In the opening scene, the Holy Office of the [Spanish] Inquisition arrests Miguel De Cervantes, who is performing the lead act in a play performed in the middle of town, and his Assistant, who was acting as stage manager. Miguel's' character was saying things like “To read or interpret the Bible is the sole providence of the Church.” Quoting things from the Bible he believed to be false, as in Goliath's dimensions, he says there is no possibility that Goliath was real!
A monk holding a huge cross and a Spanish Inquisition soldier lead Cervantes and his Assistant through town. The costumes are wonderful! I love the colors they chose to stand out among the sandy ground and buildings made of orange red clay walls and floors.
They are led into a dungeon with sky-high ceilings. The Lead Officer kindly warned Miguel that most of the people in the dungeon were in there just because they are thieves and murderers. Don Miguel finds out a little about some of those “murderers and thieves” as soon as they get into the dungeon with no officers around.
He tells the prisoners he is a poet. He has his properties and costumes in a trunk with him and his manuscripts in his hand. The prisoners start digging through his trunk and the “Governor” of the cell takes his manuscripts and tries to burn them. The “Governor” then holds trial for Cervantes and his Assistant. They find him guilty of being an idealist and a bad poet. He asks "the court" to at least hear his play to determine if they are making the right decision. So, he proposes to put on a play in which everyone in the cell will have a part and participate. They agree.
The play begins: Miguel is Alonzo Kijana, a retired countryman who reads all day. Then one day the old man decided to take off for his journey and at this point names himself Don Quixote the man of Le Manche. His Assistant is now called Sancho Panza and he sticks with Don Quixote.
Don Quixote has adventure after adventure. He falls in love with Aldonza, played by the sultry Sophia Loren. He fights 10 men with help from Aldonza and Sancho Panza. He is knighted as “Knight of the woeful countenance“. Then, he faces “The Enchanter” in battle. “The Enchanter” fights with many mirrors reflecting the sun upon Don Quixote's eyes until he passes out.
The prisoners tell Miguel the ending to his play is not good enough and he begs for a chance to create a different ending.
The ending of the play: Don Quixote is home on his deathbed accompanied by his niece, his Assistant, a priest, a doctor, and others.
The doctor doesn't seem to be able to do anything for him because he's unresponsive. His Assistant gets him to respond. Alonzo Kijana asks to have a will drawn up. As the Priest composes his will Aldonza shows up. She reminds Alonzo of his words spoken “Dream the Impossible Dream”, how he called himself Don Quixote, and called her Dulcinea. He remembers and rises out of bed ready for more adventures, until he just dies at the end of singing a triumphant song. Aldonza now wants to be called Dulcinea in honor of Don Quixote.
Back in prison, the Inquisition comes to get Miguel De Cervantes. The “Governor” admits he liked the play and told Miguel to speak as he did in the play and he'd save himself from the Inquisition. Miguel told the prisoners he was giving them Don Quixote. As he and his Assistant walk up the stairs to meet the Inquisition, Aldonza starts singing “To Dream the Impossible Dream” which starts the entire group of prisoners singing.
The action is primarily focused on Aldonza and Don Qixote. I enjoyed Peter O'Toole and thought he was the most engaging because he had the biggest responsibilities, after all, he did play four different characters: Miguel De Cervantes, Don Quixote, Alonzo Kijana, and I believe one could even count the “Knight of the woeful Countenance” as another character.
Sancho Panza played by James Coco was the weakest actor because he never said much at all. When he did speak he was wimpy and cowardly, a bit irritating. I do like James Coco as an actor, just not in this role.
The character relationships are believable. Peter O'Toole seemed infatuated with Sophia Loren in my opinion. This play was important because it showed that being an idealist can at times give a person that courage and strength they need for truly rough times. Another message it gave was that when one stops imagining, dreaming, and believing they die because they've lost the strength to go on.
The first time Peter O'Toole sings “To Dream the Impossible Dream” and when Sophia Loren was singing in the character of Aldonza, singing about how she was not a Lady but a hor! How horrible for a woman to feel trapped into feeling that way. It's just sad!
