The Name of the Rose (1986)

An intellectually nonconformist friar investigates a series of mysterious deaths in an isolated abbey.

Director:

Jean-Jacques Annaud

Writers:

Umberto Eco (novel), Andrew Birkin (screenplay)

Stars:

Sean Connery, Christian Slater, Helmut Qualtinger

Won 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 15 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Connery	...	William von Baskerville
Christian Slater	...	Adso von Melk
Helmut Qualtinger	...	Remigio de Varagine
Elya Baskin	...	Severinus
Michael Lonsdale	...	Der Abt
Volker Prechtel	...	Malachia
Feodor Chaliapin Jr.	...	Jorge de Burgos
William Hickey	...	Ubertino de Casale
Michael Habeck	...	Berengar
Urs Althaus	...	Venantius
Valentina Vargas	...	Das Mädchen
Ron Perlman	...	Salvatore
Leopoldo Trieste	...	Michele da Cesena
Franco Valobra	...	Jerome of Kaffa
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Hugh of Newcastle

Storyline

1327. After a mysterious death in a Benedictine Abbey, the monks are convinced that the apocalypse is coming. With the Abbey to play host to a council on the Franciscan's Order's belief that the Church should rid itself of wealth, William von Baskerville, a respected Franciscan friar, is asked to assist in determining the cause of the untimely death. Alas, more deaths occur as the investigation draws closer to uncovering the secret the Abbey wants hidden, and there is finally no stopping the Holy Inquisition from taking an active hand in the process. William and his young novice must race against time to prove the innocence of the unjustly accused and avoid the wrath of Holy Inquisitor Bernardo Gui.

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Plot Keywords:

middle ages | abbey | monk | franciscan | death | 

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Taglines:

A story of unholy murder.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

West Germany Italy France

Language:

English Latin Italian

Release Date:

24 September 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Name of the Rose

Filming Locations:

Campo Imperatore, L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

ITL 30,000,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$494,571, 28 September 1986, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$7,153,487

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$77,200,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Constantin Film, Cristaldifilm, Les Films Ariane

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the actors considered for the role of Salvatore was Franco Franchi, popular low-budget slapstick comedian in Italy, notorious for his rubber-face expressions. He refused the role, in spite of the international acknowledgment it brought, because he wanted to stay faithful to his image as a comedian.

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Goofs

When talking with Salvatore, Brother William seems surprised to find that Salvatore eats the rats he catches. Rats were commonly eaten by the poor in the Middle Ages. Brother William would have been more surprised had someone catching rats not eaten them.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Voice of Adso as an Old Man: Having reached the end of my poor sinner's life, my hair now white, I prepare to leave on this parchment my testimony as to the wondrous and terrible events that I witnessed in my youth, towards the end of the year of our Lord 1327. May God grant me the wisdom and grace to be the faithful chronicler of the happenings that took place in a remote abbey in the dark north of Italy. An abbey whose name it seems, even now, pious and prudent to omit.

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits read - A palimpsest of Umberto Eco's Novel The Name of the Rose

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Alternate Versions

Certain prints of the movie have the sex scene between Adso and The Girl removed in order to comply with local laws.

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Connections

Referenced in Enemy at the Gates (2001)

User Reviews

Flawless book, almost flawless film

I've been enjoying films for 20 years now, and this is the first comment I've put on any film website. I've always had the mickey taken out of me for loving this film, and it's right up there amongst my favourites of a very eclectic bunch. Why? Well, firstly and I have to say, very importantly, it's taken from the finest piece of modern literature I've read. Umberto Eco's novel has such mammoth scope of subject matter and detail, it is was always going to be extremely hard to put into film (Dune anyone??), and Annaud certainly doesn't succeed in every way, but my lord he gives it a damn good go. The film quite rightly focusses on the human story within the book of a group of murders committed at an Italian abbey in the 14th Century, and the ongoing search for the purpetrator, by a Franciscan monk and his apprentice. The book encompasses many other issues and plotlines, which could not be fitted into the film. The three screenwriters do an excellent job, of filming the almost impossible to within 2 hours or so. Most importantly to me, the cinematography and set are sublime, almost unsurpassed in modern film to my mind, and still to this day amazing. I've always found that many non movie-lovers remember this film, for good or bad. The main reason for me is that it recreates so impressively the period it represents. Tonino Delli Colli, I salute you. The production team deserves a similar merit for bringing together what was in essence an European co-production, whilst not forgetting the biggest exterior set built in Europe since "Cleopatra". Step forward Dante Ferreti. I salute you too. 0.1 of a mark off for the editing, but let's not dwell on that. The acting is, bar none, marvellous, with even Christian Slater in his first main role putting up an extremely decent stab of being an apprentice monk.

I like a good whodunnit, but I adore a whodunnit which throws in the visual magnificence of a different age, top notch performances, a script taken from a extraordinary source, and assured directing. 10 out of 10, and my mates can carry on taking the mickey out of me.

So in summary, I'll leave it to the director himself.. `When I see a film, I love it when I'm entertained, when I care for the actors, when I share their emotions, when I'm scared, when I'm in love, but also if I learn a little something, if I have the feeling that I haven't seen something before, and that's what `The Name of the Rose' has.'