Madame Butterfly

Director: Marion Gering Marion Gering

Overview

This adaptation of the Puccini opera jettisons all the music and retains only David Belasco's timeworn libretto. American actress Sylvia Sidney plays Japanese maiden Cio-Cio San, while Cary Grant is the dashing American navy lieutenant Pinkerton. The girl and the officer have a brief affair, resulting in a child. Cio-Cio San blissfully awaits the return of Pinkerton, who arrives back in Japan with his American wife in tow. The heartbroken Japanese girl bids farewell to her callous lover, then commits hara-kiri. The absence of Puccini's brilliant music makes the plot contrivances of Madame Butterfly seem creakier than ever, though Sylvia Sidney--in real life a New York Jewish girl-- is moderately convincing as the Oriental heroine.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/12/2016
UPC:	0025192384417
Original Release:	1932
Source:	Universal Mod
Language:	English
Time:	1:24:00
Sales rank:	49,170

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Sylvia Sidney	Cho-Cho San
Cary Grant	Lt. B.F. Pinkerton
Berton Churchill	American Consul
Charles Ruggles	Lt. Barton,Lt. Barton
Sandor Kallay	Goro
Irving Pichel	Yomadori
Helen Jerome Eddy	Cho-Cho's Mother
Edmund Breese	Cho-Cho's Grandfather
Judith Vosselli	Mme. Goro
Louise Carter	Suzuki
Dorothy Libaire	Peach Blossom
Sheila Terry	Mrs. Pinkerton
Wallis Clark	Cmdr. Anderson
Philip Horomato	Trouble
W. Harling	Composer

Technical Credits

Joseph March

Josephine Lovett

Marion Gering	Director
B.P. Schulberg	Producer
Joseph March	Screenwriter
Josephine Lovett	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Those expecting Puccini's warhorse opera when they see the 1932 Madame Butterfly are in for a huge disappointment, as this straight film version uses the beautiful music only as occasional underscoring. It's odd to adapt a story that is best known in its operatic form as an all-talking drama, but it would make sense if the underlying dramatic material were so strong that it deserved to be the focus of attention, freed from the distraction of melody. But Butterfly's script doesn't meet those requirements. Oh, the story in its bare bones outline is certainly engaging enough and has plenty of potential, but the way in which the writers tell that story is not exactly on the highest level. The melodramatics keep the viewer engaged, but the dialogue and character development at times are too artificial and jarring. That said, this Butterfly does soar at times, thanks largely to its cast and director. Although not Asian, the luminous Sylvia Sidney handles the difficult title role with grace and skill and totally captures the hearts and affections of her viewers. Cary Grant, early enough in his career that he can play a bounder, makes Pinkerton likeable through the actor's own unique charm and presence. Marion Gering directs with a careful, sure hand, and finds many opportunities to create lovely pictures and, with the assistance of his designers, to convince viewers that the backlot is actually Japan.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler