides-to-be before their wedding day. Eventually his reputation becomes a liability, however, and his libertine trysts catch up to him. A father attempts to save his daughter's honor, a jealous fiancé is out to exact revenge, and a former lover (Kiri Te Kanawa) is willing to do whatever it takes to save other women from her fate.

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

08/29/2018

The visual context is ravishing, with a lighting scheme that builds from the understated and naturalistic to shocking contrasts of black and white. Meanwhile, the camera moves with a preternatural grace.

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Judith Martin

Washington Post

05/09/2017

If you had a choice between hearing the opera live and seeing the film, you should insist on doing both.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

06/28/2021

...one of the best-ever screen operas.

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Jesús Fernández Santos

El Pais (Spain)

08/16/2019

The intention of having Don Giovanni reach a wide public is commendable, especially in a country like ours, where our musical culture is pitiful. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

01/23/2012

B+

A nearly great adaptation of Mozart's greatest opera.

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Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

01/15/2008

3.5/5

If Losey was indeed jazzed about the material, he has an awfully restrained way of showing it.

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Alec B

04/07/2024

A shockingly effective film adaptation. Losey's staging is simple but that brings the opera down to its most basic themes of vengeance and justice against unrepentant evil. Also the cast features some of the best opera performers of the late 70s which certainly doesn't hurt. By the time the grand finale comes around you're totally on board with the supernatural elements which are incorporated in a near flawless fashion.

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11/21/2013

The imagery, music, singing, and acting are all great, but the unnecessary nudity made it kind of exploitative and trashy.

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10/22/2011

Fans of this Mozart work will find Losey's faithful film interpretation faultless, while others will find it less a chore to sit through than other productions.

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12/22/2010

Absolutely brilliant. 5/5. It's hard to impress me but this takes the cake.

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01/22/2009

En Italia seicento e quaranta; in Almagna duecento i trentuna; cento in Francia; in Turchia noventuna; ma in Ispagna son giÃ mille e tre :)

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11/01/2008

One of my favourite operas. I particularly like this version.

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Joseph Losey

Director

Ruggero Raimondi

Don Giovanni

Kiri Te Kanawa

Donna Elvira

José van Dam

Leporello

John Macurdy

The Commendatore

Edda Moser

Edda Moser

Tap

56%

70%

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Shag

65%

88%

Shag

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Aria

57%

47%

Aria

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Shout

20%

38%

Shout

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A Chorus Line

48%

61%

A Chorus Line

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Synopsis

Based on the Mozart opera, "Don Giovanni" follows the titular womanizer (Ruggero Raimondi) as he seduces women, especially brides-to-be before their wedding day. Eventually his reputation becomes a liability, however, and his libertine trysts catch up to him. A father attempts to save his daughter's honor, a jealous fiancé is out to exact revenge, and a former lover (Kiri Te Kanawa) is willing to do whatever it takes to save other women from her fate.

Director: Joseph Losey
Screenwriter: Lorenzo da Ponte, Francis Savel, Patricia Losey
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Oct 1, 2015
Runtime: 2h 56m
Sound Mix: Surround