Satyricon [Fellini Satyricon] **** (1969, Martin Potter, Hiram Keller, Max Born, Capucine, Magali Noël, Alain Cuny) – Classic Movie Review 2635

The decadence of Ancient Rome inspires director Federico Fellini, who is on fine, lusty form in this 1969 movie version of the classic book by Petronius (Gaius Petronius Arbiter).

In the tales, two student friends, Encolpio and Ascilto (Martin Potter and Hiram Keller) clash over ownership of the boy Gitone (Max Born), divide their belongings and split up. The boy, allowed to choose who he goes with, chooses Ascilto. They have various adventures and meet again. The series of mythical tales is set in first century Rome.

There’s a gay wedding in Satyricon. Smitten by his beauty, Lichas (Alain Cuny) takes Encolpio as his spouse in a wedding ceremony blessed by his wife, Trifena (Capucine).

Satyricon is an outrageous compendium of pretty faces, grotesque bodies and a real eyeful of beautiful images that may not appeal to everyone. But certainly no one else could have made it like this, and over the years it has achieved the status of one of Fellini’s masterpieces, albeit a lesser one. While indulging thoroughly himself and entertaining the audience, Fellini is probably tut-tutting away about the immorality of the times of antiquity.

Fellini employs Italy’s top talent of the day for designs, photography and music. The work of Danilo Donati (set designs), Giuseppe Rotunno (cinematography) and Nino Rota (score) is absolutely first class, quite breathtaking.

The film also stars Capucine (as Trifena), Magali Noël (as Fortunata), Alain Cuny (Lica), Salvo Randone, Lucia Bosé and Fanfulla.

Also in the cast are Mario Romagnoli, Danica La Loggia, Giuseppe Sanvitale, Genius, Joseph Wheeler, Hylette Adolphe, Tanya Lopert, Gordon Mitchell, George Eastman, Marcello Di Falco, Elisa Mainardi, Donyale Luna and Carlo Giordana.

Petronius’s book is a series of bawdy and satirical episodes written during the reign of the emperor Nero and set in imperial Rome. The book has survived only in fragments, and the film reflects this by similarly being fragmentary in nature.

Author Parker Tyler declared it ‘the most profoundly homosexual movie in all history’; Pauline Kael complained of ‘a really bad, a terrible movie’; Roger Ebert called the film a masterpiece: ‘It is so much more ambitious and audacious than most of what we see today that simply as a reckless gesture, it shames these timid times.’

The sexy Turkish-born actress Magali Noël (born Magali Giuffra) died on June 23 2015, aged 82. She appeared primarily in French and Italian productions and was notable as an object of desire in the Fellini masterpieces La Dolce Vita (1960), Satyricon and Amarcord (1973).

On June 26 2015, President Obama hailed the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling legalising same-sex marriage across 50 states as ‘a victory for America’.

‘The speed with which public attitudes have shifted in favour of gay marriage has been dizzying,’ he said. But that ignores the legacy of the gay rights movement. Friday’s victory was also the result of millions of people who endured taunts and bullying, who came out to families and friends, and who marched for equality.’

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2635

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