Madama Butterfly

Overview

Japan, early twentieth century. U.S. Navy Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton inspects the house he has leased from a marriage broker. The broker, Goro, has procured him three servants and a geisha wife, Cio-Cio-San, known as Madama Butterfly. He is enchanted with the fragile Cio-Cio-San. Cio-Cio-San is heard in the distance joyously singing of her wedding. In a quiet moment, Cio-Cio-San shows her bridegroom her few earthly treasures and tells him of her intention to embrace his Christian faith. The Imperial Commissioner performs the wedding ceremony, and the guests toast the couple. The celebration is interrupted by Cio-Cio-San's uncle, a Buddhist priest, who bursts in, cursing the girl for having renounced her ancestors' religion. Alone with Cio-Cio-San in the moonlit garden, her husband dries her tears, and she joins him in singing of their love.

Directed by George Blume, Franco Zeffirelli

Top cast

M

Mina Blum

Kate Pinkerton

C

Carlo Bosi

Goro, a matchmaker

Fiorenza Cedolins

Cio-Cio-san (Madama Butterfly)

F

Francesco Franci

Suzuki, her maid

Marcello Giordani

B. F. Pinkerton, Lieutenant in the United States Navy

Juan Pons

Sharpless, United States consul at Nagasaki

C

Carlo Striuli

The Bonze, Cio-Cio-san's uncle

A

Alessandro Battiato

Prince Yamadori

A

Angelo Nardinocchi

The Imperial Commissioner

G

Giovanni Scordino

The Official Registrar

V

Veronica Simeoni

Cio-Cio-san's mother

M

Maria Letizia Grosselli

The cousin

Details