#556: VISCONTI, Luchino: Senso (1954)

VISCONTI, Luchino (Italy)
Senso [1954]
Spine #556
Blu-ray


This lush, Technicolor tragic romance from Luchino Visconti stars Alida Valli as a nineteenth-century Italian countess who, during the Austrian occupation of her country, puts her marriage and political principles on the line by engaging in a torrid affair with a dashing Austrian lieutenant, played by Farley Granger. Gilded with ornate costumes and sets and a rich classical soundtrack, and featuring fearless performances, this operatic melodrama is an extraordinary evocation of reckless emotions and deranged lust, from one of the cinema's great sensualists.

123 minutes
Color
Monaural
in Italian
1:33:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2010
Director/Writers


From the novella by Camillo Boito.
Dialogue collaboration Tennessee Williams and Paul Bowles.
Visconti was 48 when he directed Senso.

Other Visconti films in the Collection:

#296: Le Notti Bianchi (1957)
#235: The Leopard (1963)
#1098: The Damned (1969)
#962: Death In Venice (1971)

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Thirty-eight page booklet featuring an essay by filmmaker and author Mark Rappaport and an excerpt from actor Granger’s autobiography, Include Me Out.

Commentary

None.

The Wanton Countess

A rarely seen English-language version of the film.

The Making of “Senso”

A documentary featuring DP Giuseppe Rotunno, assistant director Francesco Rosi, costume designer Piero Tosi, and Caterina D’Amico, daughter of the screenwriter D’Amico and author of Life and Work of Luchino Visconti.

Documentary 2

Documentary 3

Controversial altered ending

Theatrical trailer


Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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