The Young Caruso

Not long before MGM embarked upon its musical biopic The Great Caruso, the Italian Enrico Caruso, Leggenda di Una Voce made the American distribution rounds. Maurizio di Nardo plays famed tenor Caruso as a boy, while Ermanno Randi takes over the role in adulthood. The film makes no pretense at accuracy; indeed, an introductory title describes the plot as "a poetic interpretation of [Caruso's] youth." When it was released in the U.S., Enrico Caruso was retitled to The Young Caruso and promoted on the basis of one of its leading ladies, the fabulous Gina Lollobrigida. In fact, in some markets, the third-billed Lollobrigida was promoted as the film's above-the-title star.