Editorial Review

Luchino Visconti's adaptation of the Thomas Mann novel is the very definition of sumptuous:the costumes and sets, the special geography of Venice, and the breathtaking cinematography combine to form a heady experience. At the center of this gorgeousness is Aschenbach (Dirk Bogarde in a meticulous performance), a controlled intellectual who unexpectedly finds himself obsessed by the vision of a 14-year-old boy while on a convalescent vacation in 1911. Visconti has turned Aschenbach into a composer, which accounts for the lush excerpts from Mahler on the soundtrack (Bogarde is meant to look like Mahler, too). Even if it tends to hit the nail on the head a little too forcefully, and even if Visconti can test one's patience with lingering looks at crowds at the beach and hotel dining rooms, Read more

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Reviews (56)

"Death in Venice" is a classic you should watch at least once, but...
"Death in Venice" (1971) is Visconti's version of the short story of the same name written by Thomas Mann. There are a few changes, but I think that the film is true to the spirit of the story. Did I love this movie? No, but I'd watch it again, because I was impressed by it.
Visconti's most lyrical, beguiling film
This is such a tragic, beautiful film.Langorous in its pacing, the film is told mainly through imagery, and evocative use of Mahler's 5th Symphony, 4th movement.It's almost like a tone poem, or a concerto itself, as it gives the viewer a true sense of sadness and death.Bogarde is superb as the dying composer, and the cinemtography is stunning.I would disagree that Bogarde's character is a homosexual who is lusting after the boy (some have said this just on the basis that Visconti was homosexual).Having read the novella this is based on, Bogarde's character sees in Tadzio the classical sense of beauty and truth, not sexual longings.He sees him as the perfect example of youth, but that doesn't necessarily mean he "wants" him.Some have called this film and the novella an advertisement for pedophilia, and that is grossly unfair and ridiculous.Thomas Mann is one of my favorite writers, and Visconti has made a film worthy of the original text.This is my favorite Visconti film, slightly ahead of The Leopard (the uncut version, of course).
Very sad but beautiful
Dirk Bogarde brought a sadness to his character that made me cry everytime he was on screen, especially when he went to the mens beauty shop, trying to look younger to attract the young boy he was infatuated with.Every shot in this movie looks like a painting.It was so beautiful and, dare I say it again, sad. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Feature Film-drama   

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Reviews (16)

The "Dream King" in a Nightmare!
I have read a considerable amount of material on the life of the tragic Ludwig II of Bavaria. Enough to be totally captivated by the man and his dedication to a life of art and music. For sure, he had many flaws like other leaders, but he was a man made for a future era and was born before his time. This Visconti film had tremendous potential to bring out the truth about this famous eccentric who was in love with the night and was only interested in building castles to fill a romantic vision of Germanic mythology. Unfortunately it fails to communicate properly about the man to the audience. The actor chosen for the role, Helmut Berger, was good. The potential was there, but it falls short. I was much more intrigued by the scenes of Ludwig that were filmed for Richard Burton's "Wagner", and in those short glimpses we understood much more about Ludwig than you will discover in this long film. Especially helpful were the scenes that showed discussions between staffers under Ludwig's employ and the plotting of greedy people. "Wagner" came close but was limited because it was after all a movie about Wagner's whole life. This attempt from 1970 started on the right track with location scenery but appears to be disconnected regarding scenes of Ludwig's life leaving us out of the plot. So much so that to some it appears to be a lot of dark photography of a brooding Ludwig hiding in his castle until the guards come to place him under arrest. Someday I expect the King will be given the full film treatment that he deserves but until now that day has yet to arrive.

Sumptuous, Beautiful, Visconti!
This is marvellous costume drama set in the later nineteenth century, based on the life of the eccentric and fanciful King Ludwig of Bavaria, and set in the splendid palaces and castles that he had constructed according to his whimsically romantic tastes.He is always in search of an ideal fulfillment and love that he cannot find in the world, from which he thus finds himself increasingly detached.His amorous tastes are clearly homoerotic, but he cannot even find what he is looking for in that way either, partly because he cannot find any potential lover whose Romantic sensibility and moody melancholy matches his own. He retreats into his fantasies, expressed through his subsidies of Richard Wagner, his elaborate building programs, and otherwise.And this personal story is juxtaposed with the political context of Prussian ambitions for a greater unified Germany that result in Bavaria's loss of independence.There is thus an atmosphere of foreboding, so that the story is an elegy for a vanished Europe, soon to be lost in the cataclysms of the First and Second World Wars.The effect is ultimately bittersweet and tragic--Ludwig is a man of great imagination, in some ways a poet, unsuited to be king, upon whom the world closes in and finally crushes.Visconti is a great director and this is a great film:not to everyone's tastes, but then what is.Stuff like Titanic is what sells.Visconti's directorial style is perhaps best described as full-blown operatic--very lush, magnificently staged, wonderful to watch just for that, and yet there's much more going on.This is one of the films I love.

Worst film I ever saw
This is one of the worst films I ever saw.So much posing and posturing.Excruciating analysis of the characters' emotional mindframes and moods.Excruciating, period.I thought one would see something about the building of the castles.Not at all.The fact that it is in Italian loses all credibility for this film, and the focus on Ludwig's moodiness is agonizing.So many unconnected bits and pieces are tossed about.There is no real action in the film, i.e. give and take conversation between the characters.It's all moody Ludwig.It's awful, and I can't wait to get rid of it.If you think you are going to see something that shows a flattering picture of the king, you are mistaken.He is made to look like an ogre.The script is particularly awful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign    2. Foreign Film - Italian    3. Foreign Film [Dub Or Subtitle]    4. Movie   

Editorial Review

This brooding, operatic movie about Nazism makes Read more

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Reviews (5)

visconti's last film -a gem!
This movie is perfect in every way.The cinematography is absolutely hypnotic.The performances are brilliantly subtle,yet powerful. It is an excellent study of passion,jealousy and desperation.Each scene is so multilayered,that upon repeated viewing it could never be boring. The musical score is a beautiful accompaniment,greatly adding to the feel of the movie.I highly recommend this movie to anyone,but I especially think of it being a great experience for anyone who is interested in increasing their knowledge of great filmakers like Luchino Visconti.

A MELODRAMA WITH CLASS
A free adaptation of GABRIELE D'ANNUNZIO's novel , this is a terrific melodrama that will pleased mostly lovers of those turn of the century stories dealing with adultry.Slow moving it is ,but never boring and you guys will ravish at LAURA ANTONELLI's stunning figure.If you don't think that LAURA is beautiful then you must be blind.It's fun to see TULIO (GIANCARLO GIANNINI)go crazy when his wife is announcing him that she is pregnant from another man.The hypcrosy of bourgeois life is interestingly treated and that villa, plus the fashion of the time making all the women look their best.One truely wonderful love scene and finally let me say that i would like to see other movies like this.You guys watch out ,because your wife or girlfriend may ask you:am i as beautiful as LAURA?OK now you're in trouble.

A pure Visconti picture
A beautiful movie, as many others of Visconti.Devinitely a must-see for Italian movie lovers and for any serious movie lover in general. ... Read more

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Editorial Review

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Il Postino always rings Twice
It is difficult to review this movie without comparing it to "The Postman Always Rings Twice" (TPART).That's because both are based on the same novel by James Cain.I had heard of "TPART" for years before I finally saw it for the first time earlier this year.My impression was that it was a good movie but, having waited anxiously for so long to see it, it was something of a let down.Last night I was tired and looked forward to watching a good movie.I chose "Ossessione" but almost changed my mind when I saw it was based on "TPART".After all, I'd recently seen that and didn't think it such a great story to see again so soon.Fortunately, I gave the movie a try and was quickly absorbed into it.
WOW!!!!
This film is a classic on so many levels and for so many reasons, I can't even encapsulate them all. Lurid, innocent, sexy, sensuous, humorous, earthy, sad, --- it runs the whole gamut of emotion, and is absolutely transfixing. Just see it; you'll understand completely. As must-own as it gets.
Traumatic but absorbing ride
Unhappy people in unhappy circumstances. Gino is a drifter. Not because he has no talent. He is a lost soul looking for an undefined future and is determined to not be tied to anything until he finds his personal nirvana. Giovanna wants the security of being settled, but is unhappy with the man who made it possible. She too, is a lost soul in search of an undefined future. With only passion as a common denominator, they cast their lots with each other and start in motion a chain of events that brings none of the joys anticipated.Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign Film - Italian    2. Foreign Film [Dub Or Subtitle]    3. Movie   

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Reviews (19)

Another jeweled film of Luchino Visconti!
If the Neo Realism was born with a forgotten film of 1934 named Tony directed by Jean Renoir, you can read frequently that Roberto Roselini has been designed as his Italian father. In these terms, if we assume the cycle initiates with Paisa (1945), Roma citt� apperta and Germania Anno Zero, Vittorio De Sica would follow the traces, many people tend to forget a hidden film of Visconti dated in 1943-Ossesione- , and best known as "The postman always rings twice."
What movie did the other reviewers watch?
Luchino Visconti is a master of the epic, however, his epic style always takes place within a family and always leads downward towards an inevitable doom. His movies tends to remind us of the 'Godfather' but Visconti, dare I say, even gets closer to the marrow of the issues than Coppola does at his best (I am nevertheless, a big fan of 'the Godfather'). To Visconti the finest details of a film are of the utmost importance - you can watch a film like 'Rocco' or the 'Leopard' several times and still miss things. Visconti's cinema is one which reveals itself in every character, in every piece of furniture, in every moment.
Brilliant family drama
This movie shows as few the feeling of persons in extreme conflicts. The attitudes of each one are very richly portraied with the most notorious quality. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign Film - Italian   

Editorial Review

It is 1855, and the Austrian military has occupied Italy. Countess Livia Serpieri (Alida Valli) falls deeply in love with Franz Mahler (Farley Granger), an Austrian lieutenant. She betrays her country by stealing funds collected to aid the resistance and giving them to Franz so that he can bribe his way out of service. When she rendezvous with the lieutenant, she finds a drunken, ungrateful rogue who has used her only for her money, in what is perhaps among the most psychologically disturbing scenes ever filmed. Her revenge is swift and decisive, and though severe, quite believable. This 1954 film from Luchino Visconti (Read more

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An epic romance from post war Italy
I have rated this film 4 only because of it's length, there are some ponderous moments, but otherwise it is a 5.
The expected consequences of a passion!
Tragic drama around a noblewoman who sacrifices her marriage when she loves a handsome but cowardly young officer. Lavishly produced and superbly photographed.
Be Careful Before You Buy This!
Last year I spent over $55.00 for a pristine, still shrink wrapped copy of Senso on dvd. What I DIDN'T originally know was that the dvd was multiregional, coming from Brazil, in the original Italian language with subtitles ONLY in Portugese! Unless you are fluent in either Italian or Portugese, you will be spending a high price on a dvd you will never watch. If the Amazon.com Seller had notified me before my purchase that the dvd had no English subtitles before they so willingly took my money, of course I would have saved my cash. Adding insult to injury, I found MANY copies of the very same dvd on eBay, and they were ALL much cheaper! Take it from a guy who has learned a hard lesson: Before your bank account is charged for this dvd, inquire about it. You will be glad you did. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign    2. Foreign Film - Italian    3. Foreign Film [Dub Or Subtitle]    4. Movie