The Leopard - Criterion Collection

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Summary: Quando?
Review: When is this film going to be avialable on DVD? First we were told it would be out in February, then in May, then in September. But all is quiet...A great film (ignoring the US version which probably ranks as one of the great crimes against film of all time). Anyone out there know what is happening?

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Summary: A Classic film that should be made available!
Review: We first saw this movie in the 1950's when it was released in a terribly edited, dubbed, poorly-colored format. We knew even then that it was a glorious film and our all-time favorite of all movies, and we see a lot of them. Once in a while you can see it on cable TV. We have seen it now in its original Italian and in its original color format. Burt Lancaster's voice is dubbed but he is still wonderful. It is over 3 hours long. We have heard that Francis Ford Coppola got many of his ideas from this film. We also have seen it in English dubbed version and both are good.

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Summary: A piece of good news
Review: Appearing on the release schedule of Twentieth Century Fox here in England on the 24th February 2003, at very long last and after much e-nagging, we get "The Leopard" in the 1983 restored print 3-hour version.The reviews printed above are all accurate, and pretty much agreed on the fact that this is one of the truly great films. So I hope you've all got multi-region players ; otherwise start nagging Fox USA right now.

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Summary: Most Outstanding Film Ever Made
Review: I saw this magnificent film when it first came out in 1963. I have never forgotten it and The Leopard remains my favorite film. Having been an avid movie fan for over 50 years, I cannot think of another film that would compare. Recently I read the book and was so thrilled to remember Visconti's images which are so true to the beautiful prose of Giuseppe di Lampedusa. No book or movie can match the brilliance of The Leopard.

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Summary: Available in Italy, Why Not the USA?
Review: There is a pretty Good version of this film aviable in Italy... The Source print is brilliant, but the transfer is not perfect. I would give it about 7.5 out of 10. It's mostly very good, but there are some artifacting problems on the disc. But it's still an essential purchase...

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Summary: An exceptional film based on a superb book
Review: I saw this film in Warsaw, Poland, when I was a young student at the University of Warsaw. It has been my dream to see "The Leopard" again.
I have the book in both: Polish and English translations from original Italian and have been reading it frequently - what a wonderful prose! The author, Giuseppe Tomasi, Sicilian aristocrat, the Prince of Palma and Lampedusa, died in 1957, shortly before his only book was edited. He lived in Italy and France and was drafted in both World Wars. He escaped from POW camp during WW I. His passions were history and literature. "The Leopard" is based on the life story of his own great grandfather, prince Giulio di Lampedusa, whose life was complicated by landing of Garibaldi in Marsala in 1860. Visconti's film, based on this book is superb.
The choice of actors, the script, directing and photography,the editing - all deserve five stars. And the acting - what a great acting!In my opinion - this is Burt Lancaster's best role, Claudia Cardinale and Alain Delon are not only wonderful, but also at the peak of their beauty. When I try to compare "The Leopard" to other films, "Barry Lyndon" always comes to my mind. I have been looking everywhere to find this film - and now - thanks to you, I'm going to have it on DVD.

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Summary: The Leopard
Review: A beautiful film, set in late 19th Century Italy during the revolutionary period, led by Garibaldi. Lancaster gives one of his best performances as a prince ("the leopard") who sees his world changing around him, dislikes it but is powerless to influence it. A profoundly cultured man, the character played by Lancaster, he understands better than those around him what the revolution will mean for Italy and for him and his way of life. The sensitivity and intelligence of Lancaster's performance makes this a film not to be missed.

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Summary: A Rare "Work of Art on Film" - A True Masterpiece!
Review: This a true mastepiece of cinematography that I have never experienced before in my lifetime. I saw this film when I was 13 years old and it has remained in my memory ever since. It's beauty has haunted me since. Even Hollywood with all its technology and money has never produced a film that is as painterly as this "work of Art"! This is true Art and Poetry on film.
Many of Hollywood's so-called film producers could learn greatly
from this masterpiece on film. There are so few masterful works produced in this era in America that can compare to this work by Visconti.
I patiently and anxiously await its release on DVD in the U.S.

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Summary: Prequel to "The Godfather"?
Review: This beautiful and effective film is long overdue for DVD release in its original version (no dubbing please!). Should be required viewing prior to "The Godfather" to fully understand the fall of the Sicilian aristocracy, which led to the ascendency of the criminal "families". Also a stunning viewing experience in widescreen. Lancaster, Delon, and Cardinale head up a superb cast.

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Summary: Clearly, one of the best films ever made...
Review: ...this has been released in a 2-DVD Special Edition in Italy. Why can we not have a Region 1 release of the same edition (which was lovingly restored by the cinematographer, Giuseppe Rotunno) ? Who is it in the ranks of DVD producers that will be smart enough to finally give us this superb film in the US and Canada? (Those of us without multi-region DVD players and standards converters, that is ;o)