Man of La Mancha (1972 Film Cast)

by

Mitch Leigh

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I will be entirely honest: I hate the original Broadway cast album. I bought this one because I already owned the original cast, and, quite frankly, I didn't feel it was up to par with this version. First off, James Coco is a definite improvement to the high, nasally, and extremely obnoxious shrieking of the Sancho in the original cast. Secondly, Man of la Mancha is not, has never been, and will never be The Phantom of the Opera. The intent is not, in fact, to "wow" people with the amazing, perfect pitch and quality of the singers. The point is to draw you into the story and teach you something. Aldonza should not have an operatic voice. Sophia Loren acheives a far more impacting and touching performance with her rough, uncultered singing because a "kitchen slut" would not have a trained voice. Period. Comparing the versions of "Aldonza" between the original Broadway cast and the movie soundtrack, the movie leaves the original in the dust. I have never once cried during the original version of that song. Every time I hear it on the movie soundtrack, I'm in tears. Loren sells me like none other, especially in the reprise of "Dulcinea." And, personally, O'Toole or whoever it was who actually sang as Don Quixote, sounds more like an old man than the singer in the original. The movie seems more real.

And, let's be honest, it's worth just about anything you could pay just for the "Life As It Is" speech. I don't care who you are, that speech is amazing. I just don't understand how anyone could hear that speech and NOT be breathless. O'Toole shines in that speech, and any soundtrack that doesn't include it isn't complete. And it really is worth buying the CD for that track alone.

Maybe I am mad to love this version, but who knows where madness truly lies? I cannont say enough about this soundtrack. I love it. It gives me chills, and if Broadway Purists want to knock it, that's fine. They're missing out on the incredible experience of amazing versions of, "Aldonza," "Man of la Mancha," and, most importantly..."Life As It Is."

Although the 1972 movie of "Man of La Mancha" was considerably better than most people give it credit for being,the soundtrack by itself is another matter. Simon Gilbert dubs Peter O'Toole's singing (although we do get to hear O'Toole in the spoken sections),and although Peter O'Toole's acting was magnificent,Simon Gilbert is a pleasant-voiced singer,but no Richard Kiley. The other actors all do their own singing,although most of them weren't really singers at all,and they range from quite good (Julie Gregg and sole original cast member Gino Conforti) to good (James Coco and Ian Richardson) to barely passable (Sophia Loren,whose acting in the film was magnificent) to awful (Rosalie Crutchley,who in all fairness,does a comic role). Compared to the other albums,in which real singers with trained voices were used, this is a letdown,though Gilbert's singing as Don Quixote is preferable to Placido Domingo's barely understandable sung English and mediocre acting on HIS album of "Man of La Mancha".

See the movie,because in the film you get brilliant acting and beautiful photography along with the singing, but if you want an album of the songs,stick with the original Broadway cast.