This British fantasy opera was written, produced and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. The film is an adaptation of the opera of the same name by Jacques Offenbach. The film stars Robert Rounseville, Moira Shearer, Robert Helpmann, Léonide Massine, Pamela Brown, Ludmilla Tchérina and Ann Ayars. The life and three great loves of a poet are depicted in a series of flashbacks, showing the difficulties encountered by the poet in his aspiration to seek love, whilst committed to his work. Although all three romances fail, the artist is able to channel his painful emotions into his art.