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Riccardo Billi, Fanfulla, Mayo Morin, Lima Alberti, Alvaro Vitali ... see more see more... , Pierre Étaix , Annie Fratellini , Liana Orfei , Nando Orfei , Anita Ekberg , Victoria Chaplin , Geraldine Chaplin , Federico Fellini , Tino Scotti , Victor Fratellini , Dante Maggio , Carlo Rizzo , Charlie Rivel , Galliano Sbarra , Giacomo Furia , Gigi Reder , Nino Terzo

The culmination of filmmaker Federico Fellini's lifelong love affair with circus folk was his 1971 The Clowns (I clowns). Fellini's alter ego this time is a young boy, taking in his first circus (agai... read more read more...n, we're treated to the "parade" motif so often utilized by the director). As the clowns go through their rollicking routines, Fellini takes the time to snipe at movie critics by having one humorless newspaperman, who keeps repeating "What does it mean?", inundated with pails of water. There is also a fleeting homage to Charlie Chaplin in the form of Chaplin's daughter Victoria, who portrays an auditioning clown. Made for Italian TV, The Clowns sustains its exuberance by taking absolutely nothing seriously--not even Fellini, who makes fun of himself throughout in the guise of a pretentious documentary filmmaker. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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9 critics

G, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Federico Fellini

Release Date: January 1, 2001

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DVD Release Date: February 22, 2011

Stats: 42 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (42)

  • fb1142797643
    January 16, 2012
    fb1142797643
    "The Clowns" was partly made for Italian television, so perhaps it shouldn't be measured against other Federico Fellini films. Regardless, it's probably the director's least interesting work. If you're someone who still howls with glee at pratfalls and confetti cannons, please di... read moresregard this review. But otherwise, be warned that this tribute to the traditional clown is unlikely to make you laugh. Not even once.

    Fellini and his crew visit some circuses in Italy and France, and document various ring antics. A few wistful, retired clowns are interviewed. But this is not a strict documentary. The film opens with a depiction of the young Fellini sneaking into a traveling circus. We glimpse his town, where the sideshow qualities of everyday people underscore Fellini's standard "Life is a carnival" manifesto. The climax is an extended "death of a clown" set piece. A segment with Anita Ekberg trying to buy a panther also feels staged, and many other scenes seem too perfectly executed to be true. Fellini was too much of a taskmaster to leave everything to chance.

    There isn't much insight into the clowns' minds and, beyond some knowledgeable talk of the distinction between "white clowns" and "augustes," minimal academic background is offered.

    Fellini appears on camera as himself -- "The Clowns" is part a documentary, and part a documentary about the making of a documentary. The can't-miss moment is when a pretentious interviewer asks Fellini about the film's "message," and some prankster drops buckets over both parties' heads. Clearly, Fellini realized this was not one of his major statements.

    My viewing experience was somewhat hobbled -- the Italian dialogue was subtitled, but not the French. Luckily, the film is mostly visual.
  • jazzmonk
    February 28, 2007
    jazzmonk
    Made for Italian TV documentary (sort of) by Fellini. I've seen it 3-4 times and I'd watch it again anytime. Best film I've ever seen about clowns.

View All I Clowns (The Clowns) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

It's not that The Clowns is not a good deal of fun, or that it is boring; it's just that -- to me, anyway -- this sort of coda doesn't do justice to the entire career. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This is artful and sometimes very amusing, but it doesn't work as fiction because Fellini is tied to facts, and it doesn't work as documentary because Fellini will not (cannot?) abandon his gift of gi... Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
March 11, 2011
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

The gorgeous, affectionate sequences outweigh the awkward ones, and The Clowns is an overall success. Full Review

Cole Smithey
January 9, 2009
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Not Fellini's best, but Fellini nevertheless.

August 29, 2006
TV Guide's Movie Guide

This is the film's ultimate message: don't think so much and just try to have some fun. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
February 7, 2005
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Valentine to the world of clowns. Full Review

Jake Euker
March 18, 2006
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
June 20, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Thomas Delapa
April 13, 2005
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly

No review available.

Leonard Maltin
March 10, 2012
Leonard Maltin, ReelzChannel.com

Click to read the article Full Review

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