Casanova's Big Night

Casanova's Big Night
1954 US Theatrical Poster
Directed by	Norman Z. McLeod
Written by	Aubrey Wisberg
Screenplay by	Edmund Hartmann Hal Kanter
Produced by	Paul Jones
Starring	Bob Hope Joan Fontaine Basil Rathbone John Carradine Lon Chaney, Jr. Raymond Burr
Cinematography	Lionel Lindon
Edited by	Ellsworth Hoagland
Music by	Lyn Murray
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date	April 7, 1954 (1954-04-07)
Country	United States
Language	English

Casanova's Big Night is a 1954 American comedy film starring Bob Hope and Joan Fontaine, which is a spoof of swashbuckling historical adventure films. It was directed by Norman Z. McLeod.

Hope plays a tailor who impersonates Giacomo Casanova, the great lover. The film also stars Audrey Dalton, Basil Rathbone, Hugh Marlowe, John Carradine, Hope Emerson, Lon Chaney, Jr., Raymond Burr, Natalie Schafer, and Vincent Price (in a cameo appearance as the real Casanova).

Plot[]

Pippo, a tailor, impersonates Casanova to woo the girls, particularly the widow Bruni. Casanova has left town, pursued by creditors who persuade Pippo to impersonate Casanova at the behest of a Genoan family that will pay "Casanova" to test the fidelity of the son's betrothed.

Pippo, the widow Bruni and Casanova's valet Lucio travel to Venice. The Doge of Venice, "a snake with whiskers," to use Pippo's description, intends to use the intended seduction as an excuse to wage war against Genoa. After many humorous adventures, exploiting Pippo's traits of vanity, arrogance and cowardice, the heroine so impresses Pippo with her dignity that he refuses to cooperate in the plot to ruin her character. He is arrested by the Doge and sentenced to death by be heading. A desperate Pippo turns the audience for help, but is shocked when they prefer that he lose his head.

Cast[]

Primo Carnera and Audrey Dalton in the film

References[]

External links[]

• Casanova's Big Night at IMDb
• Casanova's Big Night at AllMovie
• Casanova's Big Night at the TCM Movie Database