The Leopard (film)
Encyclopedia
The Leopard is a 1963 Italian film by director
Luchino Visconti
, based on Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
's novel of the same name
.
, the Frenchman Alain Delon
and the Italians Claudia Cardinale
and Terence Hill
. It is generally seen today in the Italian language version, in which Lancaster's lines are dubbed into Italian by Corrado Gaipa
; however, an English dubbed version was also produced at the time, in which Lancaster's own voice is heard. When Visconti was told by producers that they needed to cast a star in order to help to ensure that they'd earn enough money to justify the big budget, Visconti's first choice was one of the Soviet Union's preeminent actors, Nikolai Cherkasov
. Learning that Cherkasov was in no condition, healthwise, to take the part, Visconti then set his hopes on getting Laurence Olivier
, but he already had another commitment. The producers chose legendary Hollywood star Burt Lancaster
without consulting Visconti, which insulted the great director and caused tension on the set; but the director and Hollywood star ended up working well together, and their resulting friendship lasted the rest of their lives.
Alberto Arbasino
commented that Visconti's film was a reactionary
operation typical of Italy, which strumentalized a good novel to support the foundation of an aceptable literature of the right-wing.
. A 151-minute version was released in Spain.
camera negative for The Leopard survives and was used by The Criterion Collection
to create their video master for DVD and Blu-ray, with color timing supervised by the film's cinematographer, Giuseppe Rotunno
. New preservation film elements were created using a 4K digital scan of the film, done with the cooperation of the Cineteca di Bologna, L'Immagine Ritrovata, The Film Foundation
, Gucci
, Pathé
, Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé, Twentieth Century Fox, and Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia-Cineteca Nazionale.
This restoration premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival to great fanfare.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Luchino Visconti
Luchino Visconti
Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo was an Italian theatre, opera and cinema director, as well as a screenwriter. He is best known for his films The Leopard and Death in Venice .-Life:...
, based on Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa , was a Sicilian writer. He is most famous for his only novel, Il Gattopardo which is set in Sicily during the Risorgimento...
's novel of the same name
The Leopard
The Leopard is a novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa that chronicles the changes in Sicilian life and society during the Risorgimento...
.
Cast
- Burt LancasterBurt LancasterBurton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
as Prince Don Fabrizio Salina - Claudia CardinaleClaudia CardinaleClaudia Cardinale is an Italian actress, and has appeared in some of the most prominent European films of the 1960s and 1970s. The majority of Cardinale's films have been either Italian or French...
as Angelica Sedara / Bertiana - Alain DelonAlain DelonAlain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
as Tancredi Falconeri - Paolo StoppaPaolo StoppaPaolo Stoppa was an Italian actor and dubber.Born in Rome, he began as a stage actor in 1927 in the theater in Rome and began acting in films in 1932...
as Don Calogero Sedara - Rina MorelliRina MorelliRina Morelli was an Italian film actress. She appeared in 34 films between 1939 and 1976.She was born in Naples, Italy and died in Rome, Italy.-Selected filmography:* The Iron Crown...
as Princess Maria Stella Salina - Romolo ValliRomolo ValliRomolo Valli was an Italian actor.Valli was born in Reggio Emilia. He was one of the best known Italian actors from the 1950s to his death. He worked both for the stage and the silver screen...
as Father Pirrone - Terence HillTerence HillTerence Hill is an Italian actor. He is best known for starring in multiple action and western films together with his longtime filmpartner Bud Spencer.-Biography:...
as Count Cavriaghi (as Mario Girotti) - Pierre ClémentiPierre ClémentiPierre Clémenti was a French actor.Born in Paris, Clémenti studied drama and began his acting career in the theatre. He secured his first minor screen roles in 1960 in Yves Allégret's Chien de pique performing alongside Eddie Constantine...
as Francesco Paolo - Lucilla Morlacchi as Concetta
- Giuliano GemmaGiuliano Gemma-Biography:Born in Rome, Gemma first worked as a stuntman, then was offered real acting parts by director Duccio Tessari, starting with the film Arrivano i titani . He also made an appearance in Luchino Visconti's Il Gattopardo as Garibaldi's General...
as Garibaldi's General - Ida GalliIda GalliIda Galli is an Italian film actress best known for her roles in Spaghetti Western films in the 1960s and 1970s.She has made over 60 film appearances since 1960. She starred in films such as Adios Gringo , Blood For A Silver Dollar often billed as Evelyn Stewart alongside Giuliano Gemma .-...
as Carolina - Ottavia PiccoloOttavia PiccoloOttavia Piccolo is an Italian theatre and film actress. She has appeared in 45 films since 1962. She won the award for Best Actress at the 1970 Cannes Film Festival for the film Metello.-Selected filmography:* The Leopard...
as Caterina - Carlo Valenzano as Paolo
- Brook Fuller as Little Prince
- Anna Maria Bottini as Mademoiselle Dombreuil, the Governess
Production
The film features an international cast including the American Burt LancasterBurt Lancaster
Burton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
, the Frenchman Alain Delon
Alain Delon
Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
and the Italians Claudia Cardinale
Claudia Cardinale
Claudia Cardinale is an Italian actress, and has appeared in some of the most prominent European films of the 1960s and 1970s. The majority of Cardinale's films have been either Italian or French...
and Terence Hill
Terence Hill
Terence Hill is an Italian actor. He is best known for starring in multiple action and western films together with his longtime filmpartner Bud Spencer.-Biography:...
. It is generally seen today in the Italian language version, in which Lancaster's lines are dubbed into Italian by Corrado Gaipa
Corrado Gaipa
Corrado Gaipa was an Italian actor born in 1924 in Palermo, Sicily, Italy.Gaipa starred in many Italian films, and he also made an appearance in The Godfather as Don Tommasino. He was also known as the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi, portrayed by Alec Guinness, in the Italian version of the Star Wars...
; however, an English dubbed version was also produced at the time, in which Lancaster's own voice is heard. When Visconti was told by producers that they needed to cast a star in order to help to ensure that they'd earn enough money to justify the big budget, Visconti's first choice was one of the Soviet Union's preeminent actors, Nikolai Cherkasov
Nikolai Cherkasov
Nikolay Konstantinovich Cherkasov , was a Soviet actor and a People's Artist of the Soviet Union.-Career:He was born in Saint Petersburg . From 1919 he was a mime artist in Petrograd's Maryinsky Theatre, the Bolshoi Theatre, and elsewhere...
. Learning that Cherkasov was in no condition, healthwise, to take the part, Visconti then set his hopes on getting Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM was an English actor, director, and producer. He was one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century. He married three times, to fellow actors Jill Esmond, Vivien Leigh, and Joan Plowright...
, but he already had another commitment. The producers chose legendary Hollywood star Burt Lancaster
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
without consulting Visconti, which insulted the great director and caused tension on the set; but the director and Hollywood star ended up working well together, and their resulting friendship lasted the rest of their lives.
Alberto Arbasino
Alberto Arbasino
Alberto Arbasino is an Italian writer and essayist.-Biography:Arbasino was born at Voghera, southern Lombardy. He studied at the University of Milan where he graduated in law. Later he worked as journalist for magazines such as Il Mondo and the newspaper La Repubblica...
commented that Visconti's film was a reactionary
Reactionary
The term reactionary refers to viewpoints that seek to return to a previous state in a society. The term is meant to describe one end of a political spectrum whose opposite pole is "radical". While it has not been generally considered a term of praise it has been adopted as a self-description by...
operation typical of Italy, which strumentalized a good novel to support the foundation of an aceptable literature of the right-wing.
Versions
The film has circulated in numerous versions. Visconti's first cut was 205 minutes long, but this was regarded as excessive; he cut it down to 185 minutes for the official release, and regarded this version as his preferred length. The version shown in the English-speaking world was a 161-minute dubbed version edited by 20th Century Fox20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
. A 151-minute version was released in Spain.
Awards
- 1963 Cannes Film Festival1963 Cannes Film Festival-Jury:*Armand Salacrou *Rouben Mamoulian *Jacqueline Audry *Wilfrid Baumgartner *François Chavane *Jean De Baroncelli *Robert Hossein...
- Winner: Palme d'OrPalme d'OrThe Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
- Luchino ViscontiLuchino ViscontiLuchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo was an Italian theatre, opera and cinema director, as well as a screenwriter. He is best known for his films The Leopard and Death in Venice .-Life:...
- Winner: Palme d'Or
- Nastro d'ArgentoNastro d'ArgentoThe Nastro d'Argento is a movie award assigned each year, since 1946, for cinematic performances and production by Sindacato Nazionale dei Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani, the association of Italian film critics...
- Winner: Silver Ribbon - Luchino ViscontiLuchino ViscontiLuchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo was an Italian theatre, opera and cinema director, as well as a screenwriter. He is best known for his films The Leopard and Death in Venice .-Life:...
- Winner: Best Cinematography, Color (Migliore Fotografia a Colori) - Giuseppe Rotunno
- Winner: Best Costume DesignCostume designCostume design is the fabrication of apparel for the overall appearance of a character or performer. This usually involves researching, designing and building the actual items from conception. Costumes may be for a theater or cinema performance but may not be limited to such...
(Migliori Costumi) - Piero TosiPiero TosiPiero Tosi is an Italian costume designer. His credits include Bellissima, The Leopard, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Death in Venice, The Night Porter, and La Traviata. He won the David di Donatello for Best Costumes twice, as well as the 50th Anniversary David in 2006... - Winner: Best Production Design (Migliore Scenografia) - Mario GarbugliaMario GarbugliaMario Garbuglia was an Italian set designer. He won the David di Donatello, the Nastro d'Argento and a BAFTA.- Life :...
- Winner: Silver Ribbon - Luchino Visconti
- Academy AwardsAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
- Nominated: Best Costume Design, Color - Piero TosiPiero TosiPiero Tosi is an Italian costume designer. His credits include Bellissima, The Leopard, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Death in Venice, The Night Porter, and La Traviata. He won the David di Donatello for Best Costumes twice, as well as the 50th Anniversary David in 2006...
- Nominated: Best Costume Design, Color - Piero Tosi
Home media
There are several DVD editions available.- Region 2 Medusa Home Entertainment (released in 2001) is an Italian disc offering an unrestored print and several interviews and featurettes.
- Region 2 BFI VideoBritish Film InstituteThe British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
offers a restored print with a commentary by David Forgacs and Rossana Capitano - Region 1 The Criterion CollectionThe Criterion CollectionThe Criterion Collection is a video-distribution company selling "important classic and contemporary films" to film aficionados. The Criterion series is noted for helping to standardize the letterbox format for home video, bonus features, and special editions...
is a 3-disc set offering a restored print of the 185-minute version (English subtitles), with a commentary by Peter CowiePeter CowiePeter Cowie is a film historian and author of more than thirty books on film. In 1963 he was the founder/publisher and general editor of the annual International Film Guide, a survey of worldwide film production. Educated at Charterhouse School, and an Exhibitioner in History at Magdalene...
, several interviews, an hour-long documentary, and also includes the 161-minute English language dubbed version as an extra.
Preservation
The original 8-perforation TechniramaTechnirama
Technirama is a screen process that was used by some film production houses as an alternative to CinemaScope. It was first used in 1957 but fell into disuse in the mid 1960s...
camera negative for The Leopard survives and was used by The Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection is a video-distribution company selling "important classic and contemporary films" to film aficionados. The Criterion series is noted for helping to standardize the letterbox format for home video, bonus features, and special editions...
to create their video master for DVD and Blu-ray, with color timing supervised by the film's cinematographer, Giuseppe Rotunno
Giuseppe Rotunno
Giuseppe Rotunno, A.S.C., A.I.C. is an Italian cinematographer. Sometimes credited as Peppino Rotunno, he was director of photography on eight films by Federico Fellini...
. New preservation film elements were created using a 4K digital scan of the film, done with the cooperation of the Cineteca di Bologna, L'Immagine Ritrovata, The Film Foundation
The Film Foundation
The Film Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to film preservation founded by director Martin Scorsese in 1990.-External links:*...
, Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
, Pathé
Pathé
Pathé or Pathé Frères is the name of various French businesses founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France.-History:...
, Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé, Twentieth Century Fox, and Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia-Cineteca Nazionale.
This restoration premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival to great fanfare.
External links
- The Leopard (1963) - A review by Roger EbertRoger EbertRoger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
- The Leopard at Rotten TomatoesRotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
- 1963 review in TIME magazine