Nights of Cabiria (1957)
"Le notti di Cabiria" (original title)

A waifish prostitute wanders the streets of Rome looking for true love but finds only heartbreak.

Director:

Federico Fellini

Writers:

Federico Fellini (story), Ennio Flaiano (story),

Stars:

Giulietta Masina, François Périer, Franca Marzi

Won 1 Oscar. Another 14 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Giulietta Masina	...	Maria 'Cabiria' Ceccarelli
François Périer	...	Oscar D'Onofrio (as François Perier)
Franca Marzi	...	Wanda
Dorian Gray	...	Jessy
Aldo Silvani	...	The wizard
Ennio Girolami	...	Amleto, 'il magnaccia'
Mario Passante	...	Uncle of Amleto
Christian Tassou
Amedeo Nazzari	...	Alberto Lazzari

Storyline

Cabiria is a wide-eyed waif, a streetwalker living in a poor section of Rome where she owns her little house, has a bank account, and dreams of a miracle. We follow her nights (and days): a boyfriend steals 40,000 lire from her and nearly drowns her, a movie star on the Via Veneto takes her home with him, at a local shrine she seeks the Madonna's intercession, then she meets an accountant who's seen her, hypnotized on a vaudeville stage, acting out her heart's longings. He courts her. Is it fate that led to their meeting? Is this finally a man who appreciates her for who she is?

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Plot Keywords:

shrine | prostitute | movie star | heartbreak | accountant | 

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Taglines:

The story of a betrayed but unquenchable little Roman street-walker.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

26 May 1957 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Nights of Cabiria

Filming Locations:

Acilia, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$38,988 (USA) (3 July 1998)

Gross:

$752,045 (USA) (30 October 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica, Les Films Marceau

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 117 min (restored)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Federico Fellini cast film editor 'Leo Cattazo' as "The Man with the Sack" and wanted to keep that sequence in the release print over the objections of producer 'Dino De Laurentiis'. De Laurentiis, who thought the scene slowed the film down, finally had to resort to stealing the scene from the editing room. According to DeLaurentiis about five to seven years after its original release, Fellini called him up and begged him to give him back the sequence so he could restore it. As "Cabiria" had now achieved a classic status, the producer agreed.

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Goofs

The position of the family outside the house changes between when Cabiria first opens the door and when she leaves the house.

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Quotes

Giorgio: [in Italian]
[first lines]
Giorgio: Go over there.
Maria 'Cabiria' Ceccarelli: [in Italian] It's beautiful. Come on.

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Connections

Referenced in Wie de Waarheid Zegt Moet Dood (1981)

User Reviews

on the timelessness of Fellini's overlooked masterpiece

As a film-lover, there are movies that I've outgrown, movies that disappointingly lose their connection to me as I age and mature. Fellini's "Le Notti di Cabiria" is one of those movies that seems to grow with me. It grows richer with each yearly viewing. I never tire of it; I am moved in different ways each time I see it. Fellini and his amazing muse, Giulietta Masina, created one of those rare movie masterpieces in 1957 that comments on its time, yet remains fresh and contemporary as well. But I lament that this gem is so little known today. I trust its recent restoration will help remedy the movie-going public's oversight. The film's rich concluding scene alone (and Masina's glance into our eyes) remains one of the most magical moments ever projected on a screen.