Almost every still from this film could be a painting. Set in Sicily during the period of Italian Reunification (Risorgimento), Visconti's vibrant interpretation of Giuseppe Tomasi's novel is brought to life through a great leading performance by Burt Lancaster, stunning backdrops and beautiful costume design by Piero Tosi. These three things really come together in the last hour of the film in a grand ballroom sequence, which is all the more dazzling in the 4K restored version, released in 2010.

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