CASANOVAS BIG NIGHT (DVD) DVD

Casanova's Big Night
Bob Hope tries to capture the comic magic of his 1946 costume farce Monsieur Beaucaire with the splashy Technicolor romp Casanova's Big Night (filmed in 1952, released in 1954). Set in 18th century Venice, the film casts Hope as Pippo, the humble tailor of notorious ladies' man Casanova (an unbilled Vincent Price). When Casanova skips town without paying his debts, the local tradesman's guild, led by Casanova's butler Lucio (Basil Rathbone), conspire to pass off one of their number as the great lover and arrange a profitable marriage. Selected to impersonate Casanova is the hapless Pippo, who soon afterward is hired by the imperious Duchess of Castelbello (Hope Emerson) to test the fidelity of the duchess' future daughter-in-law Elena (Audrey Dalton). Along the way, Pippo is given lessons in etiquette and swordsmanship by both Lucio and tradeswoman Francesca (Joan Fontaine). Eventually, Pippo finds himself up to his neck in court intrigue, courtesy of the scheming Doge of Venice (Arnold Moss). Further complications include a couple of hilarious swashbuckling scenes, an interlude in a dungeon with addlepated prisoner Emo (Lon Chaney), and the obligatory disguise scene. The Pirandellian ending of Casanova's Big Night was later imitated by such films as The Maltese Bippy (1969) and Wayne's World (1992). Bob Hope is in fine form, the production is sumptuous and the supporting cast superb, but somehow there's a little something missing in Casanova's Big Night. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast Bob Hope as Pippo Popolino Joan Fontaine as Francesca Bruni Basil Rathbone as Lucio Audrey Dalton as Elena Hugh Marlowe as Stefano Di Gambetta Arnold Moss as The Doge of Venice John Carradine as Minister Foressi John Hoyt as Maggiomi Hope Emerson as Duchess of Castelbello Robert Hutton as Raphael Duc of Castelbello Lon Chaney Jr. as Emo Raymond Burr as Bragadin Frieda Inescort as Signora Di Gambetta Primo Carnera as Corfa Frank Puglia as Carabaccio Paul Cavanagh as Signor Di Gambetta Romo Vincent as Giovanni Henry Brandon as Capt. Rugello Natalie Schafer as Signora Foressi Douglas Fowley as Second Prisoner Lucien Littlefield as First Prisoner

Crew Albert Nozaki - Art Director Hal Pereira - Art Director Josephine Earl - Choreography Edith Head - Costume Designer Yvonne Wood - Costume Designer Michael D. Moore - First Assistant Director Norman Z. McLeod - Director Ellsworth Hoagland - Editor Ray Evans - Composer (Music Score) Lyn Murray - Composer (Music Score) Jay Livingston - Composer (Music Score) Ray Evans - Songwriter Jay Livingston - Songwriter Lionel Lindon - Cinematographer Paul Jones - Producer Sam Comer - Set Designer Ross Dowd - Set Designer John P. Fulton - Special Effects Edmund L. Hartmann - Screenwriter Hal Kanter - Screenwriter Aubrey Wisberg - Short Story Author

Casanova's Big Night
(not reviewed)
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: English Sound Processing: DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional Features: cc Full screen format Dolby Digital: English Mono English subtitles MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 85 min   DVD Chapters: Disc #1 -- Casanova's Big Night 1. Impersonating Casanova [1:25] 2. Escaping Debt [6:09] 3. A Business Oppprtunity [3:10] 4. Venice Arrival [:18] 5. Fencing Lessons [8:52] 6. Dinner Entertainment [8:27] 7. Spoils of the Victor [1:12] 8. Late Night Visit [4:36] 9. Prison Time [11:01] 10. Evading Execution [:18] 11. The Baron and the Baroness [4:41] 12. A Special Ending [4:57] 13. Chapter 13 [4:14] 14. Chapter 14 [1:59] 15. Chapter 15 [6:21] 16. Chapter 16 [:35] 17. Chapter 17 [5:54] 18. Chapter 18 [1:06] 19. Chapter 19 [5:11] 20. Chapter 20 [4:56] 21. Chapter 21 [:10] 22. Chapter 22 [:00]