The Tales of Hoffmann (1951 film)

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The Tales of Hoffmann
Theatrical poster
Directed by	Michael Powell Emeric Pressburger
Written by	E. T. A. Hoffmann (stories) Jules Barbier (opera libretto) Michael Powell Emeric Pressburger Dennis Arundell
Produced by	Michael Powell Emeric Pressburger
Starring	Moira Shearer Robert Helpmann Léonide Massine Robert Rounseville Pamela Brown Ludmilla Tchérina Ann Ayars
Cinematography	Christopher Challis
Edited by	Reginald Mills
Music by	Jacques Offenbach
Production company	London Films/The Archers
Distributed by	British Lion Films
Release dates	4 April 1951 (1951-04-04) (U.S. trade) 17 May 1951 (1951-05-17) (UK trade) 26 November 1951 (1951-11-26) (UK release)
Running time	128 minutes 136 minutes (2015 re-release)
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Box office	£105,035 (UK rentals)[1] $1.25 million (US rentals)[2]

The Tales of Hoffmann is a 1951 British Technicolor comic opera film written, produced and directed by the team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger working under the umbrella of their production company The Archers. It is an adaptation of Jacques Offenbach's 1881 opera The Tales of Hoffmann, itself based on three short stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann.

The film stars Robert Rounseville, Moira Shearer, Robert Helpmann and Léonide Massine and features Pamela Brown, Ludmilla Tchérina and Ann Ayars. Only Rounseville and Ayars sang their own roles.

The film's soundtrack consists of music conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham and played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to Rounseville and Ayars, singers included Dorothy Bond, Margherita Grandi, Monica Sinclair and Bruce Dargavel. The film's production team included cinematographer Christopher Challis and production and costume designer Hein Heckroth, who was nominated for two 1952 Academy Awards for his work.