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IMDbPro

8½

  • 19631963
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 18m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
117K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,626
158
8½ (1963)
Trailer for 8 1/2
Play trailer1:57
4 Videos
99+ Photos
Drama
A harried movie director retreats into his memories and fantasies.A harried movie director retreats into his memories and fantasies.A harried movie director retreats into his memories and fantasies.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
117K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,626
158
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Federico Fellini
    • Writers
      • Federico Fellini(story)
      • Ennio Flaiano(story)
      • Tullio Pinelli(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Marcello Mastroianni
      • Anouk Aimée
      • Claudia Cardinale
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Federico Fellini
    • Writers
      • Federico Fellini(story)
      • Ennio Flaiano(story)
      • Tullio Pinelli(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Marcello Mastroianni
      • Anouk Aimée
      • Claudia Cardinale
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 305User reviews
    • 129Critic reviews
    • 91Metascore
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 19 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos4

    8 1/2
    Trailer 1:57
    8 1/2
    8 1/2
    Trailer 4:00
    8 1/2
    8 1/2 NEW Trailer
    Trailer 1:59
    8 1/2 NEW Trailer
    '8 1/2' Anniversary Mashup
    Video 1:01
    '8 1/2' Anniversary Mashup

    Photos204

    Claudia Cardinale in 8½ (1963)
    Marcello Mastroianni and Eddra Gale in 8½ (1963)
    Marcello Mastroianni in 8½ (1963)
    Marcello Mastroianni and Anouk Aimée in 8½ (1963)
    Barbara Steele in 8½ (1963)
    Marcello Mastroianni in 8½ (1963)
    Federico Fellini in 8½ (1963)
    Claudia Cardinale in 8½ (1963)
    Sandra Milo in 8½ (1963)
    Marcello Mastroianni in 8½ (1963)
    Federico Fellini and Claudia Cardinale in 8½ (1963)
    Marcello Mastroianni in 8½ (1963)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Marcello Mastroianni
    Marcello Mastroianni
    • Guido Anselmi
    Anouk Aimée
    Anouk Aimée
    • Luisa Anselmi
    • (as Anouk Aimee)
    Claudia Cardinale
    Claudia Cardinale
    • Claudia
    Sandra Milo
    Sandra Milo
    • Carla
    Rossella Falk
    Rossella Falk
    • Rossella
    Barbara Steele
    Barbara Steele
    • Gloria Morin
    Madeleine Lebeau
    Madeleine Lebeau
    • Madeleine - l'attrice francese
    Caterina Boratto
    Caterina Boratto
    • La signora misteriosa
    Eddra Gale
    Eddra Gale
    • La Saraghina
    • (as Edra Gale)
    Guido Alberti
    • Pace - il produttore
    Mario Conocchia
    • Conocchia - il direttore di produzione
    Bruno Agostini
    • Bruno - il secondo segretario di produzione
    Cesarino Miceli Picardi
    • Cesarino - l'ispettore di produzione
    Jean Rougeul
    Jean Rougeul
    • Carini - il critico cinematografico
    Mario Pisu
    • Mario Mezzabotta
    Yvonne Casadei
    • Jacqueline Bonbon
    Ian Dallas
    Ian Dallas
    • Il partner della telepata
    Mino Doro
    Mino Doro
    • L'agente di Claudia
    • Director
      • Federico Fellini
    • Writers
      • Federico Fellini(story) (screenplay)
      • Ennio Flaiano(story) (screenplay)
      • Tullio Pinelli(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      8½ was shot, like almost all Italian movies at the time, completely without sound recording on set. All dialogue was dubbed during post production. Fellini was known for shouting direction at his actors during shooting, and for rewriting dialogue afterwards, making a lot of the dialogue in the movie appear out-of-sync. (Source: High-def Digest)
    • Goofs
      When Guido visits the cardinal in the mud bath, the cardinal is sitting in a chair, fully dressed in his cassock, as two attendants use a sheet to form a curtain around him; however, as the camera cuts to a closer angle, the cardinal is suddenly undressed to the waist.
    • Quotes

      Claudia: I don't understand. He meets a girl that can give him a new life and he pushes her away?

      Guido: Because he no longer believes in it.

      Claudia: Because he doesn't know how to love.

      Guido: Because it isn't true that a woman can change a man.

      Claudia: Because he doesn't know how to love.

      Guido: And above all because I don't feel like telling another pile of lies.

      Claudia: Because he doesn't know how to love.

    • Alternate versions
      In the American theatrical release version, Rodgers & Hart's "Blue Moon" can be heard twice: the first time, when it's played by strolling strings near the shopping plaza where Guido meets up with his wife, Luisa; the second time, when Guido goes out for a drive with the "real" Claudia. However, in the original Italian release, the song played in both scenes is "Sheik of Araby." The Criterion laserdisc features "Blue Moon," but it's "Sheik of Araby" on the DVD, possibly due to the use of different source materials.
    • Connections
      Edited into Bellissimo: Immagini del cinema italiano (1985)
    • Soundtracks
      The Ride of the Valkyries
      from "Die Walküre"

      Composed by Richard Wagner

    User reviews305

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    I didn't particularly enjoy it, but I certainly respect what it attempted as well as its impact on future films
    I know this film is loved and admired by countless filmmakers and fans. I know that the film is very artistic and wonderfully well made. And I understand that all serious lovers of film SHOULD see this film. But, despite this being a "must-see" film, I didn't particularly enjoy it--but I do respect what Fellini was trying to do. For the first time, Fellini was able to capture on film the psyche and inner turmoil of a director and although the film stars Marcello Mastroianni, the film is in many, many ways autobiographical. His inner struggles with traditional morality and god, sexuality and loyalty, all the sycophants trying to get his attention and the critic as well as his own childhood (including, of course his mother AND a representation of early sexual awakening in the form of a hideous but very sexual lady who looked a lot like Divine!) all come together in a series of somewhat disconnected images. All these factors that together work together to make the director's psyche are interesting, but very surreal--like the entire film is a dream or something that is the result of drugs. It is interesting at times, but also very tiring and difficult to watch at times and occasionally a bit dull. That's because it's a very choppy movie and only a child who is very hyperactive could easily stick with the ever-changing plot. As for me, what I liked best was the opening dream sequence--it was very amusing and brilliant.

    This type of self-analysis and parody was often copied in such films as STARDUST MEMORIES (to me, a blatant attempt by Woody Allen to steal or re-created 8 1/2) or DAY FOR NIGHT--though Truffaut's vision is much, much more conventional and lacks the surrealism and weirdness of Fellini. Many prefer Fellini's mad style, but as for me, while it is not as original or wildly innovative, DAY FOR NIGHT was a more enjoyable film.

    Overall, while not a fun or completely comprehensible film, it's a must for anyone who considers themselves a serious fan of film.
    helpful•22
    9
    • planktonrules
    • Mar 29, 2007

    FAQ4

    • Is this movie based on a novel?
    • What does the 8½ in the title stand for?
    • What make of sunglasses was Guido wearing?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 24, 1963 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • France
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Zazie Films (Japan)
    • Languages
      • Italian
      • French
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Eight and a Half
    • Filming locations
      • Tivoli, Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Cineriz
      • Francinex
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $98,760
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,947
      • Apr 11, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $196,375
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 18 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.72 : 1
      • 1.85 : 1

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