AllMovie

This filmed biography of 19th-century composer Pietro Mascagni ignores his eventual descent into poverty and obscurity. However, the script is unstinting in its re-creation of the tragedies facing Mascagni during his rise to fame. Pierre Cressoy plays Mascagni, whose ultimate success leads to a tender reconciliation with his long-estranged father. Highlighting Melodie Immortali is an abbreviated performance of Mascagni's greatest triumph--actually his only triumph--the one-act opera "Cavaleria Rusticana." This sequence is dominated by the superb tenor voice of Metropolitan Opera star Mario Del Monaco.