Greetings.  I have been looking very hard for my mother's 85th
birthday present (June 17).  She is on an opera kick (I have already
purchased about 50 operas on DVD and Tape from as far away as China).
Although she is old, she has her wits and she is most always correct
and obstinate about details in life <sigh>.  She desires, and I want
to find for her a VIDEO copy of a film of an opera called "The Italian
Straw Hat" sometimes known as the "The Florentine Straw Hat" composed
by Nino [Nina] Rota, a famous film scorer who is well known for his
work with Fredrico Fellini.  It is also known as "Il cappello di
paglia di Firenza [Firenze]".  This is not the 1928 silent film.  I
believe this was filmed in the mid 1950's, my research found it
undocumented around 1955-1957.  The closest links I could find was:
(1) http://www.dinosaur.org/opera/operavideo.htm (opera #327). 
Operavideo apparantly is (was) a rare opera dealer in NYC who has not
updated their web page since  March, 2002, so I think they are
defunct. I believe the dated copy of their video was when the source
was recorded. They do not answer an email or fax to them. (2) I found
what is (apparantly) the Film's audio only soundtrack at
http://www.musicweb.uk.net/film/july99/rota.htm . I cannot find it's
existence any usual place, such imdb.com . I would take any video
media - I am a video expert and would make any necessary transfers.
Even if the quality was sub par anything really would suffice, She
would absolutly love this...I know her well-after all she's my mom! 
OK, I have spent over an hour rearching this, and I think I am no
slouch at using the net and Google, but now I cry uncle and ask for
your help. Send this to a senior researcher...spend some time and
money (gulp)...but...PLEASE HELP!!! Thanks and best regards, Stan
Brown

i was just looking around and i came across a website that had a copy
of the opera for sale... get back to me if you are interested.

Here is a place where you can get a copy in video:
http://store.operapassion.com/video119.html
Hope you are lucky
Luis

Hi, I went and orderded this tape, I am not sure if it is correct
since the "date" (of origin?) is askewed.  I have two questions-1)
Will this cost me the full amount I offered ($40)?, that was my limit
to spend, I expect or hope.... 2) is this the only possible answer? 
Let's try this first to see if it is.  I will let you know if it is
(or isn't), I promise feedback.
Thanks very much!

Regarding the matter of payment, all the information posted so far
(including my remark here) has been in the form of free comments.
Other than the fifty-cent listing fee, your account is not charged
until and unless an official Answer is posted by a Google Answers
Researcher. Since luntes-ga is not a Google Answers Researcher, he or
she will not be able to post an official Answer, and the useful
information he or she provided is free of charge.

~pinkfreud, Google Answers Researcher

in this interest of being nice this was the other site that i found
that had it listed. It was number 327 (i think) but checking around
the site i am not sure whether or not it is still that active anyone
go wild:

http://www.dinosaur.org/opera/operavideo.htm#video

Hi, Stan,
I expect you were very lucky to find the video and enjoy it with your mom.
I'm not a GA researcher as Pinkfreud is, but I could help you (I hope)
because searching for me is a challenge, as it may be to Pinkfreud as
well.
What I think is amazing is that some G A resarcher locked your
question for the whole day of friday, june 4th, and unlocked it
without an answer.
I have already seen this opera, burlesque and funny.
Luis

I just wanted to let you know that indeed the link you supplied for
the Yahoo opera site did have the opera in question; you found it.  I
don't understand why I couldn't find it myself-was this because the
content was on a Yahoo site, and Google doesn't query it?  Before
Google, I used to use WebFerrit, and it seemed to span accross all
search engines.  Luis noted that my question was "unlocked" for a day
with no answer, is that unusual?  I wouldn't know.  Again, thanks for
finding it, my mom is very happy about it.