Fratello sole, sorella luna (1972)

Director:

Franco Zeffirelli

Writers:

Suso Cecchi d'Amico (writer)
Kenneth Ross (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

2 December 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | War

Plot:

This is a dramatization of events in the life of St. Francis of Assisi from before his conversion experience through his audience with the pope...

Plot Keywords:

Church | Pope | Cross | God | Beggar

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Graham Faulkner	...	St. Francis of Assisi
Judi Bowker	...	Clare
Leigh Lawson	...	Bernardo
Kenneth Cranham	...	Paolo
Lee Montague	...	Pietro Di Bernardone
Valentina Cortese	...	Pica Di Bernardone
Alec Guinness	...	Pope Innocent III
Michael Feast	...	Silvestro
Nicholas Willatt	...	Giacondo
John Sharp	...	Bishop Guido
Adolfo Celi	...	Consul
Francesco Guerrieri	...	Deodato
Peter Firth
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fortunato Arena
Aristide Caporale	...	Derelict
Carlo Hinterman
Guido Lollobrigida
Carlo Pisacane	...	San Damiano Priest
Massimo Foschi	...	Young spanish Cardinal (uncredited)

Directed by
Franco Zeffirelli

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Suso Cecchi d'Amico		writer
Kenneth Ross		writer
Lina Wertmüller		writer
Franco Zeffirelli		writer

Produced by
Dyson Lovell	....	producer
Luciano Perugia	....	producer

Original Music by
Riz Ortolani		(Italian version)

Cinematography by
Ennio Guarnieri

Production Design by
Lorenzo Mongiardino
Gianni Quaranta

Art Direction by
Giorgio Giovannini

Costume Design by
Danilo Donati

Art Department
Italo Tomassi	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Giorgio De Vincenzo	....	sound editor (as Giorgio Di Vincenzo)
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer

Stunts
Angelo Ragusa	....	stunts

Music Department
Ken Thorne	....	conductor (English version)
Ken Thorne	....	music arranger (English version)
Ken Thorne	....	music coordinator (English version)

Other crew
Yvonne Axeworthy	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Euro International Film (EIA)
• Vic Films Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• CIC Video (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Famous Music Coporation  music published by
• Panavision UK  camera and lenses

Also Known As:

Brother Sun, Sister Moon (UK) (USA)

Runtime:

Italy:135 min | UK:122 min | USA:121 min

Country:

Italy | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Abbey of Sant' Antimo, Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

Company:

Euro International Film (EIA)

Trivia:

According to Franco Zeffirelli's autobiography, The Beatles were asked to appear in the film in the main roles but were unable due to scheduling conflicts. Zeffirelli also screen-tested Al Pacino for the role of Francesco but rejected him due to his theatrical overacting style.

Goofs:

Continuity: Francis is shown part way down the roof line when he picks up the bird, but without walking any further, he is at the end of the roof when he lets it go.

Quotes:

St. Francis of Assisi: What have the judges of men to do with me. God is my only judge!
Consul: Unfortunately, he isn't around to help us out.

Movie Connections:

Version of Francesco (2002) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Fratello sole sorella luna

I absolutely love this movie!

This is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. Whenever I feel down or my energy lags, I pop this film into my VCR and I'm transformed. The rythm of the movie is what I enjoy most. It is like a great symphony, with rising action that compliments the wonderful music by Donovan.

This is a film that is totally captive to its time and place. It's impossible to think of this movie being made five years earlier or later. It is completely a product of the early '70's. The brotherly love shown by the Franciscans of Assisi, the touching of man to man without a hint of homosexuality, would be unthinkable today.

Franco Zeffrelli is a master of setting up his camera and location shooting. Notice the great sweeps over the lovely red and yellow fields of Italy, and the use of the architecture of the region.