Rigoletto (film)
Encyclopedia
Rigoletto is a
1993 musical
fantasy/drama produced for Feature Films for Families
and has been compared with Beauty and the Beast, The Man Without a Face
, and The Phantom of the Opera
.
America
, stars Joseph Paur
as Ribaldi/Rigoletto and Ivey Lloyd as Bonnie, a young girl who is gifted with a beautiful singing voice. Her favorite fairy tale, which she reads to her younger brother at the beginning of the film is "Rigoletto", the story of a cursed fairy prince who must live as an ugly monster until he can find someone who can see through his appearance to the heart within.
When a mysterious man arrives in town and buys the mortgage on Bonnie's house, Bonnie agrees to work for him in exchange for his allowing her family to keep their home. At first, Bonnie believes the man, Ribaldi, is a monster due to his physical deformity and his cold, angry demeanor. When Bonnie finds Ribaldi giving a beautiful princess named Gabriella voice lessons, she realizes that he is a gifted musician and a kind, misunderstood person. Bonnie convinces Ribaldi to give her music lessons.
Meanwhile, many in the town are being evicted from their homes and suspect the mysterious Ribaldi. The villagers spread rumors about Ribaldi and most believe that he is a monster. The children of the town, on the other hand, are drawn to Ribaldi.
Throughout the film, the sick and handicapped people of the village are miraculously healed.
The townspeople threaten to keep Bonnie from singing in the state singing competition unless she stops visiting Ribaldi. Bonnie tells Ribaldi she will not leave him, but he tells her that to abandon the competition would waste all their hard work, and insists that Bonnie forget about him and follow her dream.
In the climax of the film, while Bonnie is singing in the competition, Georgie, a young girl from the village, goes to visit Ribaldi. Along the way home, Georgie falls into a river, and Ribaldi saves her. When he tries to bring her to town, the townspeople attack him, thinking he has hurt her. Afterward they destroy Ribaldi's home in search of evidence that he has been taking their homes and land. Instead of this proof, however, they find lists of people Ribaldi has helped.
Bonnie returns home to find that Ribaldi has died from his injuries. While visiting his house after the funeral, she hears Ribaldi's piano being played and goes inside. There she finds a man who looks like Ribaldi, only without scars. When Bonnie asks him his name, he says "Some people call me Rigoletto, but you don't believe that, do you?" before leaving with Hans and Gabriella. It is implied by this that the curse on Ribaldi, hinted at throughout the film, has been lifted because Bonnie had seen the true beauty of Ribaldi's heart.
The film ends with Bonnie finishing the Rigoletto story. Her younger brother asks her if she believes the tale, to which Bonnie replies that she does.
Bonnie- Bonnie is a naive young girl who goes to work for Ribaldi in order to save her home. She quickly realizes that Ribaldi is not the monster everyone believes him to be, and tries to help him learn to be kinder and happier.
Hans- Ribaldi's butler, Hans, is a comical man with a Teutonic accent. In the beginning of the film he is seen at one of Bonnie's singing competitions, and it is assumed that he has been sent there by Ribaldi to spy on the singers. Ribaldi treats him cruelly, but Hans is devoted to his master and seems to genuinely care for him. He often plays the piano during Bonnie's music lessons.
Gabriella- Gabriella is a beautiful young woman Bonnie meets in Ribaldi's house. Ribaldi claims she is a princess, and they seem to be very much in love.
Georgie- One of Bonnie's friends, Georgie is a poor girl from the village who suffers from a neglectful and abusive father. Ribaldi is especially kind to Georgie, and saves her life when she falls into a river that is known to be dangerous.
Porter- Georgie's brother, who speaks with stutter. While visiting Ribaldi he looks into a "magic" mirror and is suddenly cured of his speech impediment. Ribaldi teaches him that his father is a sad man who needs love and understanding during the hard times of the Great Depression. Because of Ribaldi, Porter is able to forgive his father, and the two are eventually reconciled.
. There are several points analogous in the movie and the Verdi opera of the same name
: there is a beautiful daughter, there is fighting with words, and there is a "curse", but the movie is otherwise unrelated.
The most memorable songs from the movie include: Let Me In, The Curse, April Child, and The Melody Within. April Child was written by Chance Thomas, and the other three by Michael McLean
.
The casting director for Rigoletto was Rick Macy
, who would later have many roles as an actor including playing the role of Joseph Smith, Sr.
in multiple films.
This film has often been shown in Mrs. Frederickson's 3rd grade class at Plain City Elementary in Plain City, Utah.
1993 musical
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
fantasy/drama produced for Feature Films for Families
Feature Films for Families
Feature Films for Families is a privately held entertainment company based in the United States. According to the company, Feature Films for Families makes films that reinforce traditional family values and morality, are suitable for all ages and contain no profanity, sexuality, violence, or...
and has been compared with Beauty and the Beast, The Man Without a Face
The Man Without a Face
The Man Without a Face is a 1993 drama film starring and directed by Mel Gibson. The film is based on Isabelle Holland's 1972 novel of the same name. Gibson's directorial debut received respectful reviews from most critics.-Plot:...
, and The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera
Le Fantôme de l'Opéra is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serialisation in "Le Gaulois" from September 23, 1909 to January 8, 1910...
.
Plot synopsis
Rigoletto, set in Depression-eraGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, stars Joseph Paur
Joseph Paur
Joseph Paur is a Latter-day Saint singer and actor who has appeared in several films and musical productions. The majority of Paur's professional work has been related to Mormon cinema and theater as well as family-friendly films produced in Utah aimed at a wider audience.Paur starred in the...
as Ribaldi/Rigoletto and Ivey Lloyd as Bonnie, a young girl who is gifted with a beautiful singing voice. Her favorite fairy tale, which she reads to her younger brother at the beginning of the film is "Rigoletto", the story of a cursed fairy prince who must live as an ugly monster until he can find someone who can see through his appearance to the heart within.
When a mysterious man arrives in town and buys the mortgage on Bonnie's house, Bonnie agrees to work for him in exchange for his allowing her family to keep their home. At first, Bonnie believes the man, Ribaldi, is a monster due to his physical deformity and his cold, angry demeanor. When Bonnie finds Ribaldi giving a beautiful princess named Gabriella voice lessons, she realizes that he is a gifted musician and a kind, misunderstood person. Bonnie convinces Ribaldi to give her music lessons.
Meanwhile, many in the town are being evicted from their homes and suspect the mysterious Ribaldi. The villagers spread rumors about Ribaldi and most believe that he is a monster. The children of the town, on the other hand, are drawn to Ribaldi.
Throughout the film, the sick and handicapped people of the village are miraculously healed.
The townspeople threaten to keep Bonnie from singing in the state singing competition unless she stops visiting Ribaldi. Bonnie tells Ribaldi she will not leave him, but he tells her that to abandon the competition would waste all their hard work, and insists that Bonnie forget about him and follow her dream.
In the climax of the film, while Bonnie is singing in the competition, Georgie, a young girl from the village, goes to visit Ribaldi. Along the way home, Georgie falls into a river, and Ribaldi saves her. When he tries to bring her to town, the townspeople attack him, thinking he has hurt her. Afterward they destroy Ribaldi's home in search of evidence that he has been taking their homes and land. Instead of this proof, however, they find lists of people Ribaldi has helped.
Bonnie returns home to find that Ribaldi has died from his injuries. While visiting his house after the funeral, she hears Ribaldi's piano being played and goes inside. There she finds a man who looks like Ribaldi, only without scars. When Bonnie asks him his name, he says "Some people call me Rigoletto, but you don't believe that, do you?" before leaving with Hans and Gabriella. It is implied by this that the curse on Ribaldi, hinted at throughout the film, has been lifted because Bonnie had seen the true beauty of Ribaldi's heart.
The film ends with Bonnie finishing the Rigoletto story. Her younger brother asks her if she believes the tale, to which Bonnie replies that she does.
Characters
Ribaldi/Rigoletto- Ribaldi is a deformed, mysterious man who comes to the town of Castle Gate and, supposedly, begins buying people's homes and land. It is later revealed that he is a kind, generous person who has suffered a mysterious injury. He is filled with self-pity and is often cold and angry, lashing out at those around him, but quickly repents. He is a gifted singer and composer, and it is hinted that he is the cursed fairy prince, Rigoletto.Bonnie- Bonnie is a naive young girl who goes to work for Ribaldi in order to save her home. She quickly realizes that Ribaldi is not the monster everyone believes him to be, and tries to help him learn to be kinder and happier.
Hans- Ribaldi's butler, Hans, is a comical man with a Teutonic accent. In the beginning of the film he is seen at one of Bonnie's singing competitions, and it is assumed that he has been sent there by Ribaldi to spy on the singers. Ribaldi treats him cruelly, but Hans is devoted to his master and seems to genuinely care for him. He often plays the piano during Bonnie's music lessons.
Gabriella- Gabriella is a beautiful young woman Bonnie meets in Ribaldi's house. Ribaldi claims she is a princess, and they seem to be very much in love.
Georgie- One of Bonnie's friends, Georgie is a poor girl from the village who suffers from a neglectful and abusive father. Ribaldi is especially kind to Georgie, and saves her life when she falls into a river that is known to be dangerous.
Porter- Georgie's brother, who speaks with stutter. While visiting Ribaldi he looks into a "magic" mirror and is suddenly cured of his speech impediment. Ribaldi teaches him that his father is a sad man who needs love and understanding during the hard times of the Great Depression. Because of Ribaldi, Porter is able to forgive his father, and the two are eventually reconciled.
The Crew
The movie was written and directed by Leo D. Paur, who formerly worked as a writer on animated series such as The TransformersThe Transformers (TV series)
The Transformers is an animated television series depicting a war among giant robots who could transform into vehicles, other objects and animal-like forms. Written and recorded in America, the series was animated in Japan and South Korea...
. There are several points analogous in the movie and the Verdi opera of the same name
Rigoletto
Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. It was first performed at La Fenice in Venice on March 11, 1851...
: there is a beautiful daughter, there is fighting with words, and there is a "curse", but the movie is otherwise unrelated.
The most memorable songs from the movie include: Let Me In, The Curse, April Child, and The Melody Within. April Child was written by Chance Thomas, and the other three by Michael McLean
Michael McLean (composer)
Michael McLean is an American composer, singer, author, and filmmaker based in Heber City, Utah.-Early life:McLean attended high school in the Chicago area...
.
The casting director for Rigoletto was Rick Macy
Rick Macy
Richard "Rick" Franklyn Macy is a Latter Day Saint actor who has played the role of Joseph Smith, Sr. in several films and has also played other roles in LDS Church produced films, in Mormon cinema and in films produced in Utah or by Latter-day Saints aimed at a wider audience.In 2006, Macy had a...
, who would later have many roles as an actor including playing the role of Joseph Smith, Sr.
Joseph Smith, Sr.
Joseph Smith, Sr. was the father of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Joseph Sr. was also one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, which Mormons believe was translated by Joseph Jr. from the Golden Plates. In 1833 Joseph Sr...
in multiple films.
This film has often been shown in Mrs. Frederickson's 3rd grade class at Plain City Elementary in Plain City, Utah.