Carmen playing cards
Characters and scenes from the 1984 film of Bizet’s most famous opera, Carmen.
When Bizet’s most famous opera, Carmen, was turned into a film directed by Francesco Rosi, the filming took place entirely on location in Andalusia in southern Spain (Ronda, Carmona, Seville). Some of the sites are depicted on the scenic Aces. The main characters in the opera were played in the film by Julia Migenes Johnson (Carmen; QH and Jokers), Placido Domingo (Don José; KH), and Ruggero Raimondi (Escamillo; KS). The double-ended courts are drawn rather than being actual photographs but are nevertheless very realistic. Each has the name of the singer and the role they played in the film. The indices are in French. The pack was issued to coincide with the première of the film which was distributed by Gaumont, hence the back design. See the box►
Above: Carmen playing cards designed by MONCLA (see AS). Printed by Boéchat Frères, Bordeaux, for Editions Dusserre, Paris, France, 1984. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 title card in tuck box. Size: 63 x 88 mm.
By Roddy Somerville
Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
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