The Leopard (film)

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For the novel on which this film is based, see The Leopard.

The Leopard (Il Gattopardo)
original film poster
Directed by	Luchino Visconti
Produced by	Goffredo Lombardo Pietro Notarianni
Written by	Pasquale Festa Campanile Enrico Medioli Massimo Franciosa Luchino Visconti Suso Cecchi d'Amico
Starring	Burt Lancaster Alain Delon Claudia Cardinale Serge Reggiani Mario Girotti Pierre Clementi
Cinematography	Giuseppe Rotunno
Distributed by	Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Release date(s)	28 March 1963 15 July 1963
Running time	185 Min (Original Release)
Language	English/Italian
IMDb profile

The Leopard (Italian: Il Gattopardo) is an award-winning 1963 film by Italian director Luchino Visconti, based on Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's novel of the same name.

The film features an international cast including the American Burt Lancaster, the Frenchman Alain Delon and the Italian Claudia Cardinale. It is generally seen today in the Italian language version, in which Lancaster is dubbed into Italian by another actor; however, an English dubbed version was also produced at the time, in which Lancaster's own voice is heard.

The film has circulated in numerous versions. Visconti's first cut was 205 minutes long, but this was regarded as excessive; he cut it down to 185 minutes for the official release, and regarded this version as his preferred length. The version shown in the English speaking world was a 161-minute dubbed version edited by 20th Century Fox. A 151-minute version was released in Spain.

[edit] Awards

Cannes Film Festival
- Winner: Palme d'Or - Luchino Visconti
Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
- Winner: Silver Ribbon - Luchino Visconti
- Winner: Best Cinematography, Color (Migliore Fotografia a Colori) - Giuseppe Rotunno
- Winner: Best Costume Design (Migliori Costumi) - Piero Tosi
- Winner: Best Production Design (Migliore Scenografia) - Mario Garbuglia
Academy Awards
- Nominated: Best Costume Design, Color - Piero Tosi

[edit] DVD availability

There are several DVD editions available.

Region 2 Medusa Home Entertainment (released in 2001) is an Italian disc offering an unrestored print and several interviews and featurettes.
Region 2 BFI Video offers a restored print with a commentary by David Forgacs and Rossana Capitano
Region 1 The Criterion Collection is a 3-disc set offering a restored print with a commentary by Peter Cowie, several interviews, an hour-long documentary, and also includes the 161-minute English language dubbed version as an extra.