Death in Venice (1971) on Netflix
Gustav von Aschenbach, a composer in poor health, takes a room at the Grand Hôtel des Bains on the Lido. There he fixes on Tadzio, a Polish boy staying with his family.
- Netflix3.2/5
- IMDb7.3/1025,241 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes71%
Trailer
Plot summary
A composer in failing health, Gustav von Aschenbach comes to Venice to rest and takes quarters at the Grand Hôtel des Bains on the Lido. On the voyage an importunate older man, heavily made up, approaches him with suggestive gestures and phrases, and Aschenbach turns away. Waiting for dinner in the hotel, he is spellbound by Tadzio, one of a group of young Poles in the care of a governess and mother. The boy's image brings back a heated argument with his friend and student Alfred about whether beauty is made by art or found in nature. Aschenbach watches Tadzio swim and play, and when he tries to leave the city, luggage gone astray at the station brings him back to the hotel.
Cast
- Antonio Apicellaas Vagrant
- Sergio Garfagnolias Jaschu, Polish youth
Show all 20 cast
- Ciro Cristofolettias Hotel clerk
- Luigi Battagliaas Scapegrace
- Masha Preditas Russian Tourist
- Bruno Boschettias Train Station Employee (uncredited)
- Antonio Appicellaas Vagrant
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Death in Venice (1971)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
SPOILER
For the final scenes of the film, in which his character dies, the crew created Dirk Bogarde's deathly white skin: the makeup department tried face paints and creams that smeared, and the cream finally used made Bogarde's face burn terribly. When the tube was located, it read: "Keep away from eyes and skin".- Warner Bros. executives wanted to write off Death in Venice after Visconti screened it for them in Los Angeles, fearing a United States ban for obscenity, but they relented when a London gala premiere was arranged with Elizabeth II and Princess Anne attending to raise funds for Venice.
- Björn Andrésen, who played Tadzio, said in a 2003 Guardian interview that he disliked the fame the film brought him and wanted to shed the objectifying image it gave him; he recalled Visconti and the team taking him, aged 16, to a gay nightclub at the Cannes premiere, where waiters looked at him "as if I was a nice meaty dish".
