A Camera Eye Opens

[Tara Carreon]

Ralph practices politics as art. Federico Fellini practiced art as politics. Dip into a rich stew of cinematic imagery and dialogue at The Ralph Nader Library, where the webmistress has just posted an exquisite banquet of screencaps and screenplay transcripts for your delectation. Refresh yourselves from the toils of ideological battle with a swim in the aesthetic joys of a true political artist.

http://www.naderlibrary.com/fellinitoc.htm
-- A Quest for the Most Authentic Part of Oneself -- Autobiography of Federico Fellini, edited from "I'm a Big Liar," directed by Damian Pettigrew http://www.naderlibrary.com/felliniautobio.htm
-- Juliet of the Spirits, directed by Federico Fellini, starring Giulietta Masina http://www.naderlibrary.com/julietspirit.toc.htm
-- Satyricon, directed by Federico Fellini, starring Martin Potter, Hiram Keller and Max Born http://www.naderlibrary.com/SATYRICON.TOC.htm
-- Temptations of Dr. Antonio, directed by Federico Fellini, starring Anita Ekberg and Peppino De Felippo http://www.naderlibrary.com/temptantoniotoc.htm
-- And The Ship Sails On, directed by Federico Fellini -- Mouth of the Mountain Vignette http://www.naderlibrary.com/vulcan.fellinishipsailsontoc.htm
-- And the Ship Sails On, directed by Federico Fellini -- A Voice Without Color Vignette http://www.naderlibrary.com/fellini.shipsailsvoicenocolortoc.htm

[Tara Carreon]

KING OF HEARTS -- ILLUSTRATED SCREENPLAY & SCREENCAP GALLERY
Directed by Philippe de Broca, starring Pierre Brasseur, Jean Claude Brialy, Genevieve Bujold, Adolfo Celi, Francoise Christophe, Julien Guiomar, Micheline Presle, Michel Serrault, and Alan Bates

In a world gone mad with war, Private Plumpick is a man on a suicide mission -- sent alone by his commander, (except for his trusty carrier pigeons), to save a French town that the Germans have abandoned ahead of the Allied advance. Once there, he discovers that the only inhabitants left are a merry crowd of happily deranged asylum inmates, who have emerged into the deserted town to take on the roles of the absent townfolk. We have a mad barber, a mad madam, a mad clergyman, mad nobles, a mad General, and most delightful, a beautiful tightrope walker who is mad about life.

But the real madness has been perpetrated by sane people -- the Germans have planted a huge bomb at the center of the town, that is scheduled to go off at midnight. Although his superiors have ordered him to disarm the bomb, Plumpick doesn't know how, and attempts to lead the mad villagers out of the town to safety. But they won't go, because they are frightened to leave the town, the only safety they know.

So Plumpick is stuck. He has to defuse the bomb, and utterly without help, because none of the crazy villagers can take his endeavor seriously. In a farcical climax, Plumpick succeeds in his mission, saving the town from destruction, and all of his new friends into the bargain. But the story is not over -- the truly crazy people have yet to appear on the scene.

The Germans, mystified by the failure of their bomb to explode, march into town to investigate. The Allies, astonished that Plumpick has succeeded in his mission, march into town to take it over. When the opposing armies meet, they behave as they must, engaging in mutual slaughter, to the horror of the inmates, who had been enjoying the company of the Allied soldiers until the moment when nationalistic duty turned them back into madmen.

The carnage concluded, and the town made safe again by the sacrifice of military lives, the townspeople return, and before them like a retreating wave, the inmates return to the asylum, leaving behind their garments and mundane roles. As for Plumpick, he's found his place in the world, and it's not on the field of battle.

http://www.naderlibrary.com/kingheart.toc.htm