La Dolce Vita

Critics Consensus

An epic, breathtakingly stylish cinematic landmark, La Dolce Vita remains riveting in spite of -- or perhaps because of -- its sprawling length.

97%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 59

90%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 34,044

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Movie Info

In this Federico Fellini film, Marcello Mastrioanni stars as Fellini's alter ego, here depicted as a gossip columnist. Having left his dreary provincial existence behind, Mastrioanni wanders through an ultra-modern, ultra-sophisticated, ultra-decadent Rome. Throughout his adventures, Mastrioanni's dreams, fantasies, nightmares, and fears are mirrored by the hedonism all around him.

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Cast

Marcello Mastroianni
as Marcello Rubino
Anita Ekberg
as Sylvia
Anouk Aimée
as Maddalena
Yvonne Furneaux
as Emma
Nadia Gray
as Nadia
Magali Noël
as Fanny
Alain Cuny
as Steiner
Annibale Ninchi
as Rubino's Father
Lex Barker
as Robert
Jacques Sernas
as Matinee Idol
Renee Longanni
as Signora Steiner
Walter Santesso
as Paparazzo
Valeria Ciangottini
as Paola
Alan Dijon
as Frankie Stout
Renée Longarini
as Signora Steiner
Jérôme Polidor
as Clown
Alain Dijon
as Frankie Stout
Giulio Questi
as Don Giulio
Cesarino Miceli Picardi
as Irate Man in Nightclub
Adriana Moneta
as Prostitute
Anna Maria Salerno
as Her Friend
Oscar Ghiglia
as Their Pimp
Gino Marturano
as Their Pimp
Leonardo Botta
as Doctor
Harriet White
as Sylvia's Secretary
Gio Staiano
as Effeminate Male
Carlo Di Maggio
as Producer
Adriano Celentano
as Rock 'n' Roll Singer
Archie Savage
as Negro Dancer
Giacomo Gabrielli
as Maddalena's Father
Rina Franchetti
as Their Mother
Aurelio Nardi
as Their Uncle
Alfredo Rizzo
as Television Director
Barbara Steele
Marianna Leibl
as Yvonne's Companion
Iris Tree
as Poetess
Harriet Medin
as Sylvia's Secretary
Lilly Granado
as Lucy
Gloria Jones
as Gloria
Nico Otzak
as Sophisticated Prostitute
Vadim Wolkonsky
as Prince Mascalchi
Audrey McDonald
as Sonia
Rosemary Rennel Rodd
as English Medium
Ferdinando Brofferio
as Maddalena's Lover
Ida Galli
as Debutante of the Year
Loretta Ramaciotti
as Woman in Seance
Giulio Girola
as Police Commissioner
Mino Doro
as Nadia's Lover
Antonio Jacono
as Domino
Carlo Musto
as Transvestite
Tito Buzzo
as Muscle Man
Sondra Lee
as Spoleto Ballerina
Leontine Van Strein
as Matinee Idol's Girl Friend
Leo Coleman
as Negro Dancer
Laura Betti
as Laura
Massimo Bonetti
Riccardo Garrone
as Riccardo, the Villa Owner
Nico
as Nicollina
Franca Pasut
as Girl Covered with Feathers
Prince Eugenio Ruspoli di Poggio Suasa
as Don Eugenio Mascalchi
Daniela Calvino
as Daniela
Enrico Glori
as Nadia's Admirer
Enzo Cerusico
as Photojournalist
Enzo Doria
as Photojournalist
Giulio Paradisi
as Photojournalist
Henry Thody
as Press Conference Journalist
Donatella Della Nora
as Press Conference Journalist
Maite Morand
as Press Conference Journalist
Donato Castellaneta
as Press Conference Journalist
John Francis Lane
as Press Conference Journalist
Concetta Ragusa
as Press Conference Journalist
Francois Dieudonne
as Press Conference Journalist
Mario Mallarno
as Press Conference Journalist
Nadia Balabine
as Press Conference Journalist
Umberto Felici
as Press Conference Journalist
Maurizio Guelfi
as Press Conference Journalist
Leonida Repaci
as Steiner's Other Guest
Anna Salvatore
as Steiner's Other Guest
Letizia Spadini
as Steiner's Other Guest
Margherita Russo
as Steiner's Other Guest
Winie Vagliani
as Steiner's Other Guest
Desmond O'Grady
as Steiner's Other Guest
Count Ivenda Dobrzensky
as Giovanni
Orietta Fiume
as Lisa
Katherine Denise
Mario Conocchia
as Lawyer with Nadia's Bra
Umberto Orsini
as Man in Sunglasses That Helps Nadia Strip
Lucia Vasilico
as Young Woman Making Confession at Nadia's Party
Donato Castallaneta
as Reporter
Giovanna Busetti
as Lying Child of The Miracle
Massimo Busetti
as Bimbo del miracolo
Princess of Monteroduni
as Lady in White Coat at Castle
Francesco Consalvo
as Scalise's Assistant
Maria Teresa Vianello
as Woman at Airport
Angela Giavalisco
as Woman at Airport
Tiziano Cortini
as Movie News Cameraman
Maria Mazzanti
as Woman at Airport
Tomás Torres
as Gianelli
Gloria Hendy
as Woman in Via Veneto
Noel Sheldon
as Man in Via Veneto
April Hennessy
as Woman in Via Veneto
Angela Wilson
as Woman in Via Veneto
Giovanni Querrel
as Man at Nightclub
I. Campanino
as Man at Nightclub
Teresa Tsao
as Woman in Nightclub
Giulio Citti
as Man at Nightclub
Lisa Schneider
as Woman in Miracle Sequence
Aldo Vasco
as Man in Miracle Sequence
Francisco Lori
as Man in Miracle Sequence
Romolo Giordani
as Man at Castle
Ada Passeri
as Woman in Miracle Sequence
Nina Hohenlohe
as Woman at Castle
Maria Marigliano
as Massamilla
Mario De Grenet
as Man at Castle That Dislikes Dog's Smell
Franco Rossellini
as The Beautiful Horseman
Joan Antequera
as Woman at Castle
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Critic Reviews for La Dolce Vita

All Critics (59) | Top Critics (19)

  • Fellini has set out to move us with the depravity of contemporary life and has chosen what seems to me a poor method: cataloging sins. Very soon we find ourselves thinking: Is that all?

    May 1, 2013 | Full Review…

    Stanley Kauffmann

    The New Republic
    Top Critic

  • Everything has changed, and nothing has changed. How sour it still is.

    Jun 1, 2011 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…

    David Fear

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Perhaps many spectators will squirm at the three-hour length of the film or of some of its sequences (though director Federico Fellini cut some 30 minutes from his final print), yet others will never notice they've sat that long.

    May 8, 2007 | Full Review…

    Variety Staff

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • The film was hugely successful and widely praised in its time, though it's really nothing more than the old C.B. De Mille formula of titillation and moralizing.

    May 8, 2007 | Full Review…

    Dave Kehr

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • There are perhaps a couple of party scenes too many, and the peripheral characters can be unconvincing, but the stylish cinematography and Fellini's bizarre, extravagant visuals are absolutely riveting.

    Jan 26, 2006 | Full Review…
    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Everyone has a favorite scene.

    Dec 27, 2004

    Douglas Pratt

    Hollywood Reporter
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (59)

Audience Reviews for La Dolce Vita

  • Mar 21, 2015
    Told in a brilliant episodic structure, this fascinating character study is the truest definition of Felliniesque: an exceptional film that is magical in its fanciful depiction of glamour in Roman aristocracy and depressing in the way it shows the decadence of a society and of man himself.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • Apr 16, 2013
    Another wonderful collaboration between Fellini and Mastroianni. Once again a slice of life of Rome in the 50s. One does not even notice the significant run time.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Jan 13, 2013
    Italian Movie about a player that in 1960 must have raised eyebrows, I didnt enjoy it 1 star
    Bruce B Super Reviewer
  • Aug 02, 2012
    Essential surrealist film, La Dolce Vita is an early critique to press photography, bourgeois society, special attention to stars and social decadence.
    Lucas M Super Reviewer
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