Cinema Paradiso (1988) Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (original title)

Director:

Giuseppe Tornatore

Writers:

Giuseppe Tornatore (story)
Giuseppe Tornatore (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 February 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A celebration of youth, friendship, and the everlasting magic of the movies.

Plot:

A filmmaker recalls his childhood, when he fell in love with the movies at his village's theater and formed a deep friendship with the theater's projectionist.

Plot Keywords:

Village | Boy | Love | Cinema | Film Making

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 19 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Antonella Attili	...	Maria Di Vita - Younger
Enzo Cannavale	...	Spaccafico
Isa Danieli	...	Anna
Leo Gullotta	...	Usher
Marco Leonardi	...	Salvatore 'Totò' Di Vita - Teenager
Pupella Maggio	...	Maria Di Vita - Older
Agnese Nano	...	Elena Mendola
Leopoldo Trieste	...	Father Adelfio
Salvatore Cascio	...	Salvatore 'Totò' Di Vita - Child
Tano Cimarosa	...	Blacksmith
Nicola Di Pinto	...	Village Idiot
Roberta Lena	...	Lia
Nino Terzo	...	Peppino's Father
Jacques Perrin	...	Salvatore 'Totò' Di Vita - Adult
Brigitte Fossey	...	Elena Mendola - Adult
Philippe Noiret	...	Alfredo
Nellina Laganà
Turi Giuffrida
Mariella Lo Giudice
Giorgio Libassi
Beatrice Palme
Ignazio Pappalardo
Angela Leontini
Mimmo Mignemi
Margherita Mignemi
Giuseppe Pellegrino
Turi Killer
Angelo Tosto
Concetta Borpagano
Franco Catalano
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle	...	Boxer (archive footage) (uncredited)
Antonio Arcidiacono	...	Ntoni (archive footage) (uncredited)
Junie Astor	...	Natacha (archive footage) (uncredited)
Ignazio Balsamo	...	Francesco Messana (archive footage) (uncredited)
Brigitte Bardot	...	Juliete Hardy (archive footage) (uncredited)
John Barrymore	...	The Baron (archive footage) (uncredited)
Isa Barzizza	...	Toto's Conquest (archive footage) (uncredited)
Ingrid Bergman	...	Ivy Peterson (archive footage) (uncredited)
Vilma Bánky	...	Yasmin (archive footage) (uncredited)
Clara Calamai	...	Ginevra (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mario Castellani	...	Jealous Husband (archive footage) (uncredited)
Nicola Castorino	...	Nicola (archive footage) (uncredited)
Charles Chaplin	...	Referee / The Lone Prospector (archive footage) (uncredited)
Gary Cooper	...	Lt. Frederic Henry (archive footage) (uncredited)
Olivia de Havilland	...	Maid Marian (archive footage) (uncredited)
Vittorio De Sica	...	Count Prospero B. (archive footage) (uncredited)
Kirk Douglas	...	Ulysses (archive footage) (uncredited)
Errol Flynn	...	Robin Hood (archive footage) (uncredited)
Jean Gabin	...	Wasska Pepel (archive footage) (uncredited)
Clark Gable	...	Ace Wilfong (archive footage) (uncredited)
Greta Garbo	...	Grusinskaya - the Dancer (archive footage) (uncredited)
Vittorio Gassman	...	Walter (archive footage) (uncredited)
Massimo Girotti	...	Il pretore Guido Schiavi (archive footage) (uncredited)
Farley Granger	...	Il tenente Franz Mahler (archive footage) (uncredited)
Cary Grant	...	Walter Burns (archive footage) (uncredited)
Georgia Hale	...	Georgia (archive footage) (uncredited)
Laurence Harvey	...	Joe Lampton (archive footage) (uncredited)
Helen Hayes	...	Catherine Barkley (archive footage) (uncredited)
Louis Jouvet	...	Le Baron (archive footage) (uncredited)
Anna Magnani	...	Maddalena Cecconi (archive footage) (uncredited)
Silvana Mangano	...	Anna / Silvana (archive footage) (uncredited)
Marcello Mastroianni	...	Mario (archive footage) (uncredited)
Amedeo Nazzari	...	Neri Chiaramontesi (archive footage) (uncredited)
Suzy Prim	...	Vassilissa Kostyleva (archive footage) (uncredited)
Donna Reed	...	Mary Hatch (archive footage) (uncredited)
Jane Russell	...	Rio McDonald (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rosalind Russell	...	Hildy Johnson (archive footage) (uncredited)
Yvonne Sanson	...	Rosa Carrisi (archive footage) (uncredited)
Maria Schell	...	Natalia (archive footage) (uncredited)
Norma Shearer	...	Jan Ashe (archive footage) (uncredited)
Simone Signoret	...	Alice Aisgill (archive footage) (uncredited)
Alberto Sordi	...	Alberto (archive footage) (uncredited)
James Stewart	...	George Bailey (archive footage) (uncredited)
Giuseppe Tornatore	...	Projectionist (uncredited)
Totò	...	The Suitor - Disguises Himself as Dummy / Band Leader (archive footage) (uncredited)
Spencer Tracy	...	Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde (archive footage) (uncredited)
Claire Trevor	...	Dallas (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rudolph Valentino	...	The Sheik (archive footage) (uncredited)
Alida Valli	...	La contessa Livia Serpieri (archive footage) (uncredited)
John Wayne	...	Ringo Kid (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Giuseppe Tornatore

Writing credits
Giuseppe Tornatore		(story)
Giuseppe Tornatore		screenplay and
Vanna Paoli		collaborating writer

Produced by
Gabriella Carosio	....	delegate producer: RAI
Franco Cristaldi	....	producer
Giovanna Romagnoli	....	producer

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone

Cinematography by
Blasco Giurato

Film Editing by
Mario Morra

Production Design by
Andrea Crisanti

Costume Design by
Beatrice Bordone

Makeup Department
Laura Borselli	....	assistant makeup artist (as Laura Borzelli)
Paolo Borselli	....	hair stylist (as Paolo Borzelli)
Maurizio Trani	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Mino Barbera	....	general manager
Romualdo Buzzanca	....	production manager (as Aldo Buzzanca)
Eleonora Comencini	....	production manager
Aureliano Luppi	....	production supervisor
Salvo Luppo	....	production supervisor
Vittorio Noia	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Giuseppe Giglietti	....	assistant director
Pietra Tornatore	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Fabio Bonzi	....	assistant production designer
Benito Leonardi	....	construction foreman
Marco Maggi	....	constructor
Alberto Michettoni	....	first property master
Cinzia Milani	....	assistant art director
Marcello Molfo	....	second property master
Raffaele Pantaleo	....	construction foreman
Porfirio Perrone	....	constructor
Oreste Quercioli	....	set painter
Marina Zalapi	....	assistant production designer

Sound Department
Luciano Anzellotti	....	foley artist
Massimo Anzellotti	....	sound effects editor
Annia Bargagli	....	dubbing assistant
Alberto Doni	....	sound mixer
Franco Finetti	....	sound engineer
Massimo Loffredi	....	sound recordist
Stefano Nissolino	....	sound dubbing
Giulio Viggiani	....	boom operator
Dan Edelstein	....	supervising sound editor: special edition re-release (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Danilo Bollettini	....	special effects technician
Giovanni Corridori	....	special effects coordinator (as Corridori)

Stunts
Angelo Ragusa	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Luca Biamonte	....	still photographer
Nazzareno Brescini	....	chief electrician (as Neno Brescini)
Giuseppe Di Biase	....	camera operator
Claudio Diamanti	....	grip
Fabio Lanciotti	....	assistant camera
Carlo Passari	....	first assistant camera
Giuseppe Petrignani	....	key grip
Giuseppe Sciarra	....	electrician
Giuseppe Sgarra	....	electrician
Elio Tolles	....	electrician
Doriano Torriero	....	grip

Animation Department
Massimiliano Cerchi	....	animator (as Alvaro Passeri)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jacopo Bellini	....	assistant seamstress
Luigi Bonanno	....	costume assistant
Amedeo Monti	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Ida Cruciani	....	assistant editor
Giancarlo Mammetti	....	color technician
Luca Montanari	....	assistant editor
Stefano Quaglia	....	assistant editor

Music Department
John M. Davis	....	music editor (director's cut)
Enrico DeMelis	....	general music coordinator (as Enrico De Melis)
Andrea Morricone	....	composer: love theme
Franco Tamponi	....	musician: violin

Other crew
Nestore Baratella	....	administrator
Cesare Barbetti	....	dubbing director
Cesare Barbetti	....	voice dubbing: Jacques Perrin
Luigi Biamonte	....	press agent
Riccardo Caneva	....	coordinator
Lillo Capoano	....	continuity director
Claudia Catani	....	voice dubbing: Agnese Nano
Vittorio Di Prima	....	voice dubbing: Philippe Noiret
Vittoria Febbi	....	voice dubbing: Brigitte Fossey
Peter Fernandez	....	voice director (US version)
Elizabetta Gizzi	....	administrator (as Elisabetta Gizzi)
Francesco Liberati	....	production secretary
Fabrizio Manfredi	....	voice dubbing: Marco Leonardi
Bruno Morganti	....	production secretary
Vanna Paoli	....	researcher: film clips
Carla Pettini	....	coordination secretary
Alba Maria Ruggeri	....	cashier
Luciano Vittori	....	print production

Production Companies

• Cristaldifilm
• Les Films Ariane (co-production)
• Rai Tre Radiotelevisione Italiana (as Rete 3) (associate production)
• TF1 Films Production (associate production)
• Forum Picture (collaboration)

Distributors

• Herald Ace (1989) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Nippon Herald Films (1989) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Miramax Films (1990) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Transmundo Films (1990) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• HBO Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Transmundo Home Video (THV) (1990) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Miramax Films (2002) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release) (director's cut)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2002) (Australia) (DVD)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Aquarius TV (2004) (Greece) (DVD)
• Aquarius TV (2004) (Greece) (TV)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (2005) (Japan) (theatrical) (restored version)
• Dolmen Home Video (2007) (Italy) (DVD) (director's cut)
• Weinstein Company, The (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Emerald (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Concorde Filmverleih (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1990) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (VHS)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (19??) (USA) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Spentzos Films (Greece) (VHS)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2003) (Sweden) (DVD) (director's cut)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2004) (Sweden) (DVD) (International version)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Vestron Video (1990) (West Germany) (VHS)

Other Companies

• DRG Records  soundtrack published by
• Penta Studio  titles
• Solare Location & Casting  casting

Also Known As:

"Nuovo Cinema Paradiso" - Italy (original title)
"Cinema Paradiso: The New Version" - USA (director's cut)

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality (director's cut) (2002)

Runtime:

155 min | Italy:173 min (Europa Cinema Festival) | 124 min (cut theatrical version)

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian | English | Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Norway:10 | Peru:PT | Singapore:M18 (director's cut) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:15 (director's cut) | UK:PG | USA:PG (original rating) | USA:R (director's cut) (2002) | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 (director's cut) | Spain:T | South Korea:All (original rating) | West Germany:12 (f) | Italy:T | Netherlands:9 (2009) (DVD) | Japan:PG12 (2010) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Australia:M (Director's Cut)

Filming Locations:

Bagheria, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Company:

Cristaldifilm

Trivia:

Giuseppe Tornatore's intention was that this movie should serve as an obituary for traditional movie theatres (like the one on the film) and the movie industry in general. After the movie's success he never mentioned this again.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Toto and Alfredo are taking the test at school, Alfredo acquires an ink smudge on his right cheek. During the test the smudge changes shape and intensity several times.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Maria Di Vita - Older:[in Italian]
[on the phone]
Maria Di Vita - Older:Yes, Salvatore di Vita. You mean you don't know him, Miss? That's right, and I'm his mother. I've been calling from Sicily, all day long. I understand, he's not there.

Movie Connections:

Features I Vitelloni (1953)

Soundtrack:

Love Theme

As Good as Movies Get

Movies can wield a strange power over those who sit in the darkened seats of a theatre. The truly great ones manipulate your perception of reality, suspend your disbelief, and ultimately either alter or affirm your view on life. NUOVO CINEMA PARADISO is just such a movie. It is the near-perfect melding of direction, acting, script, sound track, and cinematography. Phillipe Noiret and Salvatore Cascio give the kind of performances usually associated with much more recognizable actors. The supporting cast looks like they could all be full-blooded Sicilians. The location shots add depth and realism to the entire production. Ennio Morricone's music is simply the most appropriate and emotive I have ever had the pleasure to hear in a theatre. Tornatore's script and direction are a joy, a breath of fresh air.

I will not spoil this story by repeating it, nor will I give away the ending, although it matters not a whit. I could disclose fully everything in this movie, and in seeing it, all my words would evaporate. There is nothing like the experience of sitting through it, becoming engulfed by it, and in the end, being changed.