Casanova's Big Night (1954)

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod

Writers:

Aubrey Wisberg (story)
Hal Kanter (writer) ...

Release Date:

12 April 1954 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

A meek tailor thinks his wooing will be helped if he assumes the identity of the famous Casanova...who's deeply in debt.

Plot Keywords:

Casanova | Period Piece | Apprentice | 18th Century | Treachery

Cast

Bob Hope	...	Pippo Popolino
Joan Fontaine	...	Francesca Bruni
Audrey Dalton	...	Elena Di Gambetta
Basil Rathbone	...	Lucio / Narrator
Hugh Marlowe	...	Stefano Di Gambetta
Arnold Moss	...	The Doge
John Carradine	...	Foressi
John Hoyt	...	Maggiorin
Hope Emerson	...	Duchess of Castelbello
Robert Hutton	...	Raphael, Duc of Castelbello
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Emo the Murderer (as Lon Chaney)
Raymond Burr	...	Bragadin
Frieda Inescort	...	Signora Di Gambetta
Primo Carnera	...	Corfa
Frank Puglia	...	Carabaccio

Also Known As:

Mr. Casanova (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Vincent Price lost credit for his performance as the real Casanova when he was caught up in the McCarthy-era "Red Scare" hysteria that swept the US in the 1950s.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Pippo is thrown off the balcony by Casanova, and when he bounces on the cemented flagstones in the street, one of the flagstones bounces with him.

Quotes:

Francesca Bruni: Well, then take your mask off.
Pippo Popolino: Oh, no. I couldn't do that. I haven't got anything on underneath it.

Movie Connections:

References Of Mice and Men (1939)

Soundtrack:

THE GONDOLIER'S SERENADE

Lesser Bob Hope Vehicle

The usually hilarious Bob Hope generates very few laughs in this slapstick satire that has him portraying a con man who passes himself off as Casanova so he can test the virtues of a maiden (Joan Fontaine) whose marriage is being arranged for her. Most of the scenes fall flat and it winds up being a surprising letdown considering the talent involved.