8 1/2

On this day in 1963, Italian director Federico Fellini released his classic film 8 1/2 in the United States. Considered by film critics to be one of the greatest cinematic achievements of all time, 8 1/2 was nominated for five Academy Awards, and won two: Best Foreign Language Film and Best Costume Design. Fellini’s semi-autobiographical film, starring Marcello Mastroianni, tells the story of a film director who, lacking inspiration for his next movie, retracts into his dreams, bemusing over his past and the women he has loved and lost. The film was shot in black and white by influential and innovative cinematographer Gianni Di Venanzo and features a soundtrack by Nino Rota.

Factoid: The broadway musical Nine, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, is based on Fellini’s 8 1/2.