Senso (1954)

A troubled and neurotic Italian Countess betrays her entire country for a self-destructive love affair with an Austrian Lieutenant.

Director:

Luchino Visconti

Writers:

Luchino Visconti (story), Suso Cecchi D'Amico (story)

Stars:

Farley Granger, Alida Valli, Massimo Girotti

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Farley Granger	...	Il tenente Franz Mahler
Alida Valli	...	La contessa Livia Serpieri
Massimo Girotti	...	Il marchese Roberto Ussoni
Heinz Moog	...	Il conte Serpieri
Rina Morelli	...	Laura, la governante
Christian Marquand	...	Un ufficiale boemo
Sergio Fantoni	...	Luca
Tino Bianchi	...	Il capitano Meucci
Ernst Nadherny	...	Il comandante della piazza di Verona
Tonio Selwart	...	Il colonello Kleist
Marcella Mariani	...	Clara, la prostituta

Storyline

Venezia, spring of 1866, in the last days of the Austrian occupation. A performance of Il Trovatore ends up in confusion due to an anti-Austrian demonstration, organised by Count Ussoni. His cousin Countess Serpieri falls in love with vile Austrian Lieutenant Franz Mahler, but the times are changing.

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Plot Keywords:

love | venezia | betrayal | opera | affair | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian German

Release Date:

8 July 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Wanton Contessa

Filming Locations:

Rielo di San Daniele, Castello, Venice, Veneto, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lux Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min 93 min (edited/dubbed) 123 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jean Renoir supervised the French dubbed version, which restored some scenes cut by the Italian government.

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Quotes

Il tenente Franz Mahler: It's too late! It's over! I'm not your romantic hero!

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Connections

Featured in Luchino Visconti (1999)

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Soundtracks

L'onda de'suoni mistici
(uncredited)
(from "Il Trovatore; Act 3")
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Anita Cerquetti, Gino Penno

User Reviews

Visually it's a stunner

A feast for the eyes this lush melodrama may be an acquired taste for some but I doubt anyone could say it wasn't visually stunning. Venice is rendered so beautifully you will want to hop the next flight there and with the composition of all the other scenes it is like watching a story take place inside of paintings. However as gorgeous as all that is it also can be distracting and take you out of the story as you study the detail which at times feels a bit surreal. Having only seen Alida Valli in her English language films where she often seemed stiff and ill at ease her performance here is quite a revelation. She is fully in command of the screen and her anguished turmoil is compelling to watch. Farley is not bad although his part really doesn't offer him much more than being a slick and very handsome wastrel.