Review of The Leopard (1963) by Dave J — 20 Nov 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012.
(1963) The Leopard.
(In Italian with English subtitles).
HISTORICAL DRAMA.
Epic film making spectacle in terms of scope with a running time of more than 3 hours, based on a novel written by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa about an aristocrat played by Burt Lancaster who happens to be a prince as he and his family experience the Italian revolution during 1860 between the so-called facists and the liberterians or rebels. The beginning of the film places viewers right on the centre of it but from the Prince's standpoint and unfolds itself like a book. The word 'leopard' as the title suggests is really a metaphor, his actual description about his aristocratic family and his socailiation with others like the commoners are 'sheep' for instance. Like "Lawrence Of Arabia" this film casts thousands of extras brilliantly used. My only complaint although very minor are the Italian opera which I'm not to keen on listening to and the subtitles are at times hard to make out since it blends with the background. They're also moments Burt Lancaster's acts like he does in other films he's done but in Italian dialect. Directed by Luchino Visconti which may be his finest achievement.
4 out of 4.
This review of The Leopard (1963) was written by Dave J on 20 Nov 2012.
The Leopard has generally received very positive reviews.
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