Man of La Mancha [Blu-ray]

Director: Arthur Hiller, Arthur Miller Arthur Hiller

Overview

Arthur Hiller directs this film version of the popular musical starring Peter O'Toole and Sophia Loren. The film begins in a 17th-century dungeon during the Spanish Inquisition, where Miguel de Cervantes (Peter O'Toole) spends the days writing his famed picaresque tale about his errant knight Don Quixote de la Mancha. Cervantes impersonates his creation and Quixote is seen traveling the Spanish countryside with his loyal servant Sancho Panza (James Coco). He comes across the slutty wench Aldonza (Sophia Loren), whom he mistakes for the pure Dulcinea. He vows eternal devotion to her but as Quixote and Sancho Panza sleep, a band of mule drivers gang rape Aldonza. Quixote's niece Antonia (Julie Gregg) arrives and begs him to return home. But Quixote refuses, determined to drive away the harassing muleteers. However, when they appear to be vanquished, a mysterious Black Knight (John Castle) appears to do battle with Quixote.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/25/2017
UPC:	0826663174731
Original Release:	1972
Rating:	PG
Source:	Shout Factory
Region Code:	A
Language:	English
Time:	2:09:00

Special Features

Vintage Featurette; Theatrical Trailer; Photo Montage with Overture Music

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Peter O'Toole	Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote/Alonso Quijana
Sophia Loren	Dulcinea/Aldonza
James Coco	Sancho Panza
Harry Andrews	Governor/Innkeeper
John Castle	Duke/Dr. Carrasco/Black Knight
Brian Blessed	Pedro
Ian Richardson	Padre
Julie Gregg	Antonia
Gino Conforti	Barber
Rosalie Crutchley	Housekeeper
Marne Maitland	Captain of the Guard
Dorothy Sinclair	Maria/Innkeeper's Wife
Miriam Acevedo	Fermina
Dominic Barto	Muleteer
Poldo Bendandi	Muleteer
Peppi Borza	Muleteer
Mario Donen	Muleteer
Teddy Green	Muleteer
Peter Johnston	Muleteer
Roy Jones	Muleteer
Connel Miles	Muleteer
Rolando De Santis	Muleteer
Mirror	Actor
Laurence Rosenthal	Composer
Mitch Leigh	Composer

Technical Credits

Dale Wasserman

Arthur Hiller	Director,Producer
Alberto Grimaldi	Executive Producer,Producer
Adriano Pischiutta	Special Effects
Dale Wasserman	Screenwriter
Saul Chaplin	Producer
David Hildyard	Sound/Sound Designer
Richard Portman	Sound/Sound Designer
Arthur Miller	Director

Editorial Reviews

Flamboyantly charismatic Peter O'Toole lights up the screen in this offbeat but colorful adaptation of the 1965 stage musical adapted from Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote. O'Toole tackles a dual role, playing both Cervantes and his classic character with style and verve. He's delightful as Quixote, the 17th-century Spaniard afflicted with a dementia that makes him think he's a medieval knight, duty-bound to uphold the age of chivalry and vanquish evildoers. James Coco plays his loyal sidekick, Sancho Panza, and a seriously miscast Sophia Loren struggles valiantly with the role of Dulcinea, the peasant woman whom Quixote would champion. Director Arthur Hiller doesn't concern himself overly with the original show's "book," written by Dale Wasserman; instead, he makes the film a vehicle for the Mitch Leigh-Joe Darion music. O'Toole, of course, gets all the memorable numbers (including that beloved standard "The Impossible Dream") and performs them in grand manner, even though his singing is dubbed by British actor-singer Simon Gilbert. Man of La Mancha excels in other areas, too: sets, costumes, photography, and choreography are all first-rate. But the dynamic O'Toole is the glue that holds the whole film together, and it would be worth owning if only for his marvelous performance.