Word: plotting
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1960-1960
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Moussorgsky left the orchestration of this work even less complete than that of Boris, and the plot is far more complicated and considerably less powerful than that of his earlier chef d'oeuvre. A production of it is therefore obliged, musically and dramatically, to take the utmost care to clear up the murk caused by its incompleteness and intricacy...
Because we don't quite know on sight who is who, we soon begin to lose the threads of the sloppily woven plot. Briefly stated, the opera tells of the rivalry between the princes Khovansky and Golitzin and their attempt to usurp the throne...
...other sub-plot, which is partially justified by some noble writing for the bass-baritone, tells of Father Dossifey and his attempt to win peace and prosperity for his flock. In the end, the Czarina--at least, I think it's the Czarina--has him killed for reasons best known to herself...
...with, Camus set up a motive for travel by starting off his story with a group of gem and gold hunters bickering over a rich find. One shoots up the others and goes off with the prize; two survivors spend the rest of the film chasing him. Following his plot 1,000 miles up the Amazon, he stayed open to suggestions from real life. Seeing a woman suspected of theft fleeing through a market crowd, he whipped out his camera, shot the scene, and used it to introduce one of the film's heroines. During ten days...
...production is slick, the songs are good-notably one in which Crooner Frankie Vaughan says with fervor, in effect, never mind good lyrics, "give me a song that sells"-and the plot no thinner than most. The supporting actors are expert, especially Tony Randall, who plays Montand's pressagent with an accurate blend of servility and fresh-faced eagerness. One reason why the film, although consistently pleasant, is only fitfully funny may be a plague now widespread in Hollywood movies. Milton Berle, Gene Kelly and Bing Crosby appear in brief "cameo" parts as themselves (they are supposed...