Luchino Visconti, 1972

The following is a transcription of a section of interview from a television film, shown in 1972, that Bailey made about Visconti, while the latter was filming Ludwig. Visconti was himself homosexual, which I think is what Bailey circling around here. Visconti's replies here strike me as extraordinarily sane, hence worth transcribing. [Note: When Visconti says Caesar, he does not say it See-za like we do, but Chay-sa, with the stress on the 1st syllable: think of how Italians pronounce the name Cesare]

Luchino Visconti

Bailey: The other thing is lots of your characters are homosexual, like .... Visconti: [assenting] Um. Bailey: .... Death in Venice, & Ludwig is doubtful .... Visconti: Yes, yes, a little bit Damned too [The Damned, Visconti's film of 1969]. Bailey: Why is that ? Do you think homosexuality has anything [inaudible] ? Visconti: I think it's a human condition, homosexuality, like others, like heterosexual & other things. Why we have to, to .... how you say ? .... to don't talk about something. Everything is in life is important, everything is interesting, everything is - you know - If you say that I make the story, well not the story but the biography of Ludwig of Bavaria who had something of homosexual inside, alright, but I can also make the story of Julius Caesar, also Julius Caesar was homosexual, you know ? Is not so important, but if there is I don't think you must .... tacere .... you understand ? ..... No ? Bailey: No. Visconti: Tacere means not talk about. You must talk about. If there is, we must talk about.

Dirk Bogarde & Visconti on the set of Death in Venice, 1971