The Stranger (1967) Lo straniero (original title)

Director:

Luchino Visconti

Writers:

Albert Camus (novel)
Suso Cecchi D'Amico
(more)

Release Date:

18 December 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Albert Camus' Chilling Story of a Man Who Was Damned If He Would And Damned If He Wouldn't...

Plot:

In an atmosphere of political tension when the French still control Algiers, an Algerian is killed on...

Plot Keywords:

Funeral | Murder | Bathing Suit | Sun | Knife

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Marcello Mastroianni	...	Arthur Meursault
Anna Karina	...	Marie Cardona
Bernard Blier	...	Defense Counsel
Georges Wilson	...	Examining Magistrate (as George Wilson)
Bruno Cremer	...	Priest
Pierre Bertin	...	Judge
Jacques Herlin	...	Director of Home
Marc Laurent	...	Emmanuel
Georges Géret	...	Raymond
Alfred Adam	...	L'avocat général
Jean-Pierre Zola	...	Employer
Mimmo Palmara	...	Masson
Angela Luce	...	Madame Masson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean-Marc Bory
Vittorio Duse	...	Lawyer
Joseph Marechal	...	Salamano
Jacques Monod
Saada Cheritel	...	Arab (uncredited)
Brahim Hadjadj	...	Arab (uncredited)
Paolo Herzl	...	(uncredited)
Valentino Macchi	...	(uncredited)
Mohamed Ralem	...	Arab (uncredited)

Directed by
Luchino Visconti

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Albert Camus		novel "L'etranger"
Suso Cecchi D'Amico
Georges Conchon
Emmanuel Roblès
Luchino Visconti

Produced by
Dino De Laurentiis	....	producer

Original Music by
Piero Piccioni

Cinematography by
Giuseppe Rotunno

Film Editing by
Ruggero Mastroianni

Production Design by
Mario Garbuglia

Costume Design by
Piero Tosi

Makeup Department
Mario Banchelli	....	makeup artist

Music Department
Bruno Nicolai	....	musical director

Production Companies

• Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica
• Raster Film
• Marianne Productions (co-production)
• Casbah Film (associate production)

Distributors

• Paramount (1967) (France) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (USA) (subtitled)
• Video Search of Miami (2010) (USA) (DVD) (dubbed)

Also Known As:

"Lo straniero" - Italy (original title)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Italy | France | Algeria

Language:

French | Italian

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Algiers, Algeria

Company:

Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Costumes from the Films of Visconti (1978)

more context than a review

Reviewing isn't really my thing. However, it seems that some information about this film, information that was only fully told when the film was restored in 2001, isn't easily accessible in English. So, here's the rundown:

1- during the long gestation of the project (from 1962), Visconti was often tempted to underscore the political side of the novel; this was shot down by the Camus family.

2- the first choice to play Meursalt was Alain Delon, but negotiations fell apart. In came Mastroianni, who offered to make the movie for half his usual pay. There was no way producer De Laurentiis would say no.

3- Visconti had envisioned a flashback structure to the film, with different viewpoints. The Camus widow imposed a writer of her choice (Roblès) to ensure literal faithfulness to the novel.

4- at this point Visconti tried to walk out, but he was bound to make this film by contract, and had to despite losing all enthusiasm. He was to remember it as his worst film.

Now for the vote. It is professionally done, and while Marcello gives a completely different take on Meursalt from the book - close your eyes and imagine young Delon instead - he gives it his best. A sufficient effort, if one does not think of what it could have been.