MovieChat Forums > Il deserto rosso (1965) Discussion > Marcello Mastroianni should have played ...

Marcello Mastroianni should have played Zeller

posted 13 years ago by DC1977
7 replies | jump to latest

I think he was more suited to the role than Richard Harris, for a number of reasons:

1) Mastroianni didn't need to be dubbed.

2) I thought Harris, at 33, was too young for the role. Mastroianni would have been 39, which is more suitable.

3) Harris is unconvincing as an industrialist, he tends to play physical roles.

4) Mastroianni is a better actor.

5) By casting Mastorianni, they could have dispensed with the unusual character name of Corrado Zeller and just used an Italian name.

[–] Disardor 13 years ago

It's my understanding that everything was overdubbed in the studio later anyway, so the only issue I could see with Harris having to be dubbed is that you don't hear his actual voice on the soundtrack. As far as his performance, the name of the character, Harris' age, etc., I don't have a problem with any of it. I think he's good in the role and I wouldn't change anything about the movie.

[–] DC1977 13 years ago

The complete dubbing of the soundtrack was common then but the problem in doing this with Richard Harris is that he is saying his lines in English and so the dubbing isn't synchronised with his lips.

Using a Italian in the role speaking his lines in Italian would solve that problem.

[–] Disardor 13 years ago

I see where you're coming from but Harris' lips not matching up with the spoken dialogue isn't really something that bothers me too much. I guess I've become desensitized to it after seeing the same lack of synchronization in so many movies.

[–] DC1977 13 years ago

Yes that's true, it does happen a lot and I've got used to it, it doesn't really bother me.

One film where its particularly bad is the dubbing of Freddie Jones in And The Ship Sails On.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] nutsberryfarm 10 years ago

he could pull it off too.

Veneration of Mark Twain is one of the roots of our current intellectual stalemate

[–] 10 years ago

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