Federico Fellini's The White Sheik

(aka "The White Sheik")

Italy 1952

Fellini's first solo directorial effort (after co-helming 'Variety Lights') is partially written by director Michelangelo Antonioni! The story is about a young small-town couple vacationing on their honeymoon in Rome. The young bride, who is infatuated with 'The White Sheik', sneaks off to find him and give him a present of a drawing she had made of him. The post-nuptial romance has soon evaporated as she is unable to return from the remote film shooting she chose to attend. Truths are revealed about "the White Sheik" and the young bride is both embarrassed and distraught about returning to her new husband, who had meticulously organized every minute of their honeymoon.

Co-incidentally two major stars of the film Alberto Sordi and Leopoldo Trieste have recently passed away. Sordi was considered an icon of Italian film and I believe this DVD will be the first with a film starring him. "The White Sheik" is an adept and simple film that shows glimmers of the genius of future Fellini efforts including 'Nights of Cabiria', 'La Strada' and 'Juliet of the Spirits'. It may only be collectable to his die-hard fans but regardless this is a worthwhile viewing. out of

Gary W. Tooze

Poster

IMdb DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Criterion Region 0 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Criterion Collection (Spine # 189) Region 0 - NTSC Region 0 ( North America only )
(click titles for DVDBeaver reviews) This edition (without any extras) is also available in The Essential Art House - 50 Years of Janus Films - a 50-disc celebration of international films collected under the auspices of the groundbreaking theatrical distributor. It contains Alexander Nevsky (1938), Ashes And Diamonds (1958), L'avventura (1960), Ballad Of A Soldier (1959), Beauty And The Beast (1946), Black Orpheus (1959), Brief Encounter (1945), The Fallen Idol (1948), Fires On The Plain (1959), Fists In The Pocket (1965), Floating Weeds (1959), Forbidden Games (1952), The 400 Blows (1959), Grand Illusion (1937), Häxan (1922), Ikiru (1952), The Importance Of Being Earnest (1952), Ivan The Terrible, Part II (1958), Le Jour Se Lève (1939), Jules And Jim (1962), Kind Hearts And Coronets (1949), Knife In The Water (1962), The Lady Vanishes (1938), The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943), Loves Of A Blonde (1965), M (1931), M. Hulot's Holiday (1953), Miss Julie (1951), Pandora's Box (1929), Pépé Le Moko (1937), Il Posto (1961), Pygmalion (1938), Rashomon (1950), Richard III (1955), The Rules Of The Game (1939), Seven Samurai (1954), The Seventh Seal (1957), The Spirit Of The Beehive (1973), La Strada (1954), Summertime (1955), The Third Man (1949), The 39 Steps (1935), Ugetsu (1953), Umberto D. (1952), The Virgin Spring (1960), Viridiana (1961), The Wages Of Fear (1953), The White Sheik (1952), Wild Strawberries (1957), Three Documentaries By Saul J. Turell plus the hardcover, full color 240-page book.
Runtime	1:26:24
Video	1.33:1.00 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.68 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
Bitrate:
Audio	Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Home Vision Entertainment / Criterion Theatrical Release Date: Sept. 6th, 2952 (Venice Film Festival) Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Black & White • New digital transfer with restored picture and sound • New video interviews with actors Brunella Bovo and Leopoldo Trieste, and Fellini friend Moraldo Rossi in a short film called "Remembrances" - 4:3- color- 31:15 • Essay by critic Jonathan Rosenbaum and an excerpt from the biography "I, Fellini" - 4 pages of an 8 page insert DVD Release Date: April 29, 2003 Keep Case Chapters: 41	Cast overview, first billed only: Alberto Sordi .... Fernando Rivoli Brunella Bovo .... Wanda Cavalli Leopoldo Trieste .... Ivan Cavalli Giulietta Masina .... Cabiria Lilia Landi .... Felga Ernesto Almirante .... Director of 'White Sheik' Strip Fanny Marchio .... Marilena Vellardi Gina Mascetti .... White Sheik's Wife Enzo Maggio .... Hotel Concierge Ettore Maria Margadonna .... Ivan's Uncle

Comments:

It is obvious to se that this film has been restored, but I will also assume that the print it was taken from was not in the best of shape. the film IS over 50 years old. There is visible damage and pops and hisses on the soundtrack. At times the image quality looks like it is of Criterion "Rebecca" levels, but it is never consistent showing a little excessive grain and damage at times. I would say this DVD slightly better than the Criterion's "Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne" (Robert Bresson's first film). Perhaps not a must have except for true cinema-philes. The Extras include interviews with actors Brunella Bovo and Leopoldo Trieste, and Moraldo Rossi a friend of Fellini in a short film called "Remembrances. It is a nice addition. No one else but Criterion would have brought this film to DVD with this quality.out of

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

Screen Captures

Recommended Books on Federico Fellini (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)


Federico Fellini by Christopher Wiegand	Fellini on Fellini by Federico Fellini, Isabel Quigley	The Cinema of Federico Fellini by Peter Bondanella	The Films of Federico Fellini (Cambridge Film Classics) by Peter Bondanella, Ray Carney	I'm a Born Liar: A Fellini Lexicon by Damian Pettigrew	Fellini by Lietta Tornabuoni	Fellini: A Life by Hollis Alpert	I, Fellini by Charlotte Chandler, Billy Wilder

Check out more in "The Library"

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Criterion Collection (Spine # 189) Region 0 - NTSC Region 0 ( North America only )
(click titles for DVDBeaver reviews) This edition (without any extras) is also available in The Essential Art House - 50 Years of Janus Films - a 50-disc celebration of international films collected under the auspices of the groundbreaking theatrical distributor. It contains Alexander Nevsky (1938), Ashes And Diamonds (1958), L'avventura (1960), Ballad Of A Soldier (1959), Beauty And The Beast (1946), Black Orpheus (1959), Brief Encounter (1945), The Fallen Idol (1948), Fires On The Plain (1959), Fists In The Pocket (1965), Floating Weeds (1959), Forbidden Games (1952), The 400 Blows (1959), Grand Illusion (1937), Häxan (1922), Ikiru (1952), The Importance Of Being Earnest (1952), Ivan The Terrible, Part II (1958), Le Jour Se Lève (1939), Jules And Jim (1962), Kind Hearts And Coronets (1949), Knife In The Water (1962), The Lady Vanishes (1938), The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943), Loves Of A Blonde (1965), M (1931), M. Hulot's Holiday (1953), Miss Julie (1951), Pandora's Box (1929), Pépé Le Moko (1937), Il Posto (1961), Pygmalion (1938), Rashomon (1950), Richard III (1955), The Rules Of The Game (1939), Seven Samurai (1954), The Seventh Seal (1957), The Spirit Of The Beehive (1973), La Strada (1954), Summertime (1955), The Third Man (1949), The 39 Steps (1935), Ugetsu (1953), Umberto D. (1952), The Virgin Spring (1960), Viridiana (1961), The Wages Of Fear (1953), The White Sheik (1952), Wild Strawberries (1957), Three Documentaries By Saul J. Turell plus the hardcover, full color 240-page book.

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Gary Tooze

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