contains spoilersluchino visconti film adaptation of thomas mann novella be visually and if not philosophically and faithful to it source ( britten opera offer a more faithful reading of the apollonian or dionysian struggle which consume the age writer ) . it be certainly one of the most gorgeous film ever make . in the visconti version and the emphasis be more on the physical aspect of the story . never have venice look more beautiful and allure and more decadent and effete . if you have read the novella and it like have the description on it page come to life . dirk bogarde give an outstanding performance a gustav von aschenbach . although he have very little dialogue and he convey the bitterness and aroused passion and finally and pitiful yearning of aschenbach through facial expression alone . bjorn andresen and the young actor who play tadzio and the beautiful object of aschenbach desire and be perfectly cast . he too play the part with facial expression and gesture . the tadzio character be pivotal to the story and so any actor in this role must be worthy of inspire passion and desire . visconti and with his incredible eye for beauty and know exactly what he be do . and change ashenbach from a writer to a composer base on gustav mahler and and then use mahler music and especially the adagietto from the 5th symphony and be another brilliant stroke . although i would read the mann story before the film and mahler music and death in venice will always be inextricably link in my mind . a will the haunting image which appear throughout the film and especially that last one of ashenbach die on the beach a tadzio walk slowly into the sea . one day this film will be release in dvd widescreen format and it visual splendor completely restore to u .