Variety Lights
In Italy, Checco Dal Monte manages a troupe of traveling performers with plenty of heart but minimal talent. At a small town engagement, he encounters the starry-eyed, gorgeous Lily Antonelli, and hires her as a dancer on the show. Vivacious Lily quickly sells out crowds and earns the resentment of Checco's mistress, Melina Amour, but the fledgling performer has far bigger ambitions and soon sets her sights on a higher-profile role.
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Cast
30 people
Peppino De Filippo
Checco Dal Monte
Known for
Toto, Peppino, and the Hussy
The Band of Honest Men
Carla Del Poggio
Liliana "Lilly" Antonelli
Also in
Rome 11:00
Without Pity
Giulietta Masina
Melina Amour
Known for
La Strada
Nights of Cabiria
John Kitzmiller
Trumpet Player Johnny
Known for
Dr. No
Totòtruffa '62
Dante Maggio
Remo
Known for
For a Few Dollars More
47 Talking Corpses
Checco Durante
Theater Owner
Known for
In the Name of the Italian People
Torture Me But Kill Me with Kisses
Gina Mascetti
Valeria del Sole
Known for
The White Sheik
Giulio Calì
Magician Edison Will
Known for
An American in Rome
Cops and Robbers
Silvio Bagolini
Bruno Antonini
Known for
I Vitelloni
Giacomo Furia
Duke
Known for
The Band of Honest Men
The Gold of Naples
Mario De Angelis
Maestro
Also in
Scanzonatissimo
Zelda
Vanja Orico
Moema - Brazilian Singer
Also in
The Bandit
O Tempo e o Vento
Federico Fellini Director · Alberto Lattuada Director Tullio Pinelli Screenplay
United States release May 6, 1965 · Produced in Italy · Languages English, Italian
Production
Capitolium
Production
Italy
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Luci del varietà
Original language
Italian
Spoken on screen
English · Italian
Release dates
Italy · December 6, 1950
Limited theatrical
United States · May 6, 1965
Theatrical · New York City, New York
Denmark
June 23, 1958 · Theatrical
Finland
February 6, 1959 · Theatrical
France
December 7, 1956 · Theatrical
Germany
February 13, 1959 · Theatrical · West Germany
Greece
October 19, 2021 · Limited theatrical · Greek Film Archive
Hungary
October 13, 1964 · TV
Italy
January 12, 1951 · Theatrical · Milan
February 23, 1951 · Theatrical · Turin
April 20, 1951 · Theatrical · Rome
June 19, 2021 · Premiere · Pesaro Film Festival
Japan
November 18, 2001 · Limited theatrical · Grande Retrospettiva del Cinema Italiano
Peru
December 17, 1953 · Theatrical
Poland
July 20, 2007 · Premiere · New Horizons Film Festival
Portugal
November 2, 2020 · Limited theatrical · Cinemateca Portuguesa - Museu do Cinema
Russia
April 6, 1990 · Premiere · Italian Film Festival "City of Rimini and Cinema" (Moscow)
Sweden
October 12, 1959 · Theatrical
Switzerland
August 6, 2021 · Premiere · Locarno Film Festival (Restored Version)
United Kingdom
September 28, 1960 · Theatrical
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