13 replies to this topic

[karligula]

While watching QoS I noticed that Marc Foster seems to like intercutting scenes when they have some sort of thematic connection. Like when Mr White is being interrogated, it cuts to someone turning a wheel to tighten a rope, which is what they're psychologically trying to do to White, tighten the screws on him. And during the chase scene it cuts away to the horses running, to emphasis the animalistic nature of the chase, perhaps?

Now during the shoot out at the opera restaurant, it cuts back to the opera performance. But I know nothing about Tosca. So can anyone explain what's happening in Tosca at that moment and how it might relate to what Bond's doing or feeling? And is there an overall significance to the opera being Tosca in the first place?

[007½]

There's a slight problem with the question - it isn't just one scene! The music is from the First Act, but the woman (Tosca) is killing a man (Lord Scarpia), which happens in the Third and Final Act. The execution (which is supposed to be staged) of the other man (Cavaradossi) happens shortly after this. Also, the quieter music comes, I think, from the middle of the Second Act.

As for Tosca's significance, all I can think of is that, during the main aria, Lord Scarpia is plotting ways of stealing Cavaradossi's girl (Tosca), which is an excellent parallel with the early Bond films!

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Let's better not to talk about all this misunderstood

Never again.

While watching the film, y couldn't understand neither the Tosca nor the shootout. While watching the DVD, I noticed there's a shooting with four armed men before the execution, which also isn't in the original play.

[007½]

Cathedrals don't generally have massive eyes in them, either. They've modernised the opera, rather as the Royal Opera House likes to (they ruined Don Giovanni a year or so back). Swords wouldn't have looked so good, nor would they have tied in with the shootout.

[Jim]

As for Tosca's significance, all I can think of is that, during the main aria, Lord Scarpia is plotting ways of stealing Cavaradossi's girl (Tosca), which is an excellent parallel with the early Bond films!

I suspect it's more to do with General Medrano being a "sorta, ish" parallel with Scarpia and Camille being a "sorta, ish" parallel with Tosca - not a direct representation but a nasty figure of authority doing away with Tosca's loved ones leading to her revenge, strikes a chord.

[quiller]

isn't there a necklace of some significance to the plot of tosca,too.

[Jim]

isn't there a necklace of some significance to the plot of tosca,too.

True. Interesting.

And there's the stuff about Cavaradossi believing Tosca has betrayed him and Tosca striking a deal with Scarpia to save her lover's life. Which seems very Casino Royale. If I've understood the plot of either (not a guarantee).

"Revenge doesn't help things" seems to be a common theme.

[David Schofield]

Indeed, there is even suggestion in some people seeming to prefer to have dinner rather than watch the e on stage, however much it might parallel CR/QOS....

Though perhaps with the imagery he was seemingly trying to recreate, that was Forster's intention all along.

[007½]

As for Tosca's significance, all I can think of is that, during the main aria, Lord Scarpia is plotting ways of stealing Cavaradossi's girl (Tosca), which is an excellent parallel with the early Bond films!

I suspect it's more to do with General Medrano being a "sorta, ish" parallel with Scarpia and Camille being a "sorta, ish" parallel with Tosca - not a direct representation but a nasty figure of authority doing away with Tosca's loved ones leading to her revenge, strikes a chord.

I wish I'd thought of that! That is as near a perfect explanation as we're gonna get, without asking the people behind the choice: nice one, Jim

Edited by 007½, 21 April 2009 - 05:08 PM.

[dogmanstar]

Not familiar with Tosca but isn't it what was playing at Begrenz at the time? In other words, had it been Carmen we would have had Carmen, etc?

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Best advice: take a Opera Dictionary and search for Tosca. Don't expect Mr. Forster to do so or you'll feel dizzy
As far as I know, the story is about a painter (Carvadossi) and a singer (Tosca), who fall in love. Carvadossi is an ally of a criminal called Spoletta, so Baron Scarpia, chief of Police, kidnapps him and tortures in order to get information. Tosca asks Scarpia to free Carvadossi, but he denies because he can't give freedom to a "traitor", so, he agrees to fake an execution, and after the firing squad retires, let Tosca and the painter escape, in excange of a night between Scarpia and Tosca.

But Tosca kills Scarpia with a knife (the scene you see in the play), and pretends to continue with the plan. However, the excecution wasn't a fake, and Carvadossi is really death (the shooting you also get to see). Later, the soldiers discover the dead body of Scarpia and try to arrest Tosca, but she commits suicide by throwing herself to the sea.

[007½]

As I said earlier, in the main scene, Lord Scarpia is plotting as the Cardinal prepares for a Te Deum to celebrate the supposed defeat of Napoleon (they have misinterpreted the news from the front). The stabbing is linked to this scene only by being in the same opera.

[MkB]

Not familiar with Tosca but isn't it what was playing at Begrenz at the time? In other words, had it been Carmen we would have had Carmen, etc?

I believe you are right. I guess it's mainly the visuals of the floating scene with the giant eye that caught the producers' eye.

[00Twelve]

isn't there a necklace of some significance to the plot of tosca,too.

True. Interesting.

And there's the stuff about Cavaradossi believing Tosca has betrayed him and Tosca striking a deal with Scarpia to save her lover's life. Which seems very Casino Royale. If I've understood the plot of either (not a guarantee).

"Revenge doesn't help things" seems to be a common theme.

Yes, yes, and yes. It's almost as if...there was method in Forster's madness...but that simply can't be. Must have been a total accident. Forster's supposed to be a hack, remember?