Variety Lights
Encyclopedia
Variety Lights is a 1950
Italian film
directed and produced by Federico Fellini
and Alberto Lattuada
The film launched Fellini's directorial career, but was a collaboration (in production
, direction
, and screenwriting
) with Alberto Lattuada
. Up until that time, Fellini had been primarily a screenwriter (most notably working on Roberto Rossellini
’s Rome, Open City
), while Lattuada was already an established and respected director of neorealist films
and literary adaptations.
.
1950 in film
The year 1950 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 15 - Walt Disney Studios' animated film Cinderella debuts.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:*Ambush...
Italian film
Cinema of Italy
The history of Italian cinema began just a few months after the Lumière brothers had patented their Cinematographe, when Pope Leo XIII was filmed for a few seconds in the act of blessing the camera.-Early years:...
directed and produced by Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI , was an Italian film director and scriptwriter. Known for a distinct style that blends fantasy and baroque images, he is considered one of the most influential and widely revered filmmakers of the 20th century...
and Alberto Lattuada
Alberto Lattuada
Alberto Lattuada was an Italian film director.Lattuada was born in Milan, the son of composer Felice Lattuada...
The film launched Fellini's directorial career, but was a collaboration (in production
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, direction
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, and screenwriting
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
) with Alberto Lattuada
Alberto Lattuada
Alberto Lattuada was an Italian film director.Lattuada was born in Milan, the son of composer Felice Lattuada...
. Up until that time, Fellini had been primarily a screenwriter (most notably working on Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Rossellini was one of the directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing films such as Roma città aperta to the movement.-Early life:Born in Rome, Roberto Rossellini lived on the Via Ludovisi, where Benito Mussolini had...
’s Rome, Open City
Rome, open city
Rome, Open City is a 1945 Italian war drama film, directed by Roberto Rossellini. The picture features Aldo Fabrizi, Anna Magnani and Marcello Pagliero, and is set in Rome during the Nazi occupation in 1944...
), while Lattuada was already an established and respected director of neorealist films
Italian neorealism
Italian neorealism is a style of film characterized by stories set amongst the poor and working class, filmed on location, frequently using nonprofessional actors...
and literary adaptations.
Plot
Variety Lights is a bittersweet drama about a group of second-rate theatrical performers on tour. The actors, dancers, and performers struggle to make money from town to town, playing to minimal crowds, while the ageing manager of the company falls in love with a newcomer, to the chagrin of his faithful mistress, played by Fellini's real-life wife, Giulietta MasinaGiulietta Masina
Giulietta Masina was an Italian film and stage actress. She starred in La Strada and Nights of Cabiria, both winners of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, in 1956 and 1957, respectively...
.
Cast
- Peppino De FilippoPeppino De FilippoPeppino De Filippo was an Italian actor.De Filippo was born in Naples, brother of actor and playwright Eduardo De Filippo and of Titina. He made his stage debut at the age of six. He played in several movies such as Rome-Paris-Rome, Variety Lights, A Day in Court, Ferdinand I, King of Naples and...
... Checco Dal Monte - Carla Del PoggioCarla Del PoggioCarla Del Poggio was an Italian cinema, theatre, and television actress.-Early and Personal Lives:Born Maria Luisa Attanasio in Naples, she was the wife of Italian director Alberto Lattuada for 60 years, from 2 April 1945 until his death 3 July 2005. She died on 14 October 2010.-Filmography :* ...
... Liliana 'Lily' Antonelli - Giulietta MasinaGiulietta MasinaGiulietta Masina was an Italian film and stage actress. She starred in La Strada and Nights of Cabiria, both winners of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, in 1956 and 1957, respectively...
... Melina Amour - John KitzmillerJohn KitzmillerJohn Kitzmiller was an African-American actor. Born in Battle Creek, Michigan, Kitzmiller participated in the liberation of Italy during World War II. He began acting while stationed in this country, and appeared in Italian neorealist films...
... Trumpet player Johnny - Dante MaggioDante MaggioDante Maggio was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 115 films between 1940 and 1975.-Selected filmography:* Un giorno nella vita * Canzone di primavera * Bellezze in bicicletta...
... Remo - Checco DuranteChecco DuranteChecco Durante was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 59 films between 1931 and 1973. He was born and died in Rome, Italy.-Selected filmography:* Signorinette * Vent'anni...
... Theater Owner - Gina Mascetti ... Valeria del Sole
- Giulio CalìGiulio CalìGiulio Calì was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 64 films between 1941 and 1966.-Selected filmography:* La porta del cielo * Variety Lights * Cops and Robbers...
... Magician Edison Will - Silvio BagoliniSilvio BagoliniSilvio Bagolini was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 137 films between 1936 and 1973.-Selected filmography:* Variety Lights * The Overcoat * Il viale della speranza...
... Bruno Antonini - Giacomo FuriaGiacomo FuriaGiacomo Furia is an Italian film actor. He appeared in over 130 films between 1948 and 1998.He was born in Naples, Italy.-Selected filmography:* Assunta Spina * Totò cerca casa * Variety Lights...
... Duke - Mario De Angelis ... Maestro
- Vanja Orico... Gypsy Singer
- Enrico Piergentili... Melina's Father
- Renato MalavasiRenato MalavasiRenato Malavasi was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 135 films between 1921 and 1985.-Selected filmography:* Return of Shanghai Joe * Who Killed the Prosecutor and Why?...
... Hotelkeeper - Joseph Falletta ... Pistolero Bill (as Joe Falletta)