#108 La Strada - Wow...Anthony Quinn was young once.

1954. dir. Frederico Fellini, starring Anthony Quinn, Giulietta Masina. Italian w/ subtitles.

Seen it before? No.

And let me tell you, his character was an A-hole!!! I didn't like how he treated Gelsomina (his traveling companion and sidekick). I don't care that he fed her and gave her a place to sleep! What was with her sister dying (I am pretty sure that was what was implied at the beginning)? How? Why? What did he do to her? And what was her mother thinking selling her off to the man who came back to report that her other daughter (the prettier one apparently) was dead? ARGH!

I didn't like this movie, but probably because I didn't get it. Gelsomina was weird...I'm not sure what she would be diagnosed with in present day but there was definitely something off about her. Also, you didn't know who to root for. Was there a protagonist? Was Gelsomina in love with Zampano? No, I didn't ruin any of this film for you so if you're confused to go ahead and watch it!

See it again? Probably just to clear up any confusion
Own it? Nah

#108 La Strada: The Fool is hurt

1954. dir. Frederico Fellini, starring Anthony Quinn, Giulietta Masina. Italian w/ subtitles.

Seen it before? No.

Anthony Quinn plays Zampano, a traveling performer. His act is to bend a steel ring with his pectoral muscles. Eh, not that impressive. He buys a girl, Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina), to help him out. Yes, buys. I don't know if that sort of thing was legal back then, but whatever. Gelsomina is kind of slow and useless, which casues Zamapano all sorts of aggravation. She meets a guy she likes, another performer nicknamed "The Fool", whose act seems to involve walking a tightrope and being irritating. Zampano beats him to death, and I can't blame him.

Let's see, what else happened in this movie? I saw it 2 weeks ago so I'm kind of fuzzy. ... drawing a blank. Oh well, the mind is the first thing to go.

Position on the list: 224
The score: Written by Nino Rota... you know, the Godfather guy