Rating: 
Summary: beautiful transfer of accessible early Fellini
Review: Although not one of the more important works in the Fellini canon, Night's of Cabiria is undoubtedly one of his most polished and most accessible works. Fellini's wife Giulietta Masina (in her finest performance) stars as the lively and optimistic prostitute Cabiria, searching for true love in one of the seediest parts of Rome. The plot, at first glance a rather dull, depressing subject, is livened by Fellini's inspired use of humour. The neo-realist style is enhanced by the dialogue, co-written by the controversial Italian film-maker Pier Paolo Pasolini (Salo, Accatone), and newly translated here. Considering the film's age (and a sequence of the film was lost) the picture quality is quite stunning. The sound shows its age far more, but is perfectly audible and acceptable. The extras are a welcome addition, the original and re-release trailers, a couple of informative interviews, and an extract from the White Sheik (although this is of rather poor quality, it still makes for an interesting addition).So despite the high price it's a very recommended buy, a great transfer of a great film.
Rating:
Summary: Fellini at his best
Review: "Le Notti di Cabiria", Federico Fellini's 1957 Academy Award winning film, is a poignant, touching and timeless work of Italian cinema. The film details the life of Cabiria (played by Fellini's wife Giulietta Masina), a "night bird" who leads a cynical life of prostitution on the streets of Rome. Throughout the film, Fellini guides us through her search for true love, refuge, and eventual salvation. Her poetic story is one of sadness, hope, and the unending search for a true place to call home. Giulietta Masina's brilliant performance draws her audience into her ravaged world and leaves them forever changed.
Cabiria has been a prostitute since her youngest days - she recollects entering the streets at 15 with "long, dark hair", unaware of what she was getting into. As we learn in the opening scene, she has been consistently taken advantage of by men, yet attempts to walk a fine line between clinging to them in a search for true happiness and remaining ever independent and self-sufficient. As soon as the film opens, she is robbed by her pimp, and later spends the night with a self-consumed wealthy director. However, the director throws her in the closet as soon as his girlfriend arrives and in the morning quickly escorts a sad Cabiria out of the house, with all her hopes crushed. During the film Cabiria is frequently enticed by the promise of a new life in her encounters, yet consistently meets impending doom.
The most heartbreaking theme of the film is Cabiria's hopeless search for happiness and salvation. We see that her friends in the business are no better off - Cabiria's story is a universal account. She is cynical and cold only because of the tragedy she has suffered when she has chosen to share herself. However, she makes a gradual transformation throughout the film as soon as she meets D'onofrio - a handsome, intelligent and caring man who finds Cabiria at a comedy show. Cabiria is at first doubtful and aloof around him, but as the story progresses becomes more open and loving. She has finally found the answer in D'onofrio; she proceeds to sell her house and gather her life savings to live the married life as her mother had with D'onofrio. In the end of the film, her hopes are once again crushed as Fellini brings us to a cliff overlooking a river, the same setting as the opening scene in which Cabiria was robbed by her pimp and thrown into the river. Cabiria recognizes why D'onofrio has taken her there, breaks down crying and asks for him to throw her over the cliff. D'onofrio takes her life savings and leaves her on the cliff to her sorrows. Fellini ends the film with a shot of Cabiria looking into the camera smiling through her tears - she still has some hope for humanity inside her.
It seems that no matter how desperate her struggles, Cabiria can not leave her life on the streets. She tells D'onofrio that as a teenager she and her friend Wanda had tried to escape the streets through starting a newspaper stand and could never get it off the ground. Perhaps it is something about Cabiria that keeps her working on the streets, perhaps it is her eternal hope in the goodness of mankind. She will never stop believing someone good is waiting for her out in the obscurity of the night. While at a holy site where Mary was to have appeared, she begs in tears for Mary to change her life. Her prayers, expectedly, are not answered. In "Le Notti di Cabiria", Fellini breaks our hearts through Giulietta Masina's brilliant portrayal of an infinite search for love amongst a dark world ravaged with deceit and pain.
Rating:
Summary: Collector's Gem
Review: Quality counts with the folks at The Criterion Collection, not just technically but in content too. This is one of Fellini's most fully realized films and the nostalgia and unflinching gaze that pervades all his best work is present in every frame. Everyone mentions Giulietta Masina's performance and there's a reason for that. She is brilliant. One of the most heart wrenching performances ever put on film. The DVD includes the "Man with the Sack" sequence that producer Dino de Laurentiis (more recently the production powerhouse behind the Hannibal Lecter franchise) excised from the original release. One can understand why a producer would want to trim it out - but its inclusion here makes the film seem larger somehow and Criterion should be applauded for putting it back in. This DVD is a vital part of your Fellini DVD Collection should you be assembling one. And you are, aren't you?
Rating:
Summary: The Real Art of Moviemaking
Review: I've seen only one other Fellini film (8 1/2), which I enjoyed, but I wasn't sure I would like Nights of Cabiria. Seeing this movie for the first time turned out to be a delight. The story, quite simply is about Cabiria, a prostitute who lives on the outskirts of Rome and who wants to find a decent man to marry. The pleasure of seeing this movie is about getting to know Cabiria, laughing at her misfortunes, seeing her fumble through bizarre predicaments, feeling her sorrow when she's mistreated, watching her deal with life on its terms. Aside from Giulietta Masina, there are many other reasons to see this movie. The parade of improbable faces, the opulent locations in and around Rome, the wonderful variety of music, and the amazingingly artistic quality of every shot that Fellini directs. This is one of the rare films which should be considered a work of art. Finally, I can't say enough about the Criterion Collection DVD's. Nights of Cabiria has been restored and re-mastered for this DVD and the results (as demonstrated on the disc) are incomparable. If you can, see this edition.
Rating:
Summary: poignant
Review: I had never seen anything by Fellini when I picked up this movie. Not expecting much, I was astounded by the amazing performance of Cabiria by Masina. Masina gives the Cabiria character tenderness, vulnerability and comedy. I have never before or since seen an actress with the expressions of Masina, she was truly something special and a delight to watch. The transformation of the Cabiria character from beginning to end is fascinating to watch. The movie leaves the viewer with a lot to think about in regards to humanity, grace and kindness.
Rating: 
Summary: a pretty nice film
Review: This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film. The film's original title is "Le Notti di Cabiria" and was later remade as the film Sweet Charity with Shirley MacClaine. This film is the story of a prostitute trying unsucessfully to find true love. This edition includes a famous "man with a sack" scene that was cut from from the film and is shown for the first time on home video. The film has good acting and some scenes with great humor. the special features on the DVD include the original trailer, an audio interview with producer Dino DeLaurentiis, a video interview with Fellini's assistant, Dominique Delouche (conducted at his apartment in Paris) A scene from the film "The White Sheik" which was later released by Criterion, and a demo of the restoration. The restoration is very impressive and shows how they were able to take a film that had faded severly and make it look almost brand new. The demonstration alone, is worth renting the DVD. If you like Fellini's movies, Buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Another "classic" that has left me COLD
Review: (...)P>"La Notti Di Cabriria" is a fine showcase for the (...)goofball charm of Giulietta Masina. I have no doubt that it has reduced many a mighty soul to tears and trembling. It left me rather void of feeling--I couldn't care less what happened to the hapless Cabiria. Still, the film has an exceedingly dirty feel to it. Everything from Cabriria's occupation to the filthy beggars crying out for Grace from Maria --reek with a pestilence that cannot be washed off. Fellini takes us into a nightclub where the evening's entertainment are two dancers straight from the heart of Mother Africa. Their dance is the most carnal and immediately sexual thing in the whole film. It is also clean and forceful. The rest of the film seems to decay around it. Ultimately, if you love rooting for the little gal, this film is for you. She is very much like Chaplin's "little tramp" and you will enjoy observing her gritty determination to climb every mountain with a song in her heart. If you are like me, however, you will find yourself grimacing every time she pulls one of her cutesy "aw shucks" faces for the camera. You will pray she runs into the Vampire of Milan or yet another self-actualized ripper enthusiast. You will keep on praying... cinematically: 5/5
do i care? : 1/5
average rating 3/5
Rating:
Summary: a pretty nice film
Review: This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film. The film's original title is "Le Notti di Cabiria" and was later remade as the film Sweet Charity with Shirley MacClaine. This film is the story of a prostitute trying unsucessfully to find true love. This edition includes a famous "man with a sack" scene that was cut from from the film and is shown for the first time on home video. The film has good acting and some scenes with great humor. the special features on the DVD include the original trailer, an audio interview with producer Dino DeLaurentiis, a video interview with Fellini's assistant, Dominique Delouche (conducted at his apartment in Paris) A scene from the film "The White Sheik" which was later released by Criterion, and a demo of the restoration. The restoration is very impressive and shows how they were able to take a film that had faded severly and make it look almost brand new. The demonstration alone, is worth renting the DVD. If you like Fellini's movies, Buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!!!
Review: I saw this movie almost a year ago on the "Flix" pay channel. I was mesmerized! I priced it on several web sights featuring videos and was astonished at the price $35 and up. I waited to see if it would come down. It didn't and I couldn't wait any longer. Let me say it was worth every penny that I paid for it! I think Fellini captures the spirit of the character Cabiria, and Gulietta Masina makes Cabiria her own. Wonderfully engaging and emotionally touching. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Maestro!
Review: Bravissimo! Il piu maestro di film di tutto mundo!
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