The_Film_That_Changed_My_Life

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George A. Romero
The Tales of Hoffmann
Romero began his career as a director of commercials and educational
films; notable among them were short segments for the children’s program
Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. His first feature, Night of the Living Dead, was
released in 1968. It became a cult classic and continues to spawn sequels
and remakes.
But the film that changed his life is an unlikely one for this master of horror:
the 1951 opera-to-movie adaptation of The Tales of Hoffmann. Moviemaking
team Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger reimagined Jacques
Offenbach’s opera as a dreamlike stage/screen hybrid that tests the bounds
of narrative. The story follows Hoffmann (played by Robert Rousenville),
a young man from Nuremberg, Germany, who recounts the stories of his
three great loves, depicted in operatic flashbacks.
Of the movie, Romero says: “I love watching the film as much as I like
going back to a favorite piece of music. It never diminishes for me.”
George A. Romero, selected filmography:
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
There’s Always Vanilla (1971)
Hungry Wives (1972)
The Crazies (1973)
Martin (1977)
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Knightriders (1981)
Creepshow (1982)
Day of the Dead (1985)
Monkey Shines (1988)
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