Luci del varietà (1950)
Variety Lights
Director: Alberto Lattuada, Federico Fellini - Story: Federico Fellini - Screenplay: Federico Fellini, Alberto Lattuada, Tullio Pinelli, Ennio Flaiano - Director of photography: Otello Martelli - Film editor: Mario Bonotti – Costumes: Aldo Buzzi - Music: Felice Lattuada - Production: Mario Ingrami per Film Capitolium
Running time: 100’ – Country: Italy
Cast: Peppino De Filippo (Checco Dal Monte), Carla Del Poggio (Liliana Antonelli), Giulietta Masina (Melina Amour), John Kitzmiller (Johnny), Folco Lulli (Adelmo Conti), Carlo Romano (Enzo La Rosa), Franca Valeri (Mitzy)
The film:
“His screenwriting was so successful (for Rossellini, Germi and Lattuada, among others), that the young Fellini had never even considered trying his hand at directing. The man who encouraged him to cross the Rubicon was the experienced director Alberto Lattuada. I remember the Milanese filmmaker telling me: ‘In the period from 1947 to 1949, Federico did some excellent screenwriting work on three of my films (Il delitto di Giovanni Episcopo, Senza pietà and Il mulino del Po); therefore, while we were writing the fourth, about the bitter life of a group of third-rate variety show performers, it came quite naturally to me to propose that he should co-direct it. And it turned out to be a wonderful experience, one of the happiest times of my life. I took care of the technical aspects, remaining behind the camera; however, by way of nods and glances I was continually in touch with my co-director, who was always by my side; whereas Federico, for his part, mainly directed the actors”. [...] ‘I recognise it as mine,’ said Fellini, ‘for it contains many personal memories, some true, others invented, and a small-town atmosphere that I knew well… But maestro Alberto Lattuada always supported me, with his decision-making ability and wealth of experience. Alberto was the director, the one who said ‘action’, ‘silence’, ‘cut’; I stayed by his side, marvellously content with my lack of responsibilities’.”
Aldo Tassone, Fellini 23½. Tutti i film, Edizioni Cineteca di Bologna, Bologna 2020
The film restoration:
The 4k restoration of Luci del varietà has been carried out by Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna in collaboration with Museo Nazionale del Cinema, from the original negative camera and soundtrack conserved at the Museum. A dupe neg belonging to Istituto Luce Cinecittà made available from Studio Cine has been used for some frames.
Restoration has been realized with fundings provided by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, within the Fellini 100 project promoted by Fondazione Cineteca di Bologna, CSC - Cineteca Nazionale and Istituto Luce-Cinecittà.
The restoration was carried out in 2020 at L’immagine Ritrovata laboratory.
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