Death in Venice (1971)

While recovering in Venice, sickly Composer Gustav von Aschenbach becomes dangerously fixated with teenager Tadzio.

Director:

Luchino Visconti

Writers:

Thomas Mann (from the novel by), Luchino Visconti (screenplay by)

Stars:

Dirk Bogarde, Romolo Valli, Mark Burns

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 18 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dirk Bogarde	...	Gustav von Aschenbach
Romolo Valli	...	Hotel Manager
Mark Burns	...	Alfred
Nora Ricci	...	Tadzio's Governess
Marisa Berenson	...	Frau von Aschenbach
Carole André	...	Esmeralda - Brothel Prostitute
Björn Andrésen	...	Tadzio (as Björn Andresen)
Silvana Mangano	...	Tadzio's Mother
Leslie French	...	Travel Agent
Franco Fabrizi	...	Barber
Antonio Appicella	...	Vagrant
Sergio Garfagnoli	...	Jaschu - Polish Youth
Ciro Cristofoletti	...	Hotel Clerk
Luigi Battaglia	...	Scapegrace
Dominique Darel	...	English Tourist

Storyline

In this adaptation of the Thomas Mann novel, avant-garde Composer Gustav von Aschenbach (Sir Dirk Bogarde) travels to a Venetian seaside resort in search of repose after a period of artistic and personal stress. But he finds no peace there, for he soon develops a troubling attraction to an adolescent boy, Tadzio (Björn Andrésen), on vacation with his family. The boy embodies an ideal of beauty that Aschenbach has long sought and he becomes infatuated. However, the onset of a deadly pestilence threatens them both physically and represents the corruption that compromises and threatens all ideals.

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Plot Keywords:

teenage boy | composer | hotel | venice italy | male objectification | 

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Taglines:

The celebrated story of a man obsessed with ideal beauty.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

GP

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the dining room, Gustav von Aschenbach (Sir Dirk Bogarde) orders "soup and fish", which is also a slang term for his formal evening suit.

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Goofs

TV aerials clearly visible on Venetian rooftops in one scene.

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Quotes

Gustav von Aschenbach: You know sometimes I think that artists are rather like hunters aiming in the dark. They don't know what their target is, and they don't know if they've hit it. But you can't expect life to illuminate the target and steady your aim. The creation of beauty and purity is a spiritual act.
Alfred: No Gustav, no. Beauty belongs to the senses. Only to the senses.

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Connections

Spoofed in Mahler (1974)

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Soundtracks

Wiegenlied
(uncredited)
Written by Modest Mussorgsky
Performed by Masha Predit

User Reviews

One of the greatest foreign films ever

Death in Venice is a must see for all of those interested in "great" film-making. I regard the film as essential watching. The final scene, in which the lovesick middle aged man watching a beautiful boy as his absurd makeup runs and he dies of the plague is one of the most horrific and sad in film history. Featuring the music of Gustav Mahler, we are visited by the dark, amber strains of his Fourth Symphony as we visit Venice, which has been beset with the plague. A middle aged man falls in love with a teenage boy, and is heartsick from afar. This is sumptuous, heartbreaking film-making. A must see.

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

English Italian Polish French Russian German

Release Date:

1 June 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Death in Venice

Filming Locations:

Cinecitta Studios, Cinecitta, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,558

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alfa Cinematografica, Warner Bros., PECF

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1