Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

This movie has Mario (Marcello Mastroianni) by chance meeting Natalia (Maria Schell) on a bridge one night. Mario is shy and lonely and is moved to try to comfort the sobbing Natalia. Natalia is waiting for L'inquilino, a lover who has been away for a year and has promised to return. L'inquilino is later seen to be tall and handsome and a man of few words. I could not see L'inquilino falling for the flighty Natalia, who is literally often tethered to her grandmother. I suppose there are people like Natalia who live in a state of yearning for a man whom she has hardly known. Such a person must be more in love with an imagined fantasy than with an actual person. Natalia might appeal to a younger, romantically idealistic audience, but an older audience will likely not have much patience with her.The relationship between Natalia and Mario was more acceptable to me, both being driven by a deep seated insecurity and loneliness. Since the relationships all developed in such a short time the characters seemed to be more symbolic than real to me, with Mario representing realty and Natalia fantasy. Mario lives on one side of the bridge and Natalia the other, Mario is a realist and Natalia a fantasist, and so forth.The production is little more than a filmed stage play, complete with fake snow. Most of the movie is talk with there being little action. A break was provided by an extended scene in a bar that has a well choreographed dance group dancing to a Bill Haley record. As enjoyable as that scene was, given the amount of time devoted to it I had to believe that it was supposed to be pivotal, but I failed to see that level of importance.The black and white photography is impressive with effective camera angles and movements. Much of the movie is filmed at night, often creating a dream like atmosphere for the dream like story.Nino Rota's score is a big disappointment, it is representative of the generic scores for Hollywood movies of the 1950s, rather than the creative work he is known for.This character study never engaged me enough to feel invested at the emotional level that I think was intended.

To a naive viewer--knew nothing of Visconti--am familiar with Mastroianni and Schnell...this movie is remarkable mostly for keeping your interest up for an hour and a half with so little story and no live scenery. It is entirely shot on a smallish set that looks like a nightmare modern dystopia.Yes the story is believable if you wind it back 100 years or more to Dostoyevsky and the set looks like a bombed out St. Petersburg crossed with a Naples slum. The Story? Unrequitted love--Schnell is a poor girl of 18 or so whose grandmother pins her to her skirt to keep track of her. A new boarder rents a room from them and pays her attention. She falls in love and after he leaves and promises to come back in 1 year she waits at a bridge every night for his return. Meanwhile Mastroianni befriends her and falls in love with her... I won't tell the ending although you know something is going to happen unexpected it is the only thing that keeps you watching.I didn't really find anything egregious in this movie although I watch old movies for the live street scenes and the nostalgic time travel that permits...this had ZERO. The funky 50s wild sex toned dancing seems to have been a staple of the time have seen it in numerous European movies a big yawn. Every detail in this type of movie is significant the swinging door--Schnell may be open to Mastroianni's advances ad infinitum...The only thing out of place were the Coke and Esso ads...7.7 is too much praise not needed for this.... I give it a 6 for the opera/play like scenery. Could anyone stand to watch it twice once the surprise ending that keeps you watching is known? Not me.RECOMMEND ?

Masterly directed by Luchino Visconti this film should be watched by everyone. Le Notti Bianche di Luchino Visconti (White Nights) is an extraordinary contribution to cinematic history. A film you never forget. A mixture of romance, surrealism and madness. Really good movies are so rare that they're worth watching several times. Young actors should watch and study this film. Young directors should discover what film making is. Maria Schell quite simply, wonderful. Marcello Mastroianni is as always exceptionally brilliant. Nino Rota's music capable of conveying a mood and atmosphere. Notice how movies now a day sucks? Is anyone out there who still understand what a good movie is? If so, watch White Nights, a masterpiece.

He's not a director I'm overly enthusiastic about, but he's good. This is a simple love story, based on Dostoyevsky. Marcello Mastroianni plays a man who meets a beautiful young girl (Maria Schell). He falls for her instantly, but finds she is awaiting an older man (Jean Marais) with whom she fell in love the previous year. He is supposed to be coming back for her. Mastroianni attempts to prevent the reunion. This reminds me more of Fellini than Visconti. There's a dance sequence in a night club that almost escapes from the movie. It's like a centerpiece, and like a small masterpiece existing within an otherwise excellent film.