Variety Lights [Luci del varietà] *** (1950, Peppino De Filippo, Carla Del Poggio, Giulietta Masina) – Classic Movie Review 2656

Federico Fellini makes his directorial début as joint writer-producer-director with Alberto Lattuada in this bitter-sweet 1950 romantic drama about a company of third-rate music-hall theatrical performers on tour. 

The story spotlights the adventures of the actors, dancers and performers who are struggling from Italian town to town trying to make money but playing to minimal audiences.

Carla Del Poggio plays Liliana ‘Lily’ Antonelli, a beautiful, talented and ambitious young woman who causes jealousy and emotional crises when she joins the travelling troupe and attracts the eye of the company’s ageing comic and manager Checco Dal Monte (Peppino De Filippo). He falls in love with the newcomer, to the upset of his faithful mistress Melina Amour, played by Fellini’s real-life wife, Giulietta Masina.

[Spoiler alert] Lily admires Checco but then in the end she quits the troupe for the brighter lights of the big city.

Compared to Fellini’s later masterpieces this is a fairly unremarkable film, but it’s still very well observed, neatly performed and richly diverting. Masina is especially effective. Fellini’s many fans will be able to spot plenty of recurring personal obsessions and he effectively and effortlessly captures the special atmosphere of showbiz and its personalities. The film also features John Kitzmiller, Folco Lulli, Dante Maggio and Checco Durante.

Before this film, Fellini worked primarily as a screenwriter, most notably working on Roberto Rossellini’s Rome, Open City.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2656

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