Il Gattopardo (Le Guépard) is fabulous: it's the first Visconti I saw, and I must say that it's just great. A very subtle film about decadence and decline of human beings, social classes, political organization, and a whole era.
A 'classique' indeed... though some of the actors are now totally have-been, suivez mon regard... Longing to watch Ludwig II... Was a bit disapointed with 'The Damned'