Casanova

Italian adventurer and libertine Giovanni Jacopo Casanova lived from 1725 to 1798, but in this six-part series Dennis Potter attempted to find a contemporary relevance through his central themes of sex and religion. He commented that Casanova "was concerned with religious and sexual freedom, and these are the things we have to address ourselves to now." Casanova was imprisoned in Venice in 1755, and Potter used that event as a central device, constantly inter-cutting to contrast Casanova's amorous escapades, radiant, joyful and brightly lit, with his oppressive solitary confinement in the gloom of a half-darkened cell.

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Created By	Dennis Potter
Status	Ended
Original Name	Casanova
First Air Date	November 16, 1971
Last Air Date	December 21, 1971
Seasons	1
Episodes	6
Episode Runtime	50min
Language	English
Original Language	English
Production Countries	United Kingdom
Production Companies	BBC
Networks	BBC Two

S01E06

Golden Apples

Casanova longed for books during imprisonment; now, as an old man, he is surrounded by them. Aged 73, he works as a librarian in a German castle, although disquieting rumours have reached the ears of tyrannical major-domo Herr Feldkirchner about the whereabouts of Casanova's hand in relation to the cook's skirts. Plagued by a heart ailment, Casanova struggles to put to text form the memories of his life, including his triumphant prison escape.

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