Pagliacci

Pagliacci is a 1948 Italian film based on Ruggero Leoncavallos opera Pagliacci directed by Mario Costa The film stars Tito Gobbi and Gina Lollobrigida It recounts the tragedy of Canio the lead clown or pagliaccio in Italian in a commedia dellarte troupe his wife Nedda and her lover Silvio When Nedda spurns the advances of Tonio another player in the troupe he tells Canio about Neddas betrayal In a jealous rage Canio murders both Nedda and Silvio The only actor in the cast who also sang his role was the celebrated Italian baritone Tito Gobbi but the film is largely very faithful to its source material presenting the opera nearly complete