Essential Art House: La Strada [Criterion Collection]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Acclaimed Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini drew on his own circus background for the 1954 classic La Strada. Set in a seedy travelling carnival, this symbolism-laden drama revolves around brutish strongman Zampano (Anthony Quinn), his simple and servile girlfriend Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina, Fellini's wife), and clown/aerialist Matto (Richard Basehart). Appalled at Zampano's insensitive treatment of Gelsomina, the gentle-natured Matto invites her to run off with him; but Gelsomina, like a faithful pet, refuses to leave the strong man's side. Eventually Zampano's volcanic temper erupts once too often, leading to tragic consequences. Written by Fellini and Tullio Pinelli and scored by Nino Rota, La Strada was the winner of the first official Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film, awarded in 1956. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Audio: Dolby Digital Mono
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Screen: Black and White
• Subtitle: Eng

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Won Best Foreign Language Film - 1956 (Federico Fellini)
•     Nominated Best Original Screenplay - 1956 (Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli)

• British Academy of Film and Television Arts

•     Nominated Best Film - Any Source - 1955 (Federico Fellini)

• National Board of Review

•     Nominated Best Foreign Film - 1956

• New York Film Critics Circle

•     Won Best Foreign Film - 1956

• Venice International Film Festival

•     Won Silver Lion - 1954 (Federico Fellini)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Giulietta Masina - Gelsomina
       Anthony Quinn - Zampano
       Richard Basehart - Matto "The Fool"
       Al Silvani - Mr. Giraffa
       Marcella Rovena
       Livia Venturini - The Sister

• Director:

  Federico Fellini

• Producer:

  Dino de Laurentiis, Carlo Ponti

• Screenwriter:

  Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli

• Cinematographer:

  Otello Martelli

• Composer (Music Score):

  Nino Rota

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Franco Ferrara

• Editor:

  Leo Cattozzo

• Art Director:

  Brunello Rondi

REVIEW:

• La Strada is often considered one of the masterpieces of 20th century filmmaking, a sad and poignant remembrance of innocence lost and of the roads that each of us must choose. As with much of the work of director Federico Fellini, man is viewed as suspended between the heavens and the earth, adroitly symbolized here by Il Matto/The Fool (Richard Baseheart), a high-wire circus performer. Fellini's motifs are among the most influential of all post-WWII filmmakers, and you'll find clever Fellini and La Strada references in such unlikely films as John Landis's Blues Brothers 2000. Giulietta Masina's Chaplin-like Gelsomina is among the screen's most poignant and tragic performances, and she, like the entire film, is aided by Nino Rota's evocative score. Fellini had few production values to work with, but here he doesn't need them. La Strada is among the most studied films of late Italian Neo-Realism and a classic of the first rank. ~ Richard Gilliam, Rovi