Nights of Cabiria (1957): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Nights of Cabiria is a 1957 drama directed by Federico Fellini, starring Franco Fabrizi as Giorgio (uncredited), Giulietta Masina and Leo Catozzo. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $799,948 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 50m (110 min)
- Director
- Federico Fellini
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
Italian - Studio
- DDL Cinematografica
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Nights of Cabiria About?
The premise of Nights of Cabiria without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Set in Rome in 1957, the film follows Cabiria, a tenacious young street‑walker whose boyfriend Giorgio betrays her, stealing her money and abandoning her to drown. After being rescued, she rebuilds her life, seeking love and stability amid a harsh, cynical society. Even when she believes she has finally found happiness, new challenges reveal that security remains elusive.
Nights of Cabiria Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- prostitute
- betrayed by love interest
- betrayed by lover
- heartbreak
- house
- rescue from drowning
- italian woman
- rome italy
- poverty
- naivete
- dancing
- cruelty
+38 more Show fewer
- despair
- living in a cave
- 1950s
- beethoven's fifth symphony
- hypnosis
- hypnotist show
- wad of money
- prostitute as protagonist
- promiscuous past
- new start
- fiance fiancee relationship
- tragedy drama
- madonna
- shrine
- movie star
- accountant
- reference to the virgin mary
- train station
- optimist
- starving
- catholicism
- charity
- servant
- pimp
- handicapped
- crutches
- reference to moby dick
- suitor
- tiber river
- wizard
- streetcar
- roma ostia
- gypsy
- reference to the three musketeers
- movie theater
- dowry
- poodle
- religious procession
Nights of Cabiria Cast & Characters
Franco Fabrizi leads the cast as Giorgio (uncredited), with Giulietta Masina as Maria 'Cabiria' Ceccarelli and Leo Catozzo as Man with the Sack (uncredited). Directed by Federico Fellini; 27 actors are credited in all.
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Director Federico Fellini
-
Franco Fabrizi as Giorgio (uncredited) -
Giulietta Masina as Maria 'Cabiria' Ceccarelli - Leo Catozzo as Man with the Sack (uncredited)
- Franca Marzi as Wanda
Also Starring in Nights of Cabiria
· 23 more- Amedeo Nazzari Alberto Lazzari
- François Périer Oscar D'Onofrio
- Mimmo Poli Man Eating in the Nightclub (uncredited)
- Franco Balducci Spectator on the Stage of the Cinema (uncredited)
- Luciano Bonanni Man in Black Suit at the Edge of the River (uncredited)
- Ennio Girolami Amleto, 'il magnaccia'
- Mario Passante Uncle of Amleto
- Aldo Silvani The wizard
- Ciccio Barbi Man on the Stage (uncredited)
- Gianni Baghino
- Polidor Friar (uncredited)
- Dorian Gray Jessy
- Sandro Moretti Un papponcello (uncredited)
- Dominique Delouche Priest with the Flag (uncredited)
- María Luisa Rolando Marisa (uncredited)
- Nino Milano
Show all 27 cast members Show fewer cast members
Nights of Cabiria Plot Summary
What happens in Nights of Cabiria from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Cabiria Giulietta Masina is a young prostitute who, with her lover Giorgio Franco Fabrizi, shares a lighthearted, almost flirtatious chase through a field toward the river. Oblivious to Giorgio’s darker intent, Cabiria lingers at the water’s edge as he presses forward with a plan to steal from her. In a sudden turn, she is pushed into the river, her purse and money ripped away, and she is saved only by a quick‑thinking crowd of onlookers who pull her from the current and keep her from drowning. The moment marks a cruel awakening: the world Cabiria trusts can turn predatory in an instant.
Full summary
The whole story of Nights of Cabiria, scene by scene
Nights of Cabiria Box Office
Nights of Cabiria grossed $799,948 worldwide. $766,530 came from the US and Canada and $32,579 (4%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$799.9K
- US & Canada
- $766.5K
- International
- $32.6K
Nights of Cabiria Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 2 trailers, 1 clip and 2 featurettes.
- Trailer NIGHTS OF CABIRIA Trailer
- Clip "The Mascara Tear"
- Featurette Carol Morley on Federico Fellini's Nights of Cabiria
- Featurette NIGHTS OF CABIRIA - Phil Kemp Interview
How Well Do You Know Nights of Cabiria?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the young prostitute who is the film’s protagonist?
Seen Nights of Cabiria?
Movies Like Nights of Cabiria
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Nights in White Satin, Nights and Nightsongs.
Nights of Cabiria FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Nights of Cabiria, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Nights of Cabiria?
Nights of Cabiria runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).
When was Nights of Cabiria released?
Nights of Cabiria was released on May 11, 1957.
Who directed Nights of Cabiria?
Nights of Cabiria was directed by Federico Fellini.
More films by Federico Fellini Who is in the cast of Nights of Cabiria?
Nights of Cabiria stars Franco Fabrizi as Giorgio (uncredited), Giulietta Masina as Maria 'Cabiria' Ceccarelli and Leo Catozzo as Man with the Sack (uncredited), among 27 credited actors.
How much did Nights of Cabiria make at the box office?
Nights of Cabiria grossed $799,948 worldwide ($766,530 domestic, $32,579 international).
Does Nights of Cabiria have a post-credit scene?
No. Nights of Cabiria has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Nights of Cabiria in?
The original language of Nights of Cabiria is Italian.
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