I am a huge fan of the opera Pagliacci, it has a powerful story, great characters and above all amazing music. While I marginally prefer the 1968 and 1982 productions, this 1948 film is mighty fine as well. The costumes, sets and photography are excellent and as you would expect the music is phenomenal especially Vesti la guibba and Si Puo. When it comes to the acting and singing it is great, maybe the fact that the singing is separate to the acting takes some getting used to and the sound is not that great but mostly there are few or little problems. The singing for both Canio and Nedda is ideal and acting wise not only does Gina Lollobridgida look beautiful but shows a bitchy and vulnerable side to Nedda, and Afro Poli is a fine Canio. But Tito Gobbi as Tonio (and Silvio) is a revelation, while his voice isn't exactly the most powerful or most sensual, nor did it need to be, he had tremendous acting skills, strong musicianship and a sense of intelligence and intensity all of which are here. Here he is at his best in the prologue Si Puo which seamlessly sets the tone of the whole opera; while Leonard Warren, Robert Merrill and especially Sherrill Milnes(in the 1978 Met production) give very moving interpretations of this wonderful piece, Gobbi's(the middle of the aria has the most pathos sung by any baritone in my opinion) is in a different class. Overall, an absolute must for any fans of the opera and especially of Gobbi. 9/10 Bethany Cox