Serenade (1956 film)

Serenade, a 1956 Warner Bros. release, was tenor Mario Lanzas fifth film, and his first onscreen appearance in four years. Directed by Anthony Mann and based on the 1937 novel of the same name by James M. Cain, the film also stars Joan Fontaine, Sara Montiel billed as Sarita Montiel, and Vincent Price.

The movie differs greatly from the James M. Cain source novel. In the book, the male protagonist is John Howard Spring, a professional opera singer who has lost his voice and fled the United States to Mexico in a crisis of confidence after being sexually wooed not unsuccessfully, though details are vague by a male socialite and impresario. Juana Montes is a Mexican prostitute who sees Spring as gay and therefore a troublefree partner to open a brothel with. But after having sex in a deserted church with Juana, Spring recovers his voice and his preferred sexual identity. The two lovers come into conflict with the local police and flee to Los Angeles, where Spring reestablishes his singing career, more successful than ever. But once they move to New York, Damon must struggle against the renewed blandishments of the gay impresario, whom Juana eventually murders with a toreros sword. As none of this material could be considered suitable for an American movie in 1956, the story becomes instead that of an opera singer torn between an overbearing, worldly but female patron of the arts Joan Fontaine as Kendall Hale and a Mexican bullfighters virtuous daughter. The tenor has a breakdown because of his unrequited love for the society woman, but finds love and a happy ending with the Mexican girl.

Source: Wikipedia