The Medium

US (1951): Musical/Drama

Madame Flora (Marie Powers) is terrified when she perceives a supernatural presence during one of her fraudulent séances. Gian-Carlo Menotti's first international success, The Medium is a tragedy in two acts for five singers, a dance-mime role, and a chamber opera for thirteen instruments and fourteen players: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, percussion, piano (4 hands), and string quintet. The music is dissonant, eerie, and morbid and includes melodies such as "O, black swan."

Menotti's opera came to the screen in this black and white production that earned an Oscar^® nom for Score but equally deserved recognition for its cinematography and art direction - top notch and unforgettable. Do seek it out if you are a fan of unusual films and of contemporary opera. It's quite impressive. Menotti directs a cast that also includes Anna Maria Alberghetti, Leopoldo Savona, Belva Kibler, Beverly Dame and Donald Morgan. (Transfilm/Lopert Pictures) (Arne Andersen, IMDb)

 View a clip from this film on YouTube.com.

1 nomination