# The Leopard

> 1963 film by Luchino Visconti

**Wikidata**: [Q596623](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q596623)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Leopard_(1963_film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-leopard

## Summary  
*The Leopard* is a 1963 epic historical drama film directed by Luchino Visconti, based on Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s 1958 novel of the same name. A critical and cultural landmark, it won the Palme d’Or at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival and was later included in the Vatican’s list of films. The film explores the unification of Italy through the eyes of the aristocratic Salina family, blending personal and political drama.  

## Key Facts  
- **Release Dates**: Premiered in Paris on March 29, 1963; released in Italy on May 20, 1963; U.S. release on November 8, 1963.  
- **Director**: Luchino Visconti (Italian, 1906–1976), known for neorealist and visually lush films.  
- **Production Company**: Titanus (founded in 1904 in Naples, Italy).  
- **Cast**: Starring Alain Delon (French actor, 1935–2024) as Tancredi Di Lascaris.  
- **Genres**: Drama film, historical epic.  
- **Awards**: Won the Palme d’Or (1963 Cannes Film Festival).  
- **Recognition**: Included in the Vatican’s list of films (compiled in 1995).  
- **Countries**: Co-production between Italy and France.  
- **Source Material**: Adapted from Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s novel *Il Gattopardo*.  

## FAQs  
**Q: Who directed *The Leopard* and what is its historical context?**  
A: Directed by Luchino Visconti, the film dramatizes the 1860s unification of Italy (Risorgimento) through the decline of the Sicilian aristocracy.  

**Q: What awards did *The Leopard* win?**  
A: It won the Palme d’Or at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival and was later recognized by the Vatican in its 1995 list of notable films.  

**Q: Who stars in the film?**  
A: French actor Alain Delon headlines the cast as Tancredi Di Lascaris, a nationalist supporter of Italian unification.  

**Q: Is *The Leopard* part of any cultural or religious listings?**  
A: Yes, it was included in the Vatican’s 1995 list of films for its artistic and moral significance.  

**Q: Where was the film produced?**  
A: A co-production between Italy (via Titanus, founded in 1904) and France, reflecting Visconti’s transnational collaborations.  

## Why It Matters  
*The Leopard* is a monumental work of cinematic art, renowned for its opulent visuals, political nuance, and exploration of societal change. As a Palme d’Or winner and Vatican-recognized film, it holds dual significance in secular and religious cultural discourse. Visconti’s adaptation critiques the compromises of progress through the lens of aristocratic decay, offering a universal meditation on history’s cyclical nature. Its influence endures in filmmaking techniques, historical storytelling, and debates about tradition versus modernity.  

## Notable For  
- **Palme d’Or Winner**: Highest prize at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival.  
- **Vatican Recognition**: Included in the 1995 Vatican film list for artistic and ethical value.  
- **Epic Historical Drama**: Depicts the Risorgimento through intimate and sweeping narratives.  
- **Star Performance**: Alain Delon’s portrayal of Tancredi Di Lascaris cemented his international stardom.  
- **Literary Adaptation**: Faithful yet innovative interpretation of Lampedusa’s novel.  

## Body  

### Production & Release  
- **Director**: Luchino Visconti, an Italian filmmaker known for *La Terra Trema* (1948) and *The Damned* (1969).  
- **Production Company**: Titanus (founded in Naples, Italy, in 1904 by Gustavo Lombardo).  
- **Release Dates**:  
  - March 29, 1963: Premiere in Paris, France.  
  - May 20, 1963: Italy.  
  - November 8, 1963: U.S. release.  
- **Countries**: A co-production between Italy and France, reflecting Visconti’s frequent cross-border collaborations.  

### Cast & Crew  
- **Lead Actor**: Alain Delon (1935–2024), a French actor renowned for roles in *The Sicilian Clan* (1969) and *Le Samouraï* (1967).  
- **Source Material**: Adapted from Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s 1958 novel *Il Gattopardo* (“The Leopard”), published posthumously.  

### Awards & Recognition  
- **Palme d’Or**: Awarded at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival, recognizing its artistic and technical excellence.  
- **Vatican’s List of Films**: Included in the 1995 compilation of 45 films “worthy of being seen and discussed,” curated by the Pontifical Council for Culture.  

### Themes & Legacy  
- **Historical Context**: Portrays the 1860s unification of Italy (Risorgimento) through the eyes of Don Fabrizio Corbera (Burt Lancaster), a Sicilian prince grappling with political upheaval.  
- **Cultural Impact**: Praised for its cinematography, costume design, and critique of power dynamics during societal transformation.  
- **Adaptation Challenges**: Visconti condensed the novel’s sprawling narrative while preserving its philosophical depth, notably the iconic “ball scene” symbolizing old-world extravagance.  

### Related Entities  
- **Luchino Visconti**: A pivotal figure in Italian cinema, blending neorealism with operatic grandeur.  
- **Titanus**: Italy’s oldest active film production company, producing over 1,500 films since 1904.  
- **Alain Delon**: A defining actor of 1960s European cinema, known for his collaborations with Visconti and Jean-Pierre Melville.  

### Historical Significance  
- **Risorgimento Depiction**: The film’s portrayal of Italy’s unification balances personal drama (e.g., Tancredi’s idealism) with macro-political shifts, emphasizing the cost of “progress.”  
- **Aristocratic Decline**: Uses the Salina family’s story to explore themes of obsolescence and moral compromise, resonating beyond Italian history.  

### Technical Achievements  
- **Cinematography**: Shot on location in Sicily and Rome, with elaborate battle scenes and period-accurate settings.  
- **Runtime**: The original 205-minute cut was trimmed for international releases, sparking debates about artistic integrity.  

### Cultural Preservation  
- **Restoration**: A 4K restoration premiered in 2013, reviving the film’s vibrant visuals and reinforcing its status as a landmark of world cinema.  
- **Academic Study**: Frequently analyzed in film studies for its narrative structure, symbolism, and direction of historical epics.

## References

1. IMDb
2. [Source](http://www.cinematografo.it/cinedatabase/film/il-gattopardo/11621/)
3. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/lampart)
4. FilmAffinity
5. AlloCiné
6. [Source](http://www.mafab.hu/movies/a-parduc-44148.html)
7. Metacritic
8. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057091/fullcredits)
9. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
10. Freebase Data Dumps
11. The Leopard. Rotten Tomatoes
12. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057091/releaseinfo/)
13. BBC Things
14. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057091/parentalguide)
15. Unifrance
16. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
17. [Source](https://www.eirin.jp/list/index.php?s_year=2011&s_month=2&e_year=2011&e_month=2&pageID=2)
18. film distribution certificate
19. mymovies.it
20. The Movie Database
21. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/1361-6455-1923-7F37-8E1C-8)
22. Danish Film Database
23. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/93462)
24. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
25. Trakt.tv
26. FilmVandaag.nl