The Affairs of Cellini

Released Aug 24, 1934

1h 20m

Comedy

List

80%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

25%

Audience Score

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Benvenuto Cellini (Fredric March) is a goldsmith, artist, womanizer and swashbuckler known throughout Florence, Italy. When he enters the royal palace of the Medicis, he instantly has eyes for the Duchess of Florence (Constance Bennett), who openly returns his ardor. The dithering, dim-witted Duke (Frank Morgan) barely notices because he's too besotted with an airhead model (Fay Wray). However, when Cellini gets too cocky, he suddenly finds himself flirting with execution.

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Otis Ferguson

The New Republic

The Affairs of Cellini is a humorous extravaganza that flops, partly because of what it tries to do and partly because of who does it.

Jan 22, 2024

Full Review

Zita Short

InSession Film

I would call this a considerably lighter political film as it doubles as a screwball comedy but it does have a lot to say about politics.

Feb 7, 2023

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

The picture is really a sort of comic opera, all surprise entrances and sudden exits, flights of not too serious emotion and violent but amusing deaths.

Aug 1, 2019

Full Review

Helen Brown Norden

Vanity Fair

It is so funny that you will probably have to see it twice, in order to catch the lines which were drowned out by your own raucous laughter the first time.

May 31, 2019

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Gregory LaCava was more adept at directing melodramas and screwball comedies than historical epics, such as this one.

Rated: C+

Jun 22, 2011

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Audience Member

Fredric March stars as the notorious sculptor Cellini, who, as the title suggests, has many affairs in the 90-minute movie. It's a little bit silly when you watch it, almost as if the movie might be a spoof of itself, when Freddie repeatedly seduces his conquests. So, if you're the mood to laugh, you can rent it and treat it like a spoof, and if you're in the mood for a drama in the 1600s, you can take it seriously. Frank Morgan plays against type-and was rewarded by an Oscar nomination-in this movie, as a cruel duke who doesn't bat an eyelash at using torture as a punishment. Frank's wife is Constance Bennett, and when Freddie visits the palace, it isn't long before she falls under her spell. That might not be the smartest move, seeing how much of a bad guy her husband is. . . This movie won't hurt you if you decide to rent it, but it also won't end up being your favorite. It's not Freddie's best performance.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

steve d

I didn't think it was as clever as most.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Tom M

Good comedy with great cast. Morgan is hilarious as always and Bennett, March, and Wray are very funny.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/20

Full Review

Audience Member

I didn't have a great copy of this film to watch which always makes me somewhat distracted but my impression of the film is that this had promise without the impact that all those concerned would have liked. There are some truly funny moments but ultimately, we don't feel much attachment to the characters.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The story of Cellini and infamous artist through out Florence and his ability to both stir and manipulate situations to his will. Staring Frank Morgan (Wizard from original Wizard of Oz) as the Duke of Florence & Fay Wray (from the original King Kong) these two somewhat hold the film together. A rather silly film that seemed ultimately pointless and trivial, however there some great costumes through out the film. A real so so sort of b-grade period comedy from the mid 30's...very dated.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Although this movie is extremely silly, there are many laughs throughout.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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Gregory La Cava

Director

Constance Bennett

Duchess of Florence

Fredric March

Benvenuto Cellini

Frank Morgan

Alessandro

Fay Wray

Angela

Jessie Ralph

Beatrice

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Synopsis

Benvenuto Cellini (Fredric March) is a goldsmith, artist, womanizer and swashbuckler known throughout Florence, Italy. When he enters the royal palace of the Medicis, he instantly has eyes for the Duchess of Florence (Constance Bennett), who openly returns his ardor. The dithering, dim-witted Duke (Frank Morgan) barely notices because he's too besotted with an airhead model (Fay Wray). However, when Cellini gets too cocky, he suddenly finds himself flirting with execution.

Director: Gregory La Cava
Screenwriter: Bess Meredyth
Distributor: United Artists
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 24, 1934, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 20, 2014
Runtime: 1h 20m

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