The Clowns

Stars: Federico Fellini (Intervista). Originally made for Italian television, director Federico Fellini's homage to the world of the circus is an intermittently engaging tribute. Beginning with a fantasy sequence in which a young boy (obviously Fellini) recalls his fascination with the wonders under the Big Top, the movie abruptly shifts into documentary mode as Fellini and his film crew travel through Italy and France, visiting with legendary clowns of yore and catching new acts. The interesting question posed early on--namely, "can the circus still entertain in this age of electronic gimmickry?" --is largely forgotten as Fellini and Co., acting as if they're the Q of E and entourage, royally swoop into one scene after another. Historical information about the circus or a particular clown is often delivered by a mini-skirted script girl who reads the lines straight into the camera, so above it all is the Fellini glitterati. Only during the actual circus sequences does The Clowns really come alive, and Fellini's innate gift for spectacle shines through. But, all in all, it's spectacle without insight. And, for that, I'd rather watch Die Hard. Of note, too, is the fact that the print is very scratchy, and it seems as if half the dialogue is not subtitled, making for an exasperating as well as tiresome viewing experience. Audience: Dyed in the wool foreign film buffs only. (R. Pitman)[DVD Review—Mar. 29, 2011—Raro Video, 92 min., in Italian & French w/English subtitles, G, $29.98—Making its first appearance on DVD, 1970's The Clowns boasts a great transfer and a Dolby Digital mono soundtrack. DVD extras include a “Fellini's Circus” visual film essay by Adriano Aprà (42 min.), Federico Fellini's 1953 “Un Agenzia Matrimoniale” (16 min.), and a 50-page booklet with notes and drawings by Fellini. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a lesser Fellini effort.][Blu-ray Review—Oct. 25, 2011—Raro Video, 92 min., in Italian & French w/English subtitles, G, $39.98—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1970's The Clowns sports a fine transfer with DTS-HD 5.1 sound. Blu-ray extras are identical to those on the DVD release, including a “Fellini's Circus” visual film essay by Fellini expert and film historian Adriano Aprà (42 min.), Fellini's 1953 short “Un Agenzia Matrimoniale” (16 min.), and a 50-page booklet with notes and drawings by Fellini. Bottom line: a solid Blu-ray debut for a second-tier Fellini film.]