Damned (The)
Original Title
La Caduta Degli Dei- Director: Luchino Visconti
- Writer: Nicola Badalucco; Enrico Medioli
- Producer: Attilio D'Onofrio; Ever Haggiag
CGiii Comment
Wonderfully twisted - twisted performances of a twisted story.
And, Berger does a decent job - surprisingly.
Bogarde is, as always, hypnotic.
Some would call this Visconti's magnum opus...they may even be correct.
An epic voyage into disturbia...even by today's standards...few have managed such blistering artistry of the malcontent.
A pinnacle, or nadir, has been reached.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
The power and fortune of the Von Essenbeck family remained intact even when Germany lost the great war and during the depression that followed. Now it's 1934 and the baron has summoned his family to a dinner that also brings a cousin rising in the Nazi party to the great house accompanied by a rising manager at the baron's company. Two little girls recite poetry in the parlor and then play hide-and-seek with their cousin Martin. Suddenly there is a scream. The baron has been shot with their father's gun and the father flees the country.
Cast & Characters
Dirk Bogarde as Frederick Bruckmann;
Ingrid Thulin as Sophie Von Essenbeck;
Helmut Griem as Aschenbach;
Helmut Berger as Martin Von Essenbeck;
Renaud Verley as Gunther Von Essenbeck;
Umberto Orsini as Herbert Thallman;
Reinhard Kolldehoff as Konstantin Von Essenbeck;
Albrecht Schoenhals as Joachim Von Essenbeck;
Florinda Bolkan as Olga; Nora Ricci as Governess;
Charlotte Rampling as Elisabeth Thallman;
Irina Wanka as Lisa;
Karin Mittendorf as Thilde Thallman;
Valentina Ricci as Erika Thalman;
Wolfgang Hillinger as Janek