The Nights of Cabiria (1957)

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

Top Rated Movies #230 | Won 1 Oscar. Another 15 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
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

Rome, 1957. A woman, Cabiria, is robbed and left to drown by her boyfriend, Giorgio. Rescued, she resumes her life and tries her best to find happiness in a cynical world. Even when she thinks her struggles are over and she has found happiness and contentment, things may not be what they seem.

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Plot Keywords:

prostitute | rescue from drowning | italian woman | rome italy | woman | 

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Taglines:

They call her Cabiria...No Matter How Many Men She Was With - She Would Always Be Alone!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

16 October 1957 (France)

Also Known As:

The Nights of Cabiria

Filming Locations:

Acilia, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$38,988, 5 July 1998, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$752,045, 1 November 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

Italian censorship visa #23742 delivered on 13 March 1957.

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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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Alternate Versions

Nights of Cabiria has been available in videos in the original version. The Rialto Pictures 1998 version, released in theaters in 1998, restores a scene showing a mystery man with a sack delivering food and blankets to people sheltered in holes. The 1998 version restored picture and sound, has a new translation, and is available from The Criterion Collection (DVD) and Homevision Cinema (DVD).

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1960's (2009)

User Reviews

The "grandest finale" ever

It's hard to tell which Fellini's film leads the way; "8 1/2", "La Dolce vita", "La strada", "Amarcord" and so many more, you just can't choose.

But, when it comes to this beautiful picture, things become clearer. It's not just the amazing perfomance by Giullietta Masina, it's not just the wonderful, semi-crazy characters wondering around the screen and emphasizing Kabiria's sad and lonely world, it's -and that's the film's greatest quality- this sense of optimism that Fellini wants the viewer to take with him/her as he/she is leaving the theater. The master takes everything from his heroin but at the end he wants to convey one simple, eassy-to-grip but so essential message: "Please, don't give up". The power of the film's last ten minutes is unpreceded in the world of movies and, sad to say, never again have we seen such an amazing finale. This is a must-see film, and, most important of all, a film so generous to its viewers that one time is not enough. A total 9/10