Conversation Piece (1974)

A reclusive, retired professor is faced with confronting modernity when a group of vulgar youths, led by an obnoxious marchesa, take up residence in his unused upper residence.

Director:

Luchino Visconti

Writers:

Enrico Medioli (story), Suso Cecchi D'Amico (screenplay)

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Helmut Berger, Silvana Mangano

12 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Lancaster	...	Il Professore
Helmut Berger	...	Konrad Huebel
Silvana Mangano	...	Marchesa Bianca Brumonti
Claudia Marsani	...	Lietta Brumonti
Stefano Patrizi	...	Stefano
Elvira Cortese	...	Erminia
Philippe Hersent	...	Portiere
Guy Tréjan	...	Venditore di quadri
Jean-Pierre Zola	...	Blanchard
Umberto Raho	...	Commissario
Enzo Fiermonte	...	Commissario
Romolo Valli	...	Micheli
George Clatot
Valentino Macchi
Vittorio Fanfoni

Storyline

Retired professor of American origin lives solitary life in luxurious palazzo in Rome He is confronted by vulgar Italian marchesa and her companions: her lover, her daughter and daughter's boyfriend and forced to rent to them an apartment on upper floor of his palazzo. From this point his quiet routine is turned into chaos by his tenants' machinations, and everybody's life is taking unexpected but inevitable turn.

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Plot Keywords:

teenage girl | impertinence | dying young | lonely old man | older woman younger man relationship | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shot entirely in English.

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Quotes

Marchesa Bianca Brumonti: He was too young to have learned this final nasty fact: grief is as precarious as anything else.

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Alternate Versions

The original UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC to remove two uses of the word 'cunt'. When the film was resubmitted in 2003 only one use of the word was present in the version and this was passed uncut.

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Connections

Referenced in La supplente (1975)

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Soundtracks

Vorrei spiegarVi, oh Dio!
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Emilia Ravaglia soprano

User Reviews

Interiors

This is Luchino Visconti's first feature film after his almost fatal heart attack. He was in a wheel chair and his left side was completely paralyzed. Enrico Medioli's original story about a man who's facing the end of his life, whether consciously or unconsciously seemed very close to the knuckle. I've read a lot of material and talked to people connected to the production before actually seeing the movie. Nothing had prepared me for what the film presents to the audience and I wondered if the film that ended up on the screen was the film that Visconti intended. Starting from the cast: the first rumors that Visconti was ready to go back to work, announced the film with Laurence Olivier and Audrey Hepburn in the roles that went to Burt Lancaster and Silvana Mangano. Anne Marie Philipe and Martin Donovan (the director) in the roles that went to Claudia Marsani and Stefano Patrizi. For what I gather, Olivier was sick at the time and couldn't accept. Audrey Hepburn turned it down, Donovan and Philipe found themselves outside the co-production regulations where two Italian nationals were required for those roles. Helmut Berger was the one who survived all the changes and I'm tempted to say: unfortunately! His character is the one who doesn't ring true. Clearly, Lancaster's character would have seen through Berger's. There is nothing in his character that made me believe Lancaster would feel attracted and fall for. Berger is a prissy, emotionally flabby, pretty boy. He is also unbelievable as Silvana Mangano's lover. The film as a whole takes place in Lancaster's dark and elegant apartment. Against his better judgment he rents the upper floor to this new, rich, beautiful and vulgar family. His world is going to start to collapse under the weight of the young invaders without soul. Solemmn, sad and a bit static the film however has a masterful center that makes it compelling viewing. Two brief cameos by Dominique Sanda as the mother and Claudia Cardinale as the dead wife bring some unexpected oomph to the grim proceedings. Even if I sound a bit down on the film I'm actually recommending it.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

23 June 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Conversation Piece

Filming Locations:

Dear Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rusconi Film, Gaumont International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min 115 min (DVD) 117 min (Video Version)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1