Fellini

by Hollis Alpert

"I found it absorbing, but no wonder: it's about one of the truly great film directors by one of film's great critics. I would be surprised if it wasn't the best film biography ever." - John Huston

With the possible exception of Alfred Hitchcock, Federico Fellini is surely the most flamboyantly identifiable motion picture director of all time. Along with De Sica, Rossellini, Antonioni, and Visconti, he is responsible for establishing the international prestige of Italy's postwar film industry, but of that group Fellini is the only one to have become a celebrated personality as well as a respected autore.

Now Hollis Alpert, long-time film critic and author of Burton and The Barrymores, has written a carefully researched, authoritative biography that demystifies the life, analyzes the work, and seeks to establish factual connections between the two. In June 1985, Fellini was honored with the Film Society of Lincoln Center's annual award for outstanding cinematic achievement at a gala ceremony that included a retrospective of clips from his films. Afterward, Vincent Canby wrote, "you want to rush out and see the complete films all over again." And that is exactly how one feels after finishing Hollis Alpert's Fellini.

"The robust vitality of one of the world's master filmmakers is at the heart of Hollis Alpert's Fellini: A Life. It's a wonderful life." - George Stevens, Jr.


(This material taken from the back cover of the paperback edition.)

Genres: Biography, Film, Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 1986

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first Fellini film I ever saw was the last one covered in this late 1980s biography - Ginger and Fred. Since then, I've seen the remarkable I Vitteloni, La Strada, La Dolce Vita, and 8 1/2. Don't ask me why I've never seen the others - I tend to dabble in film more than in other mediums. At any rate, this is a fine, highly readable through story of Fellini's development as an artist, of his many collaborations, of his more or less stumbling into making movies, of his artistic impulses, and something of his personality. It's chronological, and that was helpful for me in establishing a through-line of his career. It's also very good at showing the difficulties even for a master of his achievements when it comes to financing and actually getting films made.

[George Berrios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desde que vi Il Bidone sabía que estaba ante un director peculiar, de modo que 'Federico Fellini' fue un nombre que tuve en mi lista de nuevos descubrimientos por analizar. Tiempo después, vi Amarcord, La Dolce Vita y Otto e Mezzo, y supe que estaba ante uno de los mejores directores de cine de la historia. Este libro puede ser visto como una bitácora, tal que uno puede ir viendo sus películas a la par que lee los respectos capitulos del libro. Fue un lujo poder imaginar lo que vivió Fellini durante esos años.¡Qué descanse en paz el maestro!

[Alex Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several biographies of The Maestro, some more recent than this one, but I believe this effort is the best. It gives the closest look into the elusive mind of Fellini. What was going on to create his masterpieces.

[Dan Blackley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book on one of the best directors.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Ok book about Fellini - a bit dull. If anyone can suggest better please do.