NBC OPERA THEATRE: MADAM BUTTERFLY (TV)
Summary
One in this series of NBC Opera Company productions. This production is of "Madam Butterfly," an English-language translation of the opera by Giacomo Puccini. The program begins in Japan in 1900, where an American naval officer, Pinkerton, explores his newly-rented home with his servant, Goro. He meets the rest of the staff, including his bride-to-be's companion, Suzuki, and then discusses his impending marriage ceremony with Goro. His associate Sharpless arrives, and they talk about Pinkerton's plans to marry a beautiful young Japanese woman, Ciocio-san, nicknamed "Butterfly," and then divorce her when he finds his "real American wife." Butterfly arrives with her friends and relations, and matter-of-factly tells Pinkerton that her family used to be wealthy, but that they lost their money and she had to work as a geisha to support herself. She explains that her mother is very poor and her father is dead, and coyly reveals that she is fifteen years old. As the rest of the wedding party arrives, she shows Pinkerton her various belongings, though she declines to explain the story behind a certain knife, and Goro privately explains that her father used the blade to commit ritual suicide. Butterfly then tells Pinkerton that she has secretly converted to Christianity for him, and the wedding ceremony gets underway. As soon as it ends, one of Butterfly's uncles shows up unannounced and angrily reveals her conversion, and her shocked family quickly leaves, renouncing her. Butterfly is crushed, but Pinkerton comforts her, and the two seem to fall genuinely in love, expressing their passion for one another. Pinkerton explains the western tradition of pinning butterflies to preserve them, and Butterfly beseeches him to "love her a little," and they prepare for their first night as husband and wife.
Three years later, Pinkerton has still not returned to Japan, having departed shortly after the wedding, and Suzuki doubts that he will ever come back, though Butterfly remains confident. She describes their reunion in imaginative detail, saddening her friend, who knows that it is unlikely to happen. Sharpless arrives and Butterfly greets him happily, asking after Pinkerton and revealing that Goro has attempted to make her remarry in recent years. Goro barges in with a suitor, Yamadori, in tow, and the man professes his love for Butterfly and again asks for her hand, but she refuses, saying that she is still married and citing official American divorce laws, which differ from Japan's lax ones. At the same time, Sharpless struggles to find a way to tell Butterfly that Pinkerton has indeed returned, but does not wish to see her. Eventually Yamadori leaves, and Sharpless attempts to read Pinkerton's letter to her, but she is too enthused at the idea of his return to listen, and when he asks, she suggests that she would commit suicide if Pinkerton never returned. Distressed, he begs her to consider Yamadori, and she takes offense, revealing that she has had Pinkerton's child. She explains that Pinkerton does not know about the child, but tells Sharpless to inform him, believing this will cause him to return. Sharpless leaves, and Suzuki angrily informs her that Goro has been spreading rumors about the child's absent father, which angers Butterfly greatly. However, she then spots a ship on the horizon and realizes that it is Pinkerton's, and she excitedly decorates the house with flowers and fixes herself up, then sitting by the window with Suzuki and her child, waiting for his appearance.
Butterfly awakens in the early morning to realize that Pinkerton has not arrived. Suzuki urges her to sleep, promising to fetch her when he comes. Pinkerton arrives with Sharpless, and Suzuki is stunned to realize that he has brought his new wife along as well. The men ask for Suzuki's help in breaking the news to Butterfly, and Suzuki laments that her friend's heart will be broken. Pinkerton grows distressed as he realizes how ardently Butterfly awaited his return, and he leaves, saying that he cannot face her. His wife, Kate, offers to raise Butterfly's child as her own, and Butterfly appears in their midst, quickly realizing who Kate is. She falls into despair, saying that she has lost everything, but agrees to give up her son if Pinkerton will come to claim him in person. She sends Sukuzi away, despite her pleas to remain by her side, and prays to her ancestors. Her son runs to her and she bids him an emotional farewell, then killing herself with her father's dagger. Pinkerton then arrives and runs to her in horror, but he is too late. Commercials deleted.
Midway through the production, NBC founder David Sarnoff makes an announcement about the creation of the NBC Opera, a touring company that will present English-language productions.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: December 4, 1955
- RUNNING TIME: 2:10:56
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: 106165
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Music; Opera
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV, 1955
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Promos - NBC Opera Theatre - "Amahl and the Night Visitors"
CREDITS
- Samuel Chotzinoff … Producer
- Charles Polacheck … Associate Producer
- Kirk Browning … Director
- Giacomo Puccini … Composer
- Luigi Illica … Librettist
- Giuseppe Giacosa … Librettist
- Herbert Grossman … Conductor
- Members of the Symphony of the Air … Symphony Orchestra
- Davis Cunningham … Cast, B.F. Pinkerton
- Johnny Silver … Cast, Goro
- Conchita Gaston … Cast, Suzuki
- Warren Galjour … Cast, Sharpless
- Elaine Malbin … Cast, Madam Butterfly
- Francis Monachino … Cast, The Commissioner
- Erna Gwillim … Cast, The Mother
- Jeanne Privette … Cast, The Aunt
- Elisabeth Carron … Cast, The Cousin
- Robert Holland … Cast, Yakuside
- Lee Cass … Cast, The Bonze
- Emile Renan … Cast, Prince Yamadori
- Dorothy Krebill … Cast, Kate Pinkerton
- David Sarnoff