Carmen's cinematic past traced

Actress Rita Hayworth played Carmen in 1948

University researchers have spent £120,000 tracing the cinematic history of legendary Spanish gypsy Carmen.

Academics from Newcastle University have spent three years scouring the globe to track different interpretations of the classic tale.

They have compiled what they believe to be the first comprehensive list of the films of Carmen, who was made famous by opera composer Bizet in 1875.

The study found Carmen has been depicted in a range of guises, from a black bisexual to a Tom and Jerry cartoon character.

It deals with still familiar situations and emotions - those of love, jealousy, attitudes to women and the male fantasy

Dr Ann Davies

Newcastle University researchers were given the grant for the work by the Arts and Humanities Research Board.

Workers on the project found the "wildly passionate" Spanish gypsy featured in genres ranging from Hollywood to art house and cartoons to pornography.

Over the past century more than 70 films - including a Fascist version commissioned by Adolf Hitler - have covered the tale of the fictional Spanish cigarette factory worker.

Actresses ranging from Hollywood beauty Rita Hayworth to pop star Beyonce Knowles have played Carmen on the big screen.

Dr Ann Davies, a researcher at the university's Centre for Research into Film and Media, discovered more than 70 films - including 40 silent versions - based on the tale of Carmen.

Shocked audiences

Dr Davies said: "We have drawn together the most extensive and comprehensive list to date of films of the Carmen story from 1899 to the present day.

"This is proof the Carmen story does not date, and that it is still hugely relevant to the present day.

"It deals with still familiar situations and emotions - those of love, jealousy, attitudes to women and the male fantasy."

Bizet's opera shocked middle-class audiences when it first opened in Paris, with its tale of the gypsy girl who mesmerises soldier Don Jose, takes him as her lover, then drops him for the dashing bullfighter Escamillo.

New interpretations

Her fickle affections are the cause of her untimely death when the spurned Don Jose fatally stabs her after he returns home to find Carmen watching Escamillo's success in the bull ring.

Dr Davies discovered a range of interpretations of the original classic.

"The story is very audio visual, with music, dancing and strong, highly dramatic characters and thus lends itself extremely well to the screen," she said.

"Carmen herself presents a very strong image of the wild and captivating gypsy girl who wants to hold on to her freedom at any cost.

"It seems that despite the large number of Carmen films already made, people cannot resist attempting new interpretations."