- published: 13 Mar 2017
- views: 262
For the First Time is tenor star Mario Lanza's final film, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1959.
Filmed on location in 1958 in Capri, Salzburg, Berlin and at the Rome Opera House, the film told the sentimental story of an operatic tenor (Tony Costa) who finds love for the first time with a young German woman (played by Johanna von Koczian), who happens to be deaf.
The film was directed by Rudolph Mate, and featured Kurt Kasznar and Zsa Zsa Gabor in supporting roles. Critics singled out Lanza's singing of "Vesti la Giubba" from Pagliacci and the Death Scene from Otello for special praise, with Howard Thompson of The New York Times calling it the tenor's "most disarming vehicle in years."
According to MGM records the film earned $710,000 in the US and Canada and $975,000 elsewhere, resulting in a profit of $1,685,000.
Cesari, Armando. Mario Lanza: An American Tragedy (Fort Worth: Baskerville, 2004).
I loved you,
the first time I saw you
Now my heart will fall always stay true
The beauty of your smile,
it brings tears into my eyes
So grateful for the days that we shared
You saved me,
the first time I kissed you
You showed me,
a world that was brand new
You brightened up my day,
there’s so much I want to say
I don’t know,
just where I am to begin
I believe I dreamed you into life
I waited here for you to shine a light
My heart painted a picture
A beautiful design, of you and I
When I see my love reflected in your smile
It’s so magical that words cannot describe
I feel like a child looking at the sky
For the first time
For all the joy,
you’ve opened my eyes to
You’re the one,
whom always see me through
Your little hand in mine,
we both stand the test of time
Together, I’ll never leave your side
I believe I dreamed you into life
I waited here for you to shine a light
My heart painted a picture
A beautiful design, of you and I
When I see my love reflected in your smile
It’s so magical that words cannot describe
and I feel like a child just looking at the sky
The first time, Oh first time
So innocent and beautiful
You’re everything I could wish for
I believe I dreamed you into life
I waited here for you to shine a light
My heart painted a picture
A beautiful design, of you and I
When I see my love reflected in your smile
It’s so magical that words cannot describe
I feel like a child looking at the
Baby you’re the reason why
In your love I cannot lie