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 (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 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:

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

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

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 (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Debut theatrical movie of Marisa Berenson (Frau von Aschenbach).

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Goofs

TV aerials clearly visible on Venetian rooftops in one scene.

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Quotes

Alfred: Truth? Justice? Human dignity? What good are they?

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Connections

Referenced in Smash His Camera (2010)

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Soundtracks

Lippen schweigen 'Merry Widow Waltz'
(uncredited)
Written by Franz Lehár
Scene before dinner; von Aschenbach sees Tadzio for the first time

User Reviews

The Perfectionism Of Visconti+The Music Of Mahler+The Beauty Of Bogarde=Perfect Film

I must say I reluted to see "Death In Venice",because been a great fan of composer Gustav Mahler,I though the film was an insult.But one day I saw a film called "Modesty Blaise",and I sat my eyes in the most beautiful actor I have ever seen:Dirk Bogarde.When I find out that he played the leading role in "Death In Venice",I decided to leave all my prejudices aside,get all my courage and rent the film.I can only say one thing:Sublime.Gustav Von Aschenbach is the perfect man.He is beautiful,handsome,talented,sweet.The fact that he falls in love for someone of the opposite sex is something secondary.All that he needed was someone to understand his genius,that is the one thing that he did not find in Venice."Death In Venice",is a masterpiece of a lifetime.Dirk Bogarde is the most talented and beautiful actor of our lifetime