The Leopard

Long unavailable in any home video format, Luchino Visconti's 1963 historical drama The Leopard is one of the most beautiful epics ever produced. Adapted from a popular novel (often called Italy's Gone With the Wind, set during the tumultuous Garibaldi revolution of 1860-62) by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, the film stars Burt Lancaster as the melancholy Prince of Salina--the aging "leopard" of the title--who stands at a crossroads of dying tradition and tumultuous change, reacting to political and familial upheavals with the wisdom and whimsy of a man who knows that his aristocratic lifestyle is fading away. Giuseppe Rotunno's masterful cinematography represents the pinnacle of painterly beauty, matched only by the authentic splendor of the film's impeccable production design. The climactic hour-long ballroom scene--which critic Pauline Kael called "one of the greatest of all passages in movies"--is utterly breathtaking. This prestigious triple-disc Criterion Collection release serves as a superlative showcase for Visconti's classic, presenting both the original 185-minute Italian version and the 161-minute truncated English-dubbed American release (with Lancaster's own voice), as well as a slew of supplemental features. Peter Cowie's full-length commentary on the Italian original ranks as one of the finest ever recorded, incorporating well-chosen readings from Lampedusa's source novel to illustrate the elegance of the screenplay adaptation. In addition, an hour-long documentary features interviews with most of the film's surviving cast and screenwriters, while separate interviews with producer Goffredo Lombardo and University of Pennsylvania historian Millicent Marcus offer insights into the film's lavish historical background. A bit pricey at $49.95, but arguably worth the investment, this is highly recommended. (J. Shannon)[Blu-ray Review—June 22, 2010—Criterion, 2 discs, 185 min., in Italian w/English subtitles, not rated, $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1963's The Leopard is presented with a gorgeous transfer and Dolby Digital mono sound. Featuring both director Luchino Visconti's original 185-minute version and the 161-minute American version, Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by cinematographer Giuseppe Rotunno, “A Dying Breed” making-of documentary (62 min.), an interview with producer Goffredo Lombardo, “The History of Risorgimento” featurette with scholar Millicent Marcus (14 min.), Italian newsreels (3 min.), behind-the-scenes and posters galleries, trailers, and a booklet featuring an essay by author and film historian Michael Wood. Bottom line: an excellent Blu-ray release of a foreign classic.]