EDMUND PURDOM
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stelco — 19 years ago(May 14, 2006 03:37 AM)
Thank you for your reply. I am aware that Edmund Purdom only lip synched for the movie, and that it took him three months to perfect his tecnique. I agree he was marvelous in the role of Karl, and I do not associate the songs from The Student Prince with Lanza, but with Purdom. do not get me wrong, I am a Lanza fan, but because of Purdoms portrayal in the movie I always see his face when I hear the songs on the Radio.
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broomy22313 — 17 years ago(June 29, 2008 09:07 PM)
It's pretty common knowledge that Edmund was brought in because Mario Lanza had gotten so fat he couldn't fit into his costumes, and wouldn't have been credible as a romantic lead. Edmund was perfect, I thought - as he almost always was in every film in which he appeared. It's a shame his career got derailed because everyone blamed him for the breakup of Ty Power's marriage to Linda Christian.
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NSurone — 17 years ago(November 24, 2008 08:00 PM)
Of course, everyone knows it takes two to tango. And from what I've read, it was Linda who pursued Edmund, not the other way around.
It's debatable whether it was the affair that ended his career or just his lack of acting ability. I saw him in THE EGYPTIAN, and he was god-awful! -
ducdebrabant — 17 years ago(December 12, 2008 08:50 PM)
Linda was always something of an adventuresss, and there were a lot of men in her life. Purdom got all the blame, but I think it was unfair. Besides, I think Ty Power was straying too according to Linda, Ty was already seeing Debbie, and wasn't she married as well? I think he stole her from Nico Minardos.
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stelco — 17 years ago(December 14, 2008 06:51 AM)
Well said, Edmund was probably not to blame at all, but that is the problem with people, they are always quick to pass judgement. I also do not agree that he could not act, I have enjoyed the films I have been able to watch here in SA. He probably just decided that his private life was his business and not that of the whole world. Hollywood is nothing but a great show window. He preferred to live a private life, where he could be himself.
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Dejael — 17 years ago(March 01, 2009 10:55 AM)
Greetings, I left this little bio essay on The EGYPTIAN (1954) imdb discussion list, so I am adding it here:
Edmund Purdom moved to Rome, Italy in the spring of 1959 to work in Italian cinema, since he spoke several languages and enjoyed and preferred the balmy climate of the Italian peninsula to the cold of London or the hustle-bustle of New York or Los Angeles. He often enjoyed residing in a Tuscan villa outside of Florence, but had a large home in Rome not far from the Colosseum, which could be seen from his veranda.
Purdom continued his acting career in Italy for decades in Italian and European film productions, some which he heartily endorsed, such as "NEFERTITI, QUEEN OF THE NILE" (1961), but most he simply accepted as work to pay the bills. He was a very private person, and did not like being overexposed in Hollywood, so his
Italian sojourn not only suited him, it also satisfied him.
In 1965 Purdom accepted a lucrative position as a recording executive for RCA Italia Records, the Italian division of RCA Victor, and helped the corporation develop its production of Stereo LP's of film soundtracks, operas, classical music and popular music, which helped the Italian RCA remain competitive in the European market. RCA Italia discs were as sought after as their British and American counterparts. Purdom supervised the RCA Italia release of the original soundtrack album of Dino di Laurentiis' Biblical epic "The BIBLE" (Fox,1966) and its tracks are taken directly from the original 35mm audio stereo masters, while the American 20th Century Fox Records release was a complete re-record, done in Los Angeles with the composer, Toshiro Mayuzumi conducting a 40-piece orchestra on the Fox lot.
Purdom retired from his position at RCA Italia in 1988, and spent his remaining years enjoying the Italian countryside until his health prevented him from traveling and he had to remain home in his final days.
Dejael -
stelco — 16 years ago(April 22, 2009 10:30 AM)
Hi! Dejael
Being an avid Edmund Purdom fan myself, I am always interested to hear any news about him. I just wondered, did you ever meet him? Where did you get all your info, and where can I obtain more info about his life?
Regards
Ann SA -
saxonman63 — 15 years ago(March 27, 2011 11:27 AM)
Can I just clear up one thing. The reason that Edmund Purdom was brought in to do the Student Prince had nothing to do with Mario Lanza being overweight, but with his disagreements with the director. Without his voice the film would be nothing.
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derekmcgovern — 14 years ago(September 01, 2011 05:22 AM)
Lanza's non-appearance in The Student Prince was due to his complete lack of compatibility with the man originally scheduled to direct The Student Prince, Curtis Bernhardt, not his weight. The too-fat-to-fit-the-costumes story is one of the most tiresome myths about Mario Lanza!
In fact, I've included it in two essays here debunking myths about Lanza the man and the artist:
http://www.mariolanzatenor.com/myths-about-the-man.html#myth2 -
derekmcgovern — 14 years ago(September 01, 2011 05:30 AM)
Purdom had a pleasant (non-operatic) baritone voice; in fact, I have a mid-1950s recording of him singing the duet "Love Can Change the Stars."
Purdom stated on many occasions that he was enthralled by Lanza's voiceand that listening to it "was enough to make you sweat." He especially loved Lanza's poetic approach to the words on his Student Prince recordings. While lip-synching to Lanza in the film, he would sing with the recordings to make the performances seem more authentic.