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Summary: Charming, beautiful, and sad
Review: Although I've greatly enjoyed movies all of my life, I have only considered myself a "film buff" for about 10 years now, and believe it or not, its taken me this long to discover the genius of Fellini. After viewing the masterpiece "8 1/2", I was anxious to check out another film by this director I have always heard so much about, and my search lead me to "La Strada". I just finished watching it about 15 minutes ago, and once again, I am deeply affected, and aware of being in the presence of brilliance.The plot details can be read in the editorial review above, so I'll just make some comments. First of all, the story is unforgetable. If you are a lover of high art and are open-minded to the classics of cinema, there is no way you will walk away from this film unaffected. The powerful performance by Quinn, the heartbreaking, delicate perfomance by Masina, and the comical, yet touching performance by Basehart combine to produce one of the greatest ensemble performances I have ever seen on screen. Together with Fellini's magical touch, a masterpiece of cinema is born. The story is funny, yet sad....simple, yet thought-provoking. In all, it rightly deserves to be called a classic, and I recommend it to anyone who has a true appreciation of film. Criterion Collection has done it again with another beautiful package. The transfer is near flawless. The picture is practicaly blemish free, and the unforgettable Nino Rota score is clear and vibrant. Since I just got this DVD, I haven't gotten a chance to view all the extras, but this is a double-disc set from Criterion, which usually means that its packed to the brim with wonderful supplemantal material. I know that the higher prices Criterion charges for their DVDs turns alot of folks off, but for me, I've found that the labor of love that they put into each DVD makes the slightly higher prices well worth it. All in all, this is a phenomenal film presented wonderfuly in a great DVD package. Very highly recommended.
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Summary: Obviously, based on ws142's review, La Strada is a classic
Review: The opening line of ws142's review shows he is inarticulate, crude and ignorant which is reason enough to make me want to run out and buy La Strada immediately. It's obviously NOT Armageddon, American Pie, American Pie 2, and American Wedding which is obviously the kind of film that appeals to ws142's IQ level. If it's as good as Nights of Cabiria, which I own, it's obviously one of the greatest films ever made. Cheers
Rating: 
Summary: Just cause it's old and Italian doesn't mean it's good
Review: Man does this movie suck balls. What's the big prob? for one thing the movie's dubbed in Italian and English- the viewer gets the choice between the two- but it's six of one etc. Anthony Quinn speaks in ENGLISH, so when you watch the ITALIAN dubbed version, his mouth does not move with his voice. Unfortunately, switching to the English dub don't work either because ALL THE OTHER CHARACTERS SPEAK IN ITALIAN. This is not my only caveat. The female character, Geronisimo or whatever, played by Fellini's wife,is nothing short of unwatchable. Her performance is forced and precious and not adorable at all, as some of these reviewers (and the back of the box) would have you believe. Why? Because she uses every second of her self-loving screen time to TRY to be cute. Cuteness does not come from ATTEMPTING to be cute. This rule applies to all humans, even Italians.
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Summary: A little different emphasis
Review: Yes, this is a fantastic movie. Yes, Anthony Quinn does probably his best work here. Yes, Fellini was a genius at directing (although not too good at anything else), and yes, the female lead played by Masina, was sometimes other-worldly. All true. I ask you, though - how about Richard Basehart !?! ?! I mean, this guy turns in the performance of his life! Who knew? How could anyone have predicted that performance? This is a guy that appeared on "Love Boat" and "Knight Rider" and many, many other television shows of dubious worth before those aired in the 1980's. He was the star of " Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea" in the 60's (1964 to 1968, I think). But, if only for a shining moment, in La Strada he knocked out a performance that was worthy of an Oscar. And he deserved a best supporting actor Oscar for his portrayal of Matta. But. . . Hollywood being what it was then, and art films being poison at the box office in 1954, he didn't even get a nomination. Talk about a bad break - that was his moment, and he was never that good again. At least not at a moment when anyone was watching.
Rating: 
Summary: a flawed masterpieece
Review: This is possible one of the ten best films ever released but Criterion has botched it. The English titles are very hard to read and, at times, the English soundtrack, is mute - mouths move but no sound can be heard. At their high prices, Criterion never should have released this.
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Summary: La Strada audio "dropout" questions answered
Review: In a previous review, I was concerned about two sections on the "English" dubbed audio track, in which the sound completely dropped out. I just received an email from Jon Mulvaney (who represents Criterion). Here is an excerpt of that email: [The English language dubbed track on Criterion's LA STRADA is derived from a print of the American version of the film. Several minor cuts were made for the American release, and the disparities between the complete Italian cut of LA STRADA and its shorter American counterpart have resulted in a number of unavoidable audio dropouts on the English-dubbed track on the DVD. This is not a flaw in the DVD of La Strada but an accurate reflection of the Italian and American versions and an indication of the cuts that were made for the American release.] Many thanks to Mr. Mulvaney for looking further into the problem and getting right back to me. In short, we have the definitive version of La Strada (compliments of Criterion), and there is no need to return the DVD to Amazon or Criterion.
Rating: 
Summary: Is there a "glitch" in the "English" audio element?
Review: I agree with almost all of my fellow reviewers, that this is probably one of the greatest films ever made. Since DVD's came about, I've been writing letters to Criterion (the company which restored it), asking that "La Strada" be released (especially by them). First of all, the picture quality is 10 out of 10, it's wonderful. The original "Italian" audio track is a joy to my ear, from beginning to end. BUT....the "English" audio track seems to be flawed (at least with this, the first release). In the beginning of the film, when Gelsomina is introduced to Zampano, about 3:30 min into the film, until 4:04 min into the film, there is a complete loss of sound. And once again from 4:20 min into the film, until 4:35 min into the film, there is another complete loss of sound. From then on, the audio is flawless. I contacted Criterion about this problem, and I was advised that it was probably a bad copy, and to contact AMAZON for a replacement. I did this, and AMAZON sent out a new copy within 2 days. Unfortunately, the replacement disk was flawed in EXACTLY the same places on the "English" track. Please check YOUR copy, and if it IS flawed, please contact Criterion about it. I tried BOTH of my copies on THREE DIFFERENT DVD players, and it was SAME problem on each machine, and at the same times that I mentioned. What are the odds of that? I'm a HUGE fan of Criterion and their work, and I think it's just a bug that needs to be worked out. Other than that, their restoration is a jewel in my collection.
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Summary: FELLINI'S TRAGIC, POETIC MASTERPIECE
Review: LA STRADA (Criterion) is Federico Fellini's tragic masterpiece. Giulietta Masina, Fellini's wife, is wide-eyed, innocent Gelsomina, who's sold by her mother to Zampano (Anthony Quinn), a brutal strongman. Although treated like an animal, she falls in love with Zampano. Joining a traveling circus, they meet his rival, tightrope artist Fool (Richard Basheart), who charms Gelsomina and taunts Zampano. Unable to control his hatred of Fool, nor be "saved" by Gelsomina's pure love, Zampano and Gelsomina are thrown out of the circus. This poetic tale of love and cruelty is almost Biblical and a basic element of any serious video library.
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Summary: La Strada & Nights Of Cabiria, 2 personal favorites on DVD.
Review: I have long anticipated the Criterion Collection DVD release of La Strada, and now its available on an excellent two disk set, and it doesn't disappoint. This film was Fellini's first successs, and won best foreign film Acadamy Award. Picture Quality on this DVD is breathtaking; virtually no grain, dust, or scratches. Audio is clear in both original Italian or English, and it also features informative commentary. Other great features include the English trailer and a documentary on the life Of director Fellini. Another fine entry in the Criterion Collection that will remain in my permanent personal collection.
La Strada is the heartbreaking story of Gelsomina (played with great subtlety and tenderness by Giulietta Masina) who is sold to the mean and unloving performer Zampano (a fine preformance by Anthony Quinn). Then the story follows the two performing artists through their many adventures and misadventures, and that is what becomes the brillance of La Strada. A classic neorealest tale of compassion and of how everything and everyone has its purpose in life. A great film from one of the greatest, eccentric, and most versitle directors of all time, Federico Fellini, before his work became extremely outrageous and surreal (like Roma and Satyricon). La Strada is not one of those indulgent films, which, in their own way are brilliant, but don't think that La Strada is one of those, and don't let Fellini's later work deter you from seeing his better earlier masterpieces.
Finally I would like to highly reccomend Fellini's Nights Of Cabiria, also staring Masina and available on a great Criterion DVD. Cabiria is one of my top 20 favorites and should be seen with La Strada not for their similarities, but for the fact that they complement each other extremely well. Masina will make you laugh at her silly dancing and emotional outbursts and make you cry (as I always do) at her misfortune. She is a survivor who believes in love and life even after her greatest let downs. A character unlike the unconfidant but lovable Gelsomina in La Strada. Both films are true classics that must be seen by any film lover.
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Summary: Finally This Masterpiece is Available on DVD!
Review: Federico Fellini's La Strada is an excellent movie, a real masterpiece! I watched this on cable one day and it really sparked my interest. It is a sad deep movie and it really makes you think and I have found it to be a movie that really left a lasting impression on me and I would like to own this movie on DVD. The Criiterion DVD is kind of expensive but I think La Strada is such a wonderful movie that I will buy it for my DVD collection even though it's expensive! this is the only Fellini movie I have seen but if they are all as wonderful as La Strada I look forward to watcing them too and I think Fellini is a genius and Anthony Quinn and Guilietta Masina were outstanding as Zampano and Gelsomina.
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