Starring Frank Finlay & Norman Rossington The Italian adventurer & 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 & religion He commented that Casanova "was concerned with religious & sexual freedom & these are the things we have to address ourselves to now" Casanova was imprisoned in Venice in 1755 & Potter used that event as a central device constantly inter-cutting to contrast Casanova&s amorous escapades radiant joyful & brightly lit with his oppressive solitary confinement in the gloom of a half-darkened cell