El cantante de Napoles: A dusty trip through opera history

If you're the kind of person who enjoys tracking down obscure musical biopics from the 40s, you might get a kick out of El cantante de Napoles. If you prefer your movies to have, you know, an actual plot that doesn't just drift along like a slow river, you should probably skip this one. It's not for everyone, and it certainly isn't in a rush to go anywhere.

The whole thing feels like it was put together with a lot of love but maybe not enough film stock to cover the awkward pauses. We follow this blacksmith's son as he dreams of singing at La Scala. It’s the kind of story that feels like it’s been told a thousand times, and honestly, it kind of has.

There is a weird, detached quality to the way the scenes transition. One minute we are at a forge, and the next we are halfway to Milan with no real sense of how much time has passed. It reminded me a bit of the disjointed energy in Napoli che canta, though without the same level of focus.

Notes from the couch:

• The singing is actually the highlight. Whenever the dialogue stops, the movie finally wakes up.
• There is a moment near the middle where the background extras look like they completely forgot they were supposed to be in a scene. They just kind of stand there, staring at the camera.
• The lighting in the La Scala sequences is surprisingly moody, which is a nice contrast to the otherwise flat look of the rest of the film.
• Enrico Caruso Jr. is in this, which is a neat little detail if you care about that sort of thing.

It’s funny, I found myself thinking about The Delightful Rogue halfway through, just because of how differently these older films treat the idea of a 'protagonist.' Here, our guy just sort of happens to things. He doesn't really change; he just sings until the credits roll.

Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it worth watching if you’re a fan of the genre? Sure. It’s got a dusty, old-fashioned charm that’s hard to find these days. It’s a bit clunky, but it has heart. Sometimes that’s enough to keep you watching until the final note 🎶.