And the Ship Sails On (1983)

In 1914, a luxury ship leaves Italy in order to scatter the ashes of a famous opera singer. A lovable bumbling journalist chronicles the voyage and meets the singer's many eccentric friends and admirers.

Director:

Federico Fellini

Writers:

Federico Fellini (story), Tonino Guerra (story)

Stars:

Freddie Jones, Barbara Jefford, Victor Poletti

11 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Freddie Jones	...	Orlando
Barbara Jefford	...	Ildebranda Cuffari
Victor Poletti	...	Aureliano Fuciletto
Peter Cellier	...	Sir Reginald J. Dongby
Elisa Mainardi	...	Teresa Valegnani
Norma West	...	Lady Violet Dongby Albertini
Paolo Paoloni	...	Il Maestro Albertini
Sarah-Jane Varley	...	Dorotea
Fiorenzo Serra	...	Il Granduca
Pina Bausch	...	La Principessa Lherimia
Pasquale Zito	...	Il Conte di Bassano
Linda Polan	...	Ines Ruffo Saltini
Philip Locke	...	Il Primo Ministro
Jonathan Cecil	...	Ricotin
Maurice Barrier	...	Ziloev

Storyline

In July 1914 a luxury cruise ship leaves Italy with the ashes of the famous opera singer Tetua. The boat is filled with her friends, opera singers, actors and all kinds of exotic people. Life is sweet the first days, but on the third day the captain has to save a a large number of Serbian refugees from the sea, refugees who has escaped the first tremors of WWI.

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Plot Keywords:

disillusionment | singer | opera | refugee | sea | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to an excerpt from the book "I, Fellini", the renowned director was uncertain about casting Freddie Jones in the role of Orlando, mainly for the fact that he would be a British type within a Mediterranean setting. When he saw an ice-cream advertisement, carrying the brand name Orlando on the sign of a bus, Fellini took it as a favorable omen and Jones got the part.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Orlando: They tell me: "Do the news, tell what happens!"

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Connections

Edited into Spisok korabley (2008)

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Soundtracks

Va' pensiero
from 'Nabucco'
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi

User Reviews

Glittering late career gem

A glittering gem of a movie that I feel deserves more attention in Fellini's canon. The motif of the ending of an era and the films positioning near the end of his career make for a particularly poignant expression. I think it is a tendency for most artist's to be seen to be at the height of their power somewhere in mid-life. Although Fellini's most challenging and provocative work preceded And the ship sails on, I can't say any are more poetic than it. It's rich sentimentality beautifully positions individual stories within the tapesty of larger world events oblivious to these characters. This film is also worth seeing if only for the stunning visuals, and the glorious music!

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian German Serbian Russian

Release Date:

7 October 1983 (Italy)

Also Known As:

And the Ship Sails On

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rai 1, Vides Produzione, Gaumont

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1