Rigoletto

Synopsis

During the Great Depression, a wealthy, disfigured recluse named Ari Ribaldi moves into the town of Castle Gate. Shortly thereafter, the town experiences a wave of foreclosures, which the locals blame on Ribaldi. In order to prevent Ribaldi from taking her family's home, 13-year-old Bonnie Nelson goes to work as his maid. When Ribaldi discovers Bonnie likes to sing, he begins giving her music lessons. Under his tutelage, Bonnie takes first place in a singing competition.

Characters

Ari Ribaldi/Rigoletto (Joseph Paur) – a gifted singer and composer with a scarred face and a limp

Bonnie Nelson (Ivey Lloyd) – a naive and curious young girl who goes to work for Ribaldi in order to save her home.

Margie Nelson (Cynthia Jump) – mother of Bonnie and Timmy

Timmy Nelson – Bonnie's younger brother

Hans (John Huntington) – Ribaldi's butler

Kathleen Hamilton (Natalie Terry) – Bonnie's competitor in the talent contests

James McBride (Scott Wilkinson) – the town's banker who supported himself by increasing mortgage payments

Georgie Baker (Alyson Brienholt) – one of Bonnie's friends, who wants to be a singer just like Bonnie. Georgie is mocked by Kathleen and a few others due to her old, filthy clothes and shoes.

Porter Baker (Ryan Healey) – Georgie's brother, who speaks with a stutter and does not get along with his father

Elaina Papanikolas (Stephanie Paur) – a young girl for whom Ribaldi provides medical care

Gabriella (Tracey Williams) – a princess who takes singing lessons from Ribaldi and is secretly in love with him

Dallin Avery (Dalin Christiansen) – a farmer and pig enthusiast who leads an angry mob against Ribaldi

Emelda Avery (Ruth Margaret Nickerson) – Dallin's wife, who used a wheelchair

Tommy Avery (Josh Goodwin)

Gordon Baker (Tom Nibley) – a temperamental drunk

Mr. and Mrs. Papanikolas (Frank Gerrish and Micaela Nelligan) – Elaina's parents

Reception

Joe Leydon called the film "an odd but involving mix of elements from Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera and the original folk tale that inspired Verdi's classic opera. He concluded his Variety review with, "Despite an obviously limited budget, Rigoletto is a handsome piece of work. T.C. Christensen's color lensing and Cathren Warner's costumes are the outstanding production values".