{"id":81997,"date":"2022-03-11T16:19:04","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T23:19:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=81997"},"modified":"2022-03-11T16:19:04","modified_gmt":"2022-03-11T23:19:04","slug":"variety-lights-1950","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=81997","title":{"rendered":"Variety Lights (1950)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I&#8217;m an artist. So are you!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Poster-205x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-81998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Poster-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Poster-88x128.png 88w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Poster-185x270.png 185w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Poster.png 581w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen the director (Peppino De Filippo) of a vagabond vaudeville troupe falls for an ambitious and beautiful dancer (Carla Del Poggio) who insists on joining their show, he breaks the heart of his loyal girlfriend (Giulietta Masina), and the couple part ways &#8212; but will De Filippo and Del Poggio succeed in their dreams of fame and fortune?\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Actors and Actresses<\/li>\n<li>Aspiring Stars<\/li>\n<li>Federico Fellini Films<\/li>\n<li>Italian Films<\/li>\n<li>Love Triangle <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nFederico Fellini&#8217;s debut film as a director (albeit one co-produced and co-directed with Alberto Lattuada) was this light-hearted look at the vagaries of small-time show business. Much like <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=16770\"><em>All About Eve<\/em> (1950)<\/a> from the same year, this tale focuses on a beautiful young woman (Del Poggio) eager to do whatever it takes to secure her spot on stage, even if this means hurting the kind older woman (Masina) who is at first friendly and charitable to her. Masina (Fellini&#8217;s real-life wife) steals the show as &#8220;Melina Amour,&#8221; a self-confident performer who can&#8217;t fathom that De Filippo would betray her &#8212; and then must deal with the unfathomable. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Masina2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Masina2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-82054\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Masina2.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Masina2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Masina2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Masina2-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, Del Poggio (who reminds me of Rita Hayworth) holds her own as a young woman who is more single-mindedly <em>ambitious<\/em> than evil or unfeeling: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Del-Poggio-First-Scene.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Del-Poggio-First-Scene.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-82055\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Del-Poggio-First-Scene.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Del-Poggio-First-Scene-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Del-Poggio-First-Scene-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Del-Poggio-First-Scene-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and De Filippo strikes the right tone as a man both deeply committed to his career, and naively eager to &#8220;protect&#8221; Del Poggio&#8217;s virtue. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-De-Filippo.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-De-Filippo.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-82056\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-De-Filippo.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-De-Filippo-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-De-Filippo-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-De-Filippo-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>Variety Lights<\/em> shows nascent evidence of Fellini&#8217;s trademark wit and surreality, most notably when the troupe is invited to a mansion to fix dinner and dance: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Dinner.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Dinner.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-82057\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Dinner.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Dinner-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Dinner-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Dinner-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, the bulk of the story focuses on foiled ambitions, broken hearts, and the ongoing challenges of making it in show business &#8212; and to that end, Del Poggio&#8217;s ultimate decision (and where it lands her) is a telling reveal.   <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Giulietta Masina as Melina Amour<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Masina.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Masina.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-82052\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Masina.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Masina-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Masina-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Variety-Lights-Masina-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, but it&#8217;s worth a look for its historical importance as Fellini&#8217;s first film. Listed as a film with Historical Importance in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0042692\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1965\/05\/07\/archives\/screen-variety-lightsfirst-fellini-picture-seen-on-double-bill.html\">NY Times review of 1965 release (see first review)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.criterion.com\/current\/posts\/84-variety-lights\">Criterion Essay<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m an artist. So are you!&#8221; Synopsis: When the director (Peppino De Filippo) of a vagabond vaudeville troupe falls for an ambitious and beautiful dancer (Carla Del Poggio) who insists on joining their show, he breaks the heart of his loyal girlfriend (Giulietta Masina), and the couple part ways &#8212; but will De Filippo and Del Poggio succeed in their dreams of fame and fortune? Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Actors and Actresses Aspiring Stars Federico Fellini Films Italian Films&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=81997\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-81997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81997","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=81997"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82061,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81997\/revisions\/82061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=81997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=81997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=81997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}