Review of The Leopard (1963) by Jason R — 11 Jul 2008

Of Visconti's three masterpieces (this film, "La Terra Trema," and "Rocco and His Brothers"), "The Leopard" is the most cerebral in its pleasures, which is perhaps surprising given its sensuous cinematography.

In fact, "The Leopard" rests alongside "Days of Heaven" and "In the Mood for Love" as the most beautiful color films ever made, but Visconti restrains himself dramatically here more than in any other film of his that I've seen.

In addition to the vibrancy of the film's color palette, its exploration of depth-of-field is extraordinary; contrary to Toland's use of depth, accentuated by dramatic staging of figures in the extreme foreground, Visconti and Rotunno create a kind of realism with their 'Scope compositions that situates the viewer in the film's social spaces.

An effect, I think, which must be seen in the theater to fully appreciate.