Conversation so far:
Who was cast in the 1954 film La Strada?
Fellini secured financing through the producers Dino De Laurentiis and Carlo Ponti, who wanted to cast Silvana Mangano as Gelsomina and Burt Lancaster as Zampanò, but Fellini refused these choices.
Who did Federico Fellini want to cast for the 1954 film La Strada?
Giulietta Masina had been the inspiration for the entire project, so Fellini was determined never to accept an alternative to her.
How else besides Giulietta Masina, did Federico Fellini decide who to cast for the 1954 film La Strada?
For Zampanò, Fellini had hoped to cast a nonprofessional and, to that end, he tested a number of circus strongmen, to no avail.
Who else did Federico Fellini like for the part of Il Matto in the 1954 film La Strada?
His first choice was the actor Moraldo Rossi.
Did Moraldo Rossi get the part of Il Matto in the 1954 film La Strada?
Rossi wanted to be the assistant director, not a performer.
Who was the director of the 1954 film La Strada?
La Strada is a 1954 Italian drama film directed by Federico Fellini.
What other casting was done for the 1954 film La Strada besides Giulietta Masina, Moraldo Rossi and circus performers?
When Giulietta Masina introduced Anthony Quinn to her husband, the actor was disconcerted by Fellini's insistence that the director had found his Zampanò

Question: Was he familiar with Basehart previous to this casting?
Self-contained rewrite: Was Federico Fellini familiar with Richard Basehart previous to his casting in the 1954 film La Strada?