Death in Venice (1971)

While recovering in Venice, a sickly composer becomes dangerously fixated with a teenage boy.

Director:

Luchino Visconti

Writers:

Thomas Mann (novel), Luchino Visconti (screenplay)

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 Gustave Aschenbach (loosely based on Gustav Mahler) 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, 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:

voyeur | teenage boy | city in title | adolescent | composer | 

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Taglines:

The celebrated story of a man obsessed with ideal beauty.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

Italy France USA

Language:

English Italian Polish French Russian German

Release Date:

5 March 1971 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Death in Venice

Filming Locations:

Cinecitta Studios, Cinecitta, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alfa Cinematografica, Warner Bros., PECF

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mark Burns later admitted he never understood the meaning of his dialogue.

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Goofs

Just before leaving his hotel room for the first time, Aschenbach puts a handkerchief ("pochet") in the pocket of his costume. Arriving downstairs, the handkerchief is gone.

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Quotes

Gustav von Aschenbach: I've been trying to find out, no one will tell me the truth, they are disinfecting Venice. Do you know why?

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Connections

Referenced in Every Little Crook and Nanny (1972)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

"Death in Venice" after 30-plus years

I first saw "Death in Venice" when it was initially released in 1971. Today, I saw it again (by chance!) while I was channel-surfing. It had the same hypnotic effect on me that it had then. To wit: I sat down, vacuum cleaner in hand, and remained there. In 1971, at age 21, I recognized the film's poignancy but not in the way I was able to now, at age 56. Yes, it's slow-moving and not very much "happens". But its beauty, especially the wonderful close-ups and the use of Mahler's music, endures. Those familiar with Thomas Mann's novella of the same name,and other of his works (e.g., The Magic Mountain) will recall that nothing much "happens" in these stories, either. However, these classics (both in print and film) are apt to remain with us long after the latest special effects action film has disappeared.