An epic on the grandest scale, Luchino Visconti's THE LEOPARD (IL GATTOPARDO) re-creates, with nostalgia, drama, and opulence, the tumultuous years of Italy's Risorgimento, when the aristocracy lost it's grip and the middle classes rose and formed a unified, democratic Italy. Burt Lancaster (The Killers, Brute Force) stars as an aging prince watching his culture and fortune wane in the face of a new generation, represented by the gorgeous Alain Delon (PURPLE NOON, LE SAMOURAI) and Claudia Cardinale (8 1/2, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST). The Criterion Collection is proud to present THE LEOPARD in two distinct versions: Visconti's original and the English-language one released in America.