For the First Time

For the First Time is a 1959 musical film directed by Rudolph Maté and starring Mario Lanza, Johanna von Koczian, Kurt Kasznar, and Zsa Zsa Gabor. It was tenor star Mario Lanza's final film, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer six weeks before his death. The film tells the sentimental story of an operatic tenor (Tony Costa) who finds love for the first time with a young German woman (played by Johanna von Koczian), who happens to be deaf. It was shot at the Spandau Studios in Berlin and on location in 1958 in Capri, Salzburg, Berlin and at the Rome Opera House. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Hans Jürgen Kiebach, Fritz Maurischat and Heinrich Weidemann. Reception Critics singled out Lanza's singing of "Vesti la Giubba" from Pagliacci and the Death Scene from Otello for special praise, with Howard Thompson of The New York Times calling it the tenor's "most disarming vehicle in years." Cast Mario Lanza as Tonio Costa Johanna von Koczian as Christa Kurt Kasznar as Tabory Zsa Zsa Gabor as Gloria De Vadnuz Hans Söhnker as Prof. Bruckner Annie Rosar as Mathilde Faktotum Sandro Giglio as Alessandro Walter Rilla as Dr. Bessart Renzo Cesana as Angelo Peter Capell as Leopold Hübner