The Affairs of Cellini

The Affairs of Cellini is a 1934 American historical comedy film directed by Gregory La Cava and starring Frank Morgan, Constance Bennett, Fredric March, Fay Wray, and Louis Calhern. It is set in Florence. The film was adapted by Bess Meredyth from the play The Firebrand of Florence by Edwin Justus Mayer.

The Affairs of Cellini
Fay Wray and Fredric March in a scene from the film
Directed byGregory La Cava
Written byBess Meredyth
Based onThe Firebrand of Florence
by Edwin Justus Mayer
Produced byDarryl F. Zanuck
William Goetz (associate producer)
Raymond Griffith (associate producer)
StarringConstance Bennett
Fredric March
Fay Wray
Frank Morgan
CinematographyCharles Rosher
Edited byBarbara McLean
Music byAlfred Newman
Production
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Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • August 24, 1934 (1934-08-24)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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Both the duke and duchess have an eye for beauty and other partners. The duke presently fancies a young woman who poses as an artist's model. The duchess has her eye on the famous artist, Benvenuto Cellini, who is in the palace making a set of gold plates to be used at ducal banquets. Cellini purportedly hypnotizes young women, and cuckolds the duke of Florence. The somewhat oblivious duke is loath to punish the young man because Cellini fashions gold wares for him, but throws him into the torture chamber. However, a goblet of poisoned wine solves the problem.

Cast

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Reception

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Morgan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. It was also nominated for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Sound, Recording (Thomas T. Moulton).[1]

The film was a box-office disappointment for United Artists.[2]

The film would later be discussed on the seventh episode of The Snub Club where it was heavily criticized.[3]

MPPDA/MPAA production code of 1934 to 1968

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During production and distribution of the movie, MPPDA's production code took effect on every major film studio like Warner Bros. or the Walt Disney Productions. Fox Film Corporation had the first film with the MPPDA production code era with The World Moves On, released on June 28, 1934.

References

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  1. ^ "The 7th Academy Awards (1935) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  2. ^ D. W. (Nov 25, 1934). "TAKING A LOOK AT THE RECORD". New York Times. ProQuest 101193306.
  3. ^ "7th Academy Awards Part 2: The Affairs of Cellini".
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