Giulietta Masina has the perfect face for this role. When you consider true European clowning-- like old school mimes-- I don't think you'll ever see someone with a better look for the part. She was able to convey such incredible emotions and ideas through simple expression. What a fantastic and entirely underrated performance.
shareYeah, she was great in this. I think she was even better in Le notti di Cabiria, though.
shareshe was born to play this part, she was also fantastic in Night Of Cabiria
my favorite Italian actress
so many movies, so little time
I agree. Its like she was designed to be a clown (a sad clown of course). In fact, she reminded me of Harpo Marx. I hope thats not insulting. But it was uncanny for me. That same physical portrayal of emotion in her body and her face. Sometimes over exaggerated but still just right. That same excited waddling dash when she ran. Plus they both have a kind of savant weirdness to them. And of course they both had a way of communicating things through a musical instrument that they couldnt with their own voices. I wonder if Masina studied him at all.
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