Il gattopardo (1963)

Director:

Luchino Visconti

Writers:

Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa (novel)
Suso Cecchi d'Amico (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 July 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance | War

Tagline:

Luchino Visconti's Enduring Romantic Adventure

Plot:

The Prince of Salina, a noble aristocrat of impeccable integrity, tries to preserve his family and class amid the tumultuous social upheavals of 1860's Sicily.

Plot Keywords:

Prince | Noble | Sicily | 1860s | Sicilian

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 7 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Prince Don Fabrizio Salina
Claudia Cardinale	...	Angelica Sedara / Bertiana
Alain Delon	...	Tancredi Falconeri
Paolo Stoppa	...	Don Calogero Sedara
Rina Morelli	...	Princess Maria Stella Salina
Romolo Valli	...	Father Pirrone
Terence Hill	...	Count Cavriaghi (as Mario Girotti)
Pierre Clémenti	...	Francesco Paolo
Lucilla Morlacchi	...	Concetta
Giuliano Gemma	...	Garibaldi's General
Ida Galli	...	Carolina
Ottavia Piccolo	...	Caterina
Carlo Valenzano	...	Paolo
Brook Fuller	...	Little Prince
Anna Maria Bottini	...	Mademoiselle Dombreuil, the Governess

Also Known As:

The Leopard (UK) (USA)
Le guépard (France)

Runtime:

187 min | Spain:151 min (cut version) | UK:161 min (cut version) | USA:165 min (cut version) | France:195 min (Cannes Film Festival) | 205 min (premiere version) | West Germany:161 min (cut version)

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian | Latin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M (TV rating) | West Germany:12 (f) | Norway:12 (re-rating) (1985) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG (video rating) | UK:U (original rating) | USA:PG (certificate #20553) | Hong Kong:IIB

Filming Locations:

Ariccia, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Titanus

Trivia:

Horst Buchholz turned down the role of Tancredi.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: There is much kissing of hands during the movie. According to the book "Histoire de la politesse de 1789 à nos jours (History of good manners from 1789 till today)" by F. Rouvillois, the kissing of hands only appeared at the turn of the XXth century when the story in the movie was supposed to take place in 1860-1862, more than 40 years before.

Quotes:

Prince Don Fabrizio Salina: Things will have to change in order that they remain the same.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in An Opera of Violence (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Valzer Brillante

Touches on the true meaning of aristocracy

Burt Lancaster plays a true aristocrat in an aristocracy that is not an aristocracy. The degeneracy as well as the sophistication of the rival political factions in warring Sicily is shown, and the human insight of the central character that embodies true nobility, even though he is largely powerless to make his ideals reality. Garibaldi is invading Sicily with an army of a thousand, landing in Marsala and advancing through Palermo. Prince Salina (Lancaster) is a noble of a disappearing age. He refuses a place in the new senate and is unable to convince the new wave that the unification will not be good for Sicily. He is caught between different loyalties. A love story between his nephew (played by Alain Delon) and a rich merchant's daughter (played by Claudia Cardinale) interweaves the action and heightens the moral dilemmas that Prince Salina has to face. A brave film, opposing, exposing and opposed by government and church. The full length restored edition is a cinematic gem and the opulent costumes and scenery are a treasure to behold.