The character of Don Giovanni, in Mozart’s opera of the same name is based on the hero-villain, Don Juan of Spanish folk legend. First appearing in written form in the 1630 drama El burlador de Sevilla (attributed to Spanish dramatist Tirso de Molina) he has an enduring habit of cropping up in plays, books, films, on TV, as well as in opera, since that time.
An example of the many non-Spanish versions of the legend is Molière’s play Don Juan; ou, Le Festin de pierre (first performed in 1665); it is often cited as the original basis for the many adaptations that followed. Prosper Mérimée’s short story: Les Âmes du Purgatoire (1834) and Alexandre Dumas’s drama Don Juan de Marana (1836) portray variations of the legendary figure. Then José Zorrilla ’s play Don Juan Tenorio (1844) is still traditionally performed in Spain for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
One of the most famous literary representations is Lord Byron’s poem, Don Juan (1819-24). Another celebrated 19th century writer also immortalised the character: George Bernard Shaw’s drama, Man and Superman (1903) was premiered on stage in 1905.
Celluloid guises of Don Juan aren’t just a Hollywood obsession either, there are versions from most Western countries, including a golden oldie from the UK starring Douglas Fairbanks and based on the play L’Homme à la Rose by Henry Bataille – The Private Life of Don Juan (1934). Many films are adaptations of existing plays or stories that themselves are based on the legend, all of which follow the same basic pattern of irrepressible behaviour, even if the setting alters. 2013’s Don Jon starring, written and directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock from the Sun), also starring Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore, is a modern-day interpretation of the life of a womaniser like Don Juan, rather than being a direct adaptation.
Another well-known retelling on film is Don Juan DeMarco from 1994 starring Johnny Depp, with Marlon Brando and Faye Dunaway. Although in this case, the main character just thinks he is the Don Juan of legend – ie the world’s greatest lover. Set in modern-day America with Depp visiting Marlon Brando’s psychiatrist to cure his delusions, his flashbacks place him in the traditional story. The film’s plot was based on a short story by director Jeremey Leven, Don Juan DeMarco and the Centerfold.
Johnny Depp also starred in the 2004 film, The Libertine, that told the story of the 17th century second Earl of Rochester who was very much a Don Juan figure – ie a womaniser and a libertine poet. This time with a who’s-who of the British acting establishment, including John Malkovich and Samantha Morton. Stephen Jeffreys adapted it from his own play of the same name. Back in 1676 Thomas Shadwell wrote a play called The Libertine, basically an English-language adaptation of El bulador de Sevilla (and on which Stephen Jeffreys based his play.) Which takes us back to Mozart’s full title for his opera: Il dissolute punito; ossia, il Don Giovanni ie translated as The Rake Punished, or Don Giovanni. Come and see this persistent libertine, this rake, get his comeuppance on stage when WNO performs the opera this Spring.