Ginger and Fred [Ginger e Fred] **** (1986, Giulietta Masina, Marcello Mastroianni) – Classic Movie Review 5477

Giulietta Masina and Marcello Mastroianni star as wrinkly old dancers Amelia and Pippo, popular Ginger and Fred imitators 30 years earlier, who are reunited to make a comeback on a TV variety show, in director Federico Fellini’s warm and pleasing 1986 bitter-sweet comedy.

The old stylist Fellini assembles two of his best interpreters for his movie, and their touching performances certainly do not let him down. There is also some of the old visual razzle dazzle with the help of Tonino Delli Colli’s cinematography and Dante Ferretti’s production designs.

And the story (screenplay by Fellini, Tonino Guerra and Tullio Pinelli) offers a chance for sweet nostalgia and a venomous attack what Fellini sees as the decayed state of Rome and the squalours of television. But happily the final mood is gentle and at peace with the world.

It represents Fellini’s film reunion with his wife after a gap of 21 years since Juliet of the Spirits (1965). The film is even more precious now that all three giants of the cinema have gone: Fellini (1920–1993), Masina (1921–1994), Mastroianni (1924–1996).

Also in the cast are Franco Fabrizi, Frederick Von Ledenberg, Martin Blau and Toto Migone.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5477

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