At the peak of his career, Oscar-winner Fredric March plays the title role in this biopic, the Renaissance artist Benvenuto Cellini, who romances the Dutchess (played by Constance Bennett).
The Affairs of Cellini | |
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Gregory La Cava was much more adept in directing melodramas (“Stage Door”) and screwball comedies (“My Man Godfrey”) than swashbuckling epics, such as “Affairs of Cellini,” based on a screenplay by Bess Meredyth.
Frank Morgan received a Best Actor nomination for playing the Duke of Florence, in what many considered to be a secondary part. But before 1936, the Academy did not distinguish between lead and supporting acting awards.
The supporting cast includes Fay Wray (“King Kong”) and Jessie Ralph, and you can spot in a cameo Lucille Ball.
Oscar Nominations: 4
Actor: Frank Morgan
Cinematography: Charles Rosher
Interior Decoration: Richard Day
Sound Recording: Thomas T. Moulton
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
The Cinematography Oscar went to Victor Milner for “Cleopatra.”
Cedric Gibbons and Frederic Hope won the Art Direction for “The Merry Widow.”
The Sound kudo went to “One Night of Love.”
Credits
Directed by Gregory La Cava
Written by Bess Meredyth, based on The Firebrand of Florence
by Edwin Justus Mayer
Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, William Goetz (associate producer), Raymond Griffith (associate producer)
Cinematography Charles Rosher
Edited by Barbara McLean
Music by Alfred Newman
Production company: Twentieth Century Pictures
Distributed by United Artists
Release date: August 24, 1934
Running time: 80 minutes