Casanova

1 9 7 1 (UK)
6 x 50 minute episodes

This six-part study of the famous womaniser Giacomo Girolamo Casanova was penned by Dennis Potter and starred Frank Finlay – and a succession of actresses in varying states of undress.

Throughout the series, Casanova is thrown into gaol on charges of impiousness, forgery and fornication; obsessed by memories of Cristina, a simple girl, willingly seduced; taken with the three daughters of his landlord in Grenoble (who he decides to seduce); pretends to be a magician to fool an old man and his daughter; travels to England and ends up at the age of 75 “imprisoned” as a librarian at the court of a Czech count.

Mrs Whitehouse (of course) condemned the “lewdness and gross indecency” of one of the episodes. The author advised her to “hold her tongue” and insisted it was a very moral series.

The series was re-edited for broadcast in September 1974. The edit reduced the running time from 325 minutes to 195 minutes and the programme was broadcast over two nights as 1 x 100-minute episode and 1 x 95-minute episode.

Giacomo Girolamo Casanova
Frank Finlay
Lorenzo
Norman Rossington
Cristina
Zienia Merton
Barberina
Christine Noonan
Schalon
Patrick Newell
Senator Bragadin
Geoffrey Wincott
Valenglart
David Swift
Genoveffa
Lyn Yeldham
Anne Roman-Coupier
Ania Merson
Uncle
George Benson
Helena
Elaine Donnelly
Rose
Julia Cornelius
Manon
Brigid Erin Bates
Anna
Caroline Dowdeswell
Senior Inquisitor
Ronald Adam

Episodes

Steed In The Stable | One At A Time | Magic Moments | Window, Window | Fevers Of Love | Golden Apples