Was Burt Lancaster Dubbed in The Leopard?

No, Burt Lancaster was not dubbed by another actor in the English-dubbed version of the film The Leopard; he personally re-recorded his own dialogue.

Understanding Dubbing in The Leopard

The Leopard (original title: Il Gattopardo), a highly acclaimed 1963 film directed by Luchino Visconti, was originally produced in Italian. When the film was released in English-speaking markets, particularly the U.S., an English-dubbed version was created to make it accessible to a wider audience.

• General Practice: In the English-dubbed release, many of the Italian and French actors had their voices replaced by different voice actors. This was a common practice for international films during that era to adapt them for different linguistic markets.
• Burt Lancaster's Role: As the lead actor playing Prince Don Fabrizio Salina, Burt Lancaster was a prominent Hollywood star. For the English version, he took on the responsibility of re-dubbing his own lines. This ensured that his performance maintained consistency with his voice, adding to the authenticity for English-speaking viewers.
• Other Self-Dubbers: Alongside Lancaster, supporting actor Leslie French also re-dubbed his own dialogue for the English version of the film. They were unique in this regard, as most other non-English speaking actors were dubbed by different performers.

This distinction highlights Lancaster's dedication to his role and the effort made to maintain the integrity of his portrayal across different language versions. His voice in the English cut is indeed his own, making him one of the few cast members to perform this task.

Key Aspects of The Leopard's English Release

For more detailed information about the film's production and various releases, you can refer to its entry on Wikipedia.