Pagliacci
Synopsis
Based on Ruggero Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci. The film recounts the tragedy of Canio, the lead clown (or pagliaccio in Italian) in a commedia dell'arte troupe, his wife Nedda, and her lover, Silvio. When Nedda spurns the advances of Tonio, another player in the troupe, he tells Canio about Nedda's betrayal. In a jealous rage Canio murders both Nedda and Silvio. The only actor in the cast who also sang his role was the celebrated Italian baritone, Tito Gobbi, but the film is largely very faithful to its source material, presenting the opera nearly complete.
Top Cast
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Mario Costa
- Screenplay & Story
- Mario Costa, Carlo Castelli, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Anton Giulio Majano
- Original Title
- Pagliacci
- Country of Origin
- Italy
- Spoken Languages
- Italian
- Runtime
- 1h 7m
- Production Studios
- Itala Film
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Mario Costa
Mario Costa, Carlo Castelli, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Anton Giulio Majano
Mario Bava
Otello Colangeli
Alberto Giacalone
Department Leadership Roster
Mario Costa
Director
Mario Costa
Writer
Alberto Giacalone
Producer
Mario Bava
Director of Photography
Carlo Castelli
Writer
Vittorio Nino Novarese
Costume Design
Otello Colangeli
Editor
Anton Giulio Majano
Writer
Ottavio Scotti
Production Design
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Pagliacci.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Pagliacci.
Musicals
Every film Wikidata tags as a musical film.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pagliacci
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Pagliacci about?
Based on Ruggero Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci. The film recounts the tragedy of Canio, the lead clown (or pagliaccio in Italian) in a commedia dell'arte troupe, his wife Nedda, and her lover, Silvio. When Nedda spurns the advances of Tonio, another player in the troupe, he tells Canio about Nedda's betrayal. In a jealous rage Canio murders both Nedda and Silvio. The only actor in the cast who also sang his role was the celebrated Italian baritone, Tito Gobbi, but the film is largely very faithful to its source material, presenting the opera nearly complete.
Who directed Pagliacci?
Pagliacci was directed by Mario Costa.
Who stars in Pagliacci?
The principal cast of Pagliacci includes Tito Gobbi, Gina Lollobrigida, Onelia Fineschi, Afro Poli, Galliano Masini.
When was Pagliacci released and how long is it?
Pagliacci was released in 1948 with a total runtime of 1h 7m.