Life of Leonardo Davinci (3pc) | 
| Director: Renato Castellani
Actors: Philippe Leroy, Giulio Bosetti, Ann Odessa, Glauco Onorato, Filippo Scelzo
Studio: Questar
List Price: $29.99
Buy Used: $5.99
You Save: $24.00 (80%)
New (2) Used (11) from $5.99
Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 9058
Format: Box Set, Color, Ntsc
Language: Italian (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 3
Running Time: 270 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 6303400396
UPC: 033937022210
EAN: 9780927992206
ASIN: 6303400396
Theatrical Release Date: August 13, 1972
Release Date: April 30, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Slipcase shows wear. Clean sleeves show light wear. Tapes clean.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 Life of Leonardo DaVinci... great video vs chopped up DVD February 14, 2005
Tony DeCaro
51 out of 51 found this review helpful
When The Life of Leonard DaVinci first aired on American Television, I believe it was on ABC, my wife and I had only been married a few months. But, every Sunday night as I recall, for about four or five weeks, we watched this fantastic production.
Years later, we saw it again on PBS. When I began teaching, I found that our local educational resource center had this program on VHS. As a graphic arts teacher, I felt that Leonardo and this documentary were of such great importance, I would show a chapter or two to my students during the course of a term. And, I would take it home at watch it again and again.
Not only was Leonardo, as one of the Amazon reviewers describes, a bit weird, he was also brilliant and interesting. Brilliant and interesting also describes this entire Italian production. As much as I dislike foreign films with the out-of-sync English dubbed voices, I was able to over look it in this extremely informative and superbly produced film. I really liked the occasional interaction of the characters as they sort of stumble into the narrator; I thought that to be very clever and nicely executed. So, after seeing that it was available in DVD, I purchased a copy.
I am so disappointed... What inept producer, or editor, of re-release material thought that he or she had the requisite skills to chop up so much of this production? I was so angered by this that I'm sorry I bought the DVD. The complete version deserves a FIVE STAR +, the DVD... TWO, if that much! This great program, unfortunately placed in the hands of a flaming IDIOT, ruined the overall presence and personality of this presentation by IGNORANTLY cutting away some wonderful clips that brought such a meaningful and complete story to an eager audience.
I really love the quality of DVD, but for this, I'll just go check out the VHS version and watch it from time to time. Oh, just an afterthought... Is there a COMPLETE version of this available on DVD? Hey, you, bonzo with the editing shears... Do you still have the original? Well, how about releasing that for some of us - "I-want-to-see-the-whole THING" fanatics!
Tony DeCaro
Graphics Design/Video Production Instructor
 The Life of Leonardo da Vinci March 3, 2000
Alan T Kolling (Berkeley, CA)
30 out of 30 found this review helpful
Originally telecast by PBS stations in 1972 as "I, Leonardo" this five-part series earned a Golden Globe award for Best TV Drama in 1973. I loved it then and was thrilled to be able to finally see it again after so many years. The program is simply outstanding, stunning, superb, bellissima . . . I've run out of superlatives to describe it. A vividly illustrative, highly-detailed, historically accurate, only-occasionally-sentimental account of the life of an incredible human being, the program provides a great deal of information about all facets of Leonardo's life and the personal, political, and artistic challenges that confronted him. I enjoyed the detailed background provided about his mother Caterina,about whom very little is known, and the balanced handling of his relatonships with the two primary disciples in his life, Salai and Francisco Melzi. The video also provides a wealth of information about the historical events that forced him to leave and return to Florence and Milan, the political intrigue of the leaders he had to collaborate with, and the bitter rivalry between him and Michaelangelo in his later years. It's a show I can and will watch over and over and over again . . . and again.
Da Vinci is too important to humanity to ignore this dvd October 17, 2004
Thomas Lapins (Orlando, Florida USA)
22 out of 28 found this review helpful
This 1970's docudrama has the video texture that came out in the 70's. One can almost instantly feel the graininess even when the film presentation is of a higher quality, which this one is. Our image was very good but doesn't have that pristine silken feeling one finds today or in many films that date back to the 1940's.
The sets and costume designs are authentic and a visual treat. The subject matter is more visual and entertaining than thought provoking. The film treads on the 'safe' side of da Vinci's life. But when a man has such complexity and genius, even that is enough. We never found ourselves board or wanting to take a break. It is entertaining enough to watch in one sitting, of course with the usual breaks.
Everything da Vinci like everything Shakespeare or Beethoven or Mahler should be viewed. When historical figures are presented to the Modern audience, some of the spaces will have to be filled in with educated probabilities and possibilities. This is very much the case with da Vinci. Much of his life is unknown. I think the producers of this film did a credible job in fleshing out da Vinci's life. I would have liked more in-depth footage on his intellectual and sexual life, even if only speculation, as long it is credible and relevant to what made this great man tick and bleed and exceed.
I highly recommend this to all lovers of da Vinci and those who simply want to learn and open their minds. One word of caution though. On disc 2, episode 4, there is a slight glitch. The disc freezes and has to be manipulated to fast forward. It's a minor problem. It is a manufacturing problem, as it was on both our original and replacement copy, in the exact same place. I, however, would not let this minor glitch stop me from purchasing and enjoying this dvd.
Absolutely BRILLIANT. A must see! January 7, 2000
angeline n baron (Australia)
19 out of 20 found this review helpful
I have been searching for this movie on video for 23 years! I saw it when I was a teenager and fell in love with the cast! If you, like me, know Leonardo inside-out you will truly love this movie. Do yourself a favour and buy this one! Everything is authentic, and was intricately researched, right down to costumes. It is a magnificent movie.
Warning!: Bastardized Leonardo November 27, 2005
Curtis M. Harrell, Jr. (Chicago, Illinois USA)
19 out of 19 found this review helpful
I would normally write a much longer review of this DVD, given the subject matter, AND would have given it 5 Stars. But, considering that this release by Questar is pointlessly a cut up, BASTARDIZED version of the original mini-series (which can still be had in its entirety on VHS, also from Questar), I am forced to focus more on what's wrong with this particular release, rather than extoll the astonishing merits of the wonderful film. Please avoid this version at all costs, and if you can, get the full version on VHS. Questar has cut out some of the best moments of this film series for no valid reason I can discern - maybe just to save 2 bucks on the overall package price. They have done great damage to this film, by removing, amongst other key scenes, the important in-story narrator. This element added much charm and charisma to an already fasicinating film - and was one of the many reasons it is, in its original form, so enchanting. Removing the in-story narrator also necessitated removing some key speculations concerning important areas of Leonardo's life and thought. I, personally, am glad I still have my VHS copy, and would like to submit a separate review on that one. This one, you can skip.
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