FILMRISE RELEASES DOCUMENTARY ABOUT
THE LIFE AND CAREER OF THE MOST FAMOUS TENOR
THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN
“MARIO LANZA: THE BEST OF EVERYTHING”
ON DVD
Special Bonus Features Include Rarely Seen Performance at the London Palladium
Public television stations across the U.S. to air documentary and offer DVD containing over 40 minutes of additional material in its ongoing fundraising pledge drives
beginning in November
Brooklyn, NY –October 18, 2017– This November, FilmRise will release a new documentary that celebrates the life and career of the world’s most famous tenor with the “voice from God” -- “Mario Lanza: The Best of Everything.” Lanza was an opera singer and Hollywood film star, but the most dramatic role he ever played was that of Mario Lanza himself. It was a life overflowing with fame, passion, tantrums, success, vices, generosity and incomprehensible tragedies. Featuring interviews with his daughter Ellisa and contemporary musicians including Joseph Calleja and Gianluca Terranova, as well as rare archival concert footage, the film is an intimate portrait of a true superstar. “Mario Lanza: The Best of Everything” will be available for sale on DVD only beginning November 28, 2017.
The DVD includes 25 additional minutes from the documentary not seen on public television plus special bonus features including: a gallery of Mario Lanza’s personal photos; his rarely seen full 15-minute performance at the London Palladium in 1957; and a “Lanza Extravaganza Countdown,” featuring clips of film interviewees talking about their favorite Lanza recordings making this a true collectible for any Mario Lanza fan.
Mario Lanza was a tenor like no other, and was the first true crossover artist when MGM made him a matinee idol. As his daughter says in the film, “He could act, he could sing and he was handsome!” Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, and Bocelli all trace their inspiration back to Lanza. Lanza’s voice even impressed pop-stars Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Lanza’s Hollywood career catapulted in the 1950s when he starred in the box office hits “The Toast of New Orleans,” “The Great Caruso,” and “Because You’re Mine.” His singing voice was also featured in “The Student Prince.”
He earned five gold records: three for singles (“Be My Love,” “The Loveliest Night of the Year,” and “Because You're Mine”) ...and two for albums (“The Student Prince and Other Hit Songs from Musical Comedies” and “The Great Caruso”). All of these would qualify as platinum records in today's terms, with “Be My Love” double platinum at two million copies sold. Lanza was also the first classical artist to sell more than a million copies of an album (“The Great Caruso”).
The film is not rated, and has a running time of 82 minutes, with over 18 minutes of bonus material
