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, Ennio Flaiano (story)

Stars:

Giulietta Masina, François Périer, Franca Marzi

Won 1 Oscar. Another 16 wins & 8 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

Practising the world's oldest profession in the archaeological walk of Rome's Parco di Porta Capena, the trusting and stubbornly optimistic streetwalker, Cabiria, refuses to lose faith in love. After escaping death by the skin of her teeth, hurt, and momentarily disenchanted Cabiria continues to confront life with a mixture of naivety and arrogance, and one evening, she ventures into the elegant Via Veneto and gets picked up by the suave movie star, Alberto Lazzari. Now, once more, disappointment awaits, and as poor Cabiria preys to Virgin Mary for guidance and a blessing, the man of her prayers, Oscar D'Onofrio, barges into her life after a chance encounter at a vaudeville theatre. But do miracles happen?

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

The story of a betrayed but unquenchable little Roman street-walker.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was Italy's official submission for 1958's Best Foreign Language Film of the 30th Academy Awards

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Goofs

When Cabiria arrives at her house for the first time in the film a plant is on her staircase, but when she goes out later that evening it disappeared.

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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

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movies from Italy (2015)

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Soundtracks

Lla Ri' Lli Ra
Composed by Nino Rota
Lyrics by Enzo Bonagura

User Reviews

"Dum Spiro – Spero" - While there's life there's hope.

I would not argue that there could be better films made before and after Cabiria. Perhaps. But there never will be another "Nights of Cabiria" - the last Fellini's film with the linear structure, his third and the most successful collaboration with his actress wife, Giulietta Masina, his immortal love letter to her. Of all his characters, Fellini once said, Cabiria was the only one he was still worried about. Of all the characters, I've seen in the films, Cabiria is the one I often think about - what ever happened to her? Did she survive? Was she able to find love?

I've never seen the face so alive, changing its expression every moment. If the face is the soul's mirror, Cabiria's (Masina's) face reflects her every single emotion and how effortlessly she goes from bitter cynicism to wistful yearning, from despair to hope, from tears to smile. While there's life there's hope. As long as Cabiria smiles in the end of this tragicomic masterpiece, there is hope for all of us.

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian Latin

Release Date:

16 October 1957 (France)

Also Known As:

Nights of Cabiria

Filming Locations:

Stazione Termini, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$38,988, 5 July 1998

Gross USA:

$752,045

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$755,319

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