Based on Ruggero Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci. The film recounts the tragedy of Canio, the lead clown (or pagliaccio in Italian) in a commedia dell'arte troupe, his wife Nedda, and her lover, Silvio. When Nedda spurns the advances of Tonio, another player in the troupe, he tells Canio about Nedda's betrayal. In a jealous rage Canio murders both Nedda and Silvio. The only actor in the cast who also sang his role was the celebrated Italian baritone, Tito Gobbi, but the film is largely very faithful to its source material, presenting the opera nearly complete.
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Cast
7 people
Tito Gobbi
Tonio/Silvio
Also in
The Firebird
Before Him All Rome Trembled
Gina Lollobrigida
Nedda
Known for
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Adventures of Pinocchio
Onelia Fineschi
Nedda (singing voice)
Also in
Faust and the Devil
The Lost One
Afro Poli
Canio, master of the troupe
Known for
Hercules
Galliano Masini
Canio (singing voice)
Also in
Star of the Sea
La forza del destino
Filippo Morucci
Beppe, troupe harlequin
Also in
Times Gone By
Gino Sinimberghi
Beppe (singing voice)
Also in
Beautiful But Dangerous
La sonnambula
Mario Costa Director · Anton Giulio Majano Writer Carlo Castelli Writer
First release December 2, 1948 · Produced in Italy
Production
Itala Film
Production
Italy
Produced in
Languages
Original language
Italian
Spoken on screen
Italian
Release dates
Italy · December 2, 1948
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
Russia
October 9, 1950 · Theatrical · Субитры – к/ст им. Горького, 1950 г.
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Some details come from TheTVDB.