9 thoughts on “TBT: The Leopard (1963)

  1. Hi! Yeah, the costumes are perfect in this movie, only watched over the boring story twice to see the ball at the end! In the novel the story doesn’t end here, but goes on in time, when all the young hotties get old, the prince dies, and everything held secret reveals. But the great ball scene always reminds me of Winterhalter paintings! How the ladies look in their very different styled gowns! It was just about time to rewiev this movei, before snark week, you know :D

  2. I have been fascinated with this movie since I was a kid. The score is luscious and romantically over the top. Though they keep repeating the same tunes during the ball. The costumes are so beautiful. A special edition of the film was released recently, which includes a documentary on the making of the film. I was surprised to learn it’s one of Martin Scorse’s favorite flims and probably influenced his production of the Age of Innocence.

  3. The Leopard is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time. It influenced Coppola even more–the entire feel of The Godfather is heavily inspired by this film. I agree, it’s a slow movie (and I was bored in the first hour, too), but it’s supposed to be more of an introspective character study of the Prince than an exciting narrative. I read the novel too, and it’s even more beautiful than the film, if that can be believed.

    Also, isn’t the ballroom scene more like 45 minutes?

  4. I have tried to watch this movie a couple of times but just get bogged down in the story. I agree that the costuming is superb and the set decorations are true to the time period – I just wish the story moved a little more quickly or that the dialogue was a bit better.

  5. Il Gattopardo is truly amazing, Both the novel and film contains lush and picture painted passages. Of course, the ball tops my list of favourite scenes. Casting was perfect. I believe it was Ms Cardinale first film. I cannot picture anyone else as Angelica.
    Among the costumers assisting Mr Tosi, I believe, was the great Danilo Donati, a favorite designer of Franco Zeffirelli.

  6. I’ve seen this film recently. Liked the overall concept and loved some bits, but was a bit too slow for me too. I think I would enjoy it a lot more on a second viewing, when I won’t keep expecting anything big and dramatic to happen. However, what I’m really writing this comment for is to express how much I agree with you on the incredible boringness of 1860s (European) clothing. Not that I know that much about historical clothing but the very similar (to my eyes, at least) style of the 1850s caught my attention in Zeffirelli’s La Traviata. As that’s in my list of top ten favorite films ever, I will forever lament the fact that the story doesn’t take place in a fashion-wise more exciting period. And I just *hate* those “many-sausages-around-my-face” hairstyles.

  7. I like the 1860s (but I love the 1850s, specifically the later ’50 more) myself, and this movie is my FAVORITE of any based in the period.

    They got the actresses to even move correctly – gliding along rather than stomping about. It’s such a beautiful movie, even if it’s a snooze. I just put it on in Italian, and start sewing and have it as eye candy.

  8. “The Leopard” really needs to be seen in a movie house, one with a good sound system. (And a damp washcloth to swipe off Cardinale’s eye shadow!) It’s full of nuance and meditation on the crumbling of an ancient class system, which not everyone gets excited about, but there are also romantic undercurrents, battle scenes, etc. I wish “Gone with the Wind” had been half as subtle–not that 1939 Hollywood wanted to make subtle epics.

  9. I love the hairstyles, they look so sleek and shiny! Any idea how I could achieve this effect? I’ve not found any tutorials that are so neat :( Thank you!

Comments are closed.

Discover more from Frock Flicks

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue Reading