The Leopard (20th Century Fox) (1963)

“THE LONGEST DAY ~ “CLEOPATRA ALSO STARRING AN Synopsis ‘The Leopard” is a story of change—of a proud aristocracy at the point of decline and of the magnificent Prince of Salina, Don Fabrizio, who is faced with the disintegration of his traditional way of life. The historical background: In the spring of 186) Italy’s movement for unificaticn reached its peak. The popular hero Garibaldi with his famed Redshirts inyaded Sicily and soon crushed the Bourbon monarchy. Plebiscites were set up in which the Sicilians voted to join with the rest of the Peninsula to form the United Kingdom of Italy under King Victcr Emmanuel of Sardinia. Thus Italy became a single state for the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire. The calm, aristocratic lives of Don Fabrizio, Prince of Salina (BURT LANCASTER), and his family are shattered by news of Garibaldi’s invasion of Sicily. Despite the upheaval, the Salinas undertake their yearly trek to the family’s country home at Donnafugata. Four carriages bearing the Prince’s wife, Maria Stella (RINA MORELLI), their three daughters—Concetta (LUCILLA MORLACCHI), Carolina (IDA GALLI) and Caterina (OTTAVIA PICCOLO) —their son Francesco Paolo (PIERRE CLEMENTI) and Father Pirraone (ROMOLO VALLI), the family priest, set off on the long, dusty trip. They are accompanied by Fabrizio’s beloved nephew Tancredi (ALAIN DELON) who realizes that to keep things as they are other things will have to change. He has been fighting with the GariSaldini against the Bourbon monarchy. During the trip, Tancredi whiles away the time by flirting with Conczita, who is obviously in love with him. Arriving at Donnafugata the Salinas are given an “official welcome” by the village mayor, Don Calogero Sedara (PAOLO STOPPA), one of the rising bourgeois reportedly as rich as the Prince himself. The Prince returns the courtesy by inviting several local dignitaries to dinner including the mayor and Don Ciccio Tumeo, a local aristocrat (SERGE REGGIANI). While preparing to receive his guests, the Prince learns Father Pirrone has been commissioned by Concetta to obtain her father’s approval of her love for Tancredi. Fabrizio, initially unhappy at the awareness that he has a daughter old enough to be in love and further realizing that Tancredi needs a wife much richer and more worldly than Concetta, brusquely dismisses the subject. Concetta’s hopes are crushed even more when the mayor's daughter, Angelica (CLAUDIA CARDINALE), A CARUINA 109 lines x 6 columns down to the last peasant girl! A superb, odrFRed0 LOMBARDO THE MOTION PICTURE HAILED AS 1ST PRIZE WINNER “BEST FILM" 1963 CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PA oie ms Vie tS NB _ sensual portrait excitingly directed LSND by the renowned Luchino Visconti. {/ Oj Ze LUCHING VISCOUNT (654 fines) 6 columns x 734 inches of the changes that must be endured. He resolves to his class. support Tancredi’s designs. Soon the Prince is faced with ancther dramatic sign of the new order. He is forced to go to the plebiscite to cast his vote for the fate of Sicily. Bowing to the inevitable, he votes “‘yes’”’ for the replacement of the Bourbon monarchy by the newly created United Kingdom of Italy. Shortly thereafter the Prince receives a letter from Tancredi, who has rejoined his regiment, asking his uncle to arrange a marriage with Angelica. The request incenses Maria Stella who calls Tancredi a traitor to To gird himself for the coming encounter with Den Calogero and the sight of a bitterly disappointed Concetta, the Prince takes refuge in his favorite sport, hunting, accompanied by Don Ciccio. When the Prince sounds cut Don Ciccio’s opinion about the new regime as well as the Sedara family, the latter expresses his devotion to the aristocracy and his hatred for a plebiscite which took his ‘‘no’’ and made it part of a “unanimous yes.’ Ignorant of Tancredi’s plans, he gives Fabrizio a cogent picture of the Sedara’s and their commonplace background. In ironic gratitude for Don A CINEMASCOPE PICTURE A TITANUS PRODUCTION 20th CENTURY-FOX ELUNE COLOR BY VIN TVA f RELEASED BY MAT—601 Ciccio’s loyalty, the Prince makes him the first to know of the projected marriage. Fabrizio’s reaction to his subsequent discussion with the boorish Don Calogero alternates between disgust, embarrassment and grim amusement. Even he is momentarily startled by the immense dowry which Angelica will command. A few days later Tancredi unexpectedly arrives at Donnafugata to claim his bride. He is accompanied by Count Cavriaghi (MARIO GIROTTI), a companion in arms, who tries vainly to interest Concetta in matrimony. But she is still in love with Tancredi. Tancredi and Angelica are alone together daily, wandering through the countless rooms of the villa. Although their love is at its peak, Tancredi insists on waiting until marriage for its consummation. Meanwhile, Cavalier Chevyally (LESLIE FRENCH), an emissary of Victor Emmanuel, arrives at Donnafugata to offer the Prince a senate seat in the newlyformed government. Although Fabrizio has bowed to the unavoidable fall of the Bourbons and even aided his nephew’s love affair with a parvenu, he is unable to take an active part in creating the new order. He attempts to justify his refusal by explaining he belongs to an unlucky generation, caught between the old days and the new, and ill at ease in both. The Salinas have arranged invitations for Don Calogero and Angelica to an aristocratic ball where she makes a stunningly successful debut into society. It is clear that Tancredi’s lessons have been quickly absorbed by his ambitious fiancee and that she will soon dominate the life into which her wealth and beauty have thrust her. The Prince is a grand and lonely figure as he strides through the gay scene feeling strangely old and outof-touch. Angelica coaxes him into a waltz. The courtly aristocrat and his lovely partner are a striking couple as the entire company stops to watch. After the dance, the Prince suddenly feels like an intruder and abruptly takes leave of Tancredi and Angelica. He is also vaguely disturbed by old passions evoked in him by his future niece. He wanders distractedly through the baroque rooms oppressed with thoughts of his own death. He hears some chatter about four deserters from the army of Victor Emmanuel who tried to rejoin Garibaldi in his attempt to press the revolution even further. It is speculated that they will be shot. By the end of the ball, the Prince feels a desperate need to be alone. He sends his family home in the carriage and sets out on a solitary walk. A monumental figure of a passing age, the Prince strolls quietly in the gathering dawn contemplating the stars. Four rifle In the spectacular ball scene from “The Leopard,’ Burt Lancaster dances with co-star Claudia Cardinale. Producer Goffredo Lombardo and Director Luchino Visconti have brought to the screen on a lavish scale the internationally acclaimed novel of Giuseppe di Lampedusa. The Titanus production, released by 20th Century-Fox, was filmed entirely in Sicily in CinemaScope and De Luxe Color. Mat 3A shots puncture the silence, and he slowly turns in their direction. The dying aristocracy listens to the death of the idea of freedom. Things have changed, and yet for most of the people they will remain the same. appears at the dinner. Every man present and particularly the hot-blooded Tancredi is moved by Angelica’s sensuous beauty. Fabrizio recognizes this mixture of wealthy middle-class and declining aristocracy as one Page Two =! Copyright O MCMLXIII Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation