Casanova's Big Night (1954)

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

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod

Writers:

Hal Kanter (written for the screen by), Edmund L. Hartmann (written for the screen by),

Stars:

Bob Hope, Joan Fontaine, Audrey Dalton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Italy, 1757. Lowly tailor Pippo Popolino disguises himself as the great Casanova in order to romance attractive widow Francesca. He little suspects what he's getting into: locked into the incongruous role by the desperation of the real Casanova's creditors, Pippo must journey to Venice on a delicate mission far beyond his capabilities.

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Plot Keywords:

casanova | treachery | doge of venice | venice italy | horse | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 April 1954 (UK)

Also Known As:

Mr. Casanova

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$3,500,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When a tablecloth catches onto Pippo during his dance with Elena, all the far-end plates and glass goblets adhere to the tablecloth, obviously glued. It's much funnier this way than a floor covered realistically in broken glass.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Pippo Popolino: This is Lucio, my food taster.
Foressi: Your food taster?
Pippo Popolino: Yes. You can't get good food tasters these days. The slightest hint of poison and they quit!
Francesca Bruni: [after laughter] Lucio is my cousin's ninth food taster.
Pippo Popolino: Tenth, counting Mother.

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Connections

Featured in The 50th Annual Academy Awards (1978)

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Soundtracks

"Tic-A-Tic-A-Tic"
by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
Sung by Bob Hope (uncredited)

User Reviews

The Great Hope

Hope was at his peak when this film was made. It has many of the same elements as his Monsieur Baucaire, a costume drama about a person above his station carrying out an impersonation, getting involved with good looking chicks, fighting comic duels, etc. Hollywood back in the late 40s and early 50s was not above recycling a hit. I love seeing these old films again with the great comedians of those times, Danny Kaye, Red Skelton and, of course, Hope. Their timing and ability to make the corniest gags work still amazes me. Also, this film has so many of the wonderful character actors that made the old studio productions such a treat. These are faces that only the most serious of trivia buffs will recognize and put the names on, but here we have Arnold Moss, Frank Puglia, John Carridine, Lon Chaney Jr., John Hoyt, Primo Carnera, Hugh Marlowe and a very young Raymond Burr. The comparisons by another reviewer with Woody Allen are interesting but, hey! Hope was first.