That's right everyone...the one Fellini that never reached the U.S. despite having the title character be played by none other than an American, Donald Sutherland, Federico Fellini's Casanova (1976) deserves a little bit of attention.



Apparently Federico would not allow its international release due to it being the one movie under his guidance that he truly thought was terrible. Thats saying something with the mediocrities that were Orchestra Rehearsal and And the Ship Sails On, and definately saying something with the complete lapses in judgement that were City of Women and Roma.

Ah well, its too bad, because I thought Casanova was actually one of his better movies. Not quite up there with the five or so films I give A range merit to, but definately in the B level. Sigh...how could the escapades of such a man not be better received the grande director? No one will ever know, but we shall discuss none-the-less. I know little of the notorious man, but am assuming his life story is either historical fiction or based off of diaries which he clearly anticipated being peeked at by later readers.



But Fellini does an exceptional job bringing his absurd sexual escapades to light with the ridiculous extravagance the courtly persona so surely deserves. Sex, delusion, more sex, some boredom, more sex, lots of frivolities. This movie masters Casanova's life no doubt.

Below is my favorite scene, in which he "falls in love" with a mechanical doll.




Reminds me a bit of the Tale of Hoffman when Hoffman falls in love with the wind-up doll Olympia. Anyone know if one is the source for the other?

Anywho... :arrow: Who else has seen Casanova? Do you really think it deserves the title of "Worst" Fellini? We need a bit of a Casanova frequenting the foreign forum, so regardless of if you've seen the film, if you've seen any other version, or just know tidbits about his escapades, please feel free to comment here. :wink: