A troubled and neurotic Italian Countess (Alida Valli) betrays her entire country for a self-destructive love affair with an Austrian Lieutenant (Farley Granger).
Originally, Visconti had hoped to cast Ingrid Bergman and Marlon Brando in the lead roles, but Bergman was not interested in the part, and Brando was nixed by the producers who considered Granger a bigger star, at the time. This may be the biggest disappointment in retrospect. Brando would have brought the film more recognition, and Bergman is by far the bigger name than Valli. A shame.
The romance is interesting regardless. We have it going across borders, across languages. And not at the most opportune of times. It makes for an interesting case study, I suppose.
Originally, Visconti had hoped to cast Ingrid Bergman and Marlon Brando in the lead roles, but Bergman was not interested in the part, and Brando was nixed by the producers who considered Granger a bigger star, at the time. This may be the biggest disappointment in retrospect. Brando would have brought the film more recognition, and Bergman is by far the bigger name than Valli. A shame.
The romance is interesting regardless. We have it going across borders, across languages. And not at the most opportune of times. It makes for an interesting case study, I suppose.