The film that established Federico Fellini's worldwide renown, I Vitelloni, was initially released in American art houses as The Young and the Passionate.
The title, I Vitelloni, literally means "big calves", which is slang for what we'd call "big loafers".
The story strongly parallels Fellini's own life, as it takes place in Rimini on the Adriatic coast, Fellini's hometown. At 18, Fellini left home (Rimini) for Florence and worked as a proofreader and cartoonist for a comic-strip story magazine.
Fellini draws on his subsequent 15 years of experience in Florence in this character study of five friends who are turning 30 yet still live at home, unemployed, indulged by their provincial bourgeois families.
Released in 1953.
Cast: Franco Fabrizi plays Fausto, the lead character. Leonora Ruffo plays Sandra. Franco Interlenghi plays Moraldo, Sandra's brother. Also appearing: Alberto Sordi as Alberto, Leopoldo Trieste as Leopoldo, and Riccardo Fellini (Federico Fellini's brother) as Riccardo. Jean Brochard plays Fausto's Father. Claude Farell plays Olga, Alberto's sister.
Oscar Winning Fellini Films
La Strada (1954), The Nights of Cabiria (1957), 8½ (1963, considered to be Fellini's masterpiece), Amarcord (1974)
Noteworthy Fellini Films
Il Bidone (1955), La Dolce Vita (1960), Juliet of the Spirits (1965), Spirits of the Dead (1968), Fellini Satyricon (1969), Intervista (1982)
Fellini Quotes
"There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the infinite passion of life."
"My work is my only relationship to everything."
"You exist only in what you do."
"In the myth of the cinema, Oscar is the supreme prize."
Top-most Riccardo Fellini photo (with prop) found at Istituto Italiano di Cultura San Francisco
Riccardo Fellini ("loafing" on the chair) photo found at CU Boulder IFS (International Film Series)
Cast photo found at filmarchiv.at
Modern day Rimini Italy bridge and beach photos found at travelplan.it
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