Five Movies with Famous Opera Music

From “The Barber of Seville” to “The Phantom of the Opera”, these five movies all feature some of the most popular and well-known opera music.

The Godfather

The Godfather is a 1972 American crime drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Albert S. Ruddy, based on Mario Puzo’s best-selling novel of the same name. It stars Marlon Brando and Al Pacino as the leaders of a fictional New York crime family. The story spans the years 1945 to 1955 and chronicles the family under the patriarch Vito Corleone (Brando), focusing on the transformation of Michael Corleone (Pacino) from reluctant family outsider to ruthless mafia boss.

One of the most popular movie scores ever written, Nino Rota’s operatic themes for The Godfather have been endlessly adapted, adapted, and reimagined. From “Speak Softly Love” to “The Godfather Waltz” to “Love Theme from The Godfather”, these pieces of music have taken on a life of their own outside of the movie.

The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera is a 2004 musical drama film based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1986 musical of the same name, which in turn was based on Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra. The director Joel Schumacher oversaw the adaptation for the screen. Emmy Rossum, Gerard Butler and Patrick Wilson star as, respectively, Christine Daaé, Raoul Chrétien de Chagny, and Erik Dilger (a character some adaptations name “Girard”).

Min “The Phantom” Zheng was one of 1,000 people who auditioned for the role of Chinese opera singer Piangi. Although he did not get that role, producers were so impressed by his voice that they eventually gave him a different part.

Most of the film was shot at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England with sets created by production designer Anthonywallet. Additional filming took place in Milan and Venice.

The Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont, based on the 1982 Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. It tells the story of banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who is sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murders of his wife and her lover, despite his claims of innocence. Over the following two decades, he befriends a fellow inmate, contraband smuggler Ellis “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman), and becomes instrumental in a money-laundering operation within the prison.

The music in The Shawshank Redemption was composed by Thomas Newman and released on September 13, 1994, by Columbia Records. The film’s soundtrack featured nine songs by various artists including Dave Grusin, Jerry Goldsmith, Paul McCartney and U2; as well as an original score composed by Newman. Two songs were specially commissioned for the film: “Can’t Help Falling in Love” sung by Lucky Peterson, and “Seasons in the Sun” sung by Terry Jacks.

The Godfather Part III

The Godfather Part III is a 1990 American crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola from the screenplay co-written with Mario Puzo. It completes the story of Michael Corleone, a Mafia kingpin who attempts to legitimize his criminal empire.

The film includes operatic pieces such as Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata”, Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot”, Vincenzo Bellini’s “Norma”, Gaetano Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor”, and Gioachino Rossini’s “William Tell”.

A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film by Stanley Kubrick, based on the novel of the same name by Anthony Burgess. It concerns the violent youth Alex DeLarge, played by Malcolm McDowell, and his experience with state authorities intent on reforming him.

The film features excerpts from various operas, particularly Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Richard Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries.