Peppino De Filippo Movies
Federico Fellini's directorial debut (co-directed with veteran Alberto Lattuada), Luci del Varietà is a bittersweet drama about a bunch of misfits in a traveling vaudeville troupe. The group of actors, dancers, and performers struggle to make it from town to town, playing to minimal crowds. Their comedic leader, Checco Dal Monte (Peppino De Filippo) just wants his act to be a success. His longtime sweetheart, Melina Amour (Fellini's wife Giulietta Masina), keeps the business end of things together and saves up money with plans of buying a business. Stumbling into one small town for another show, Checco meets beauty queen Lily (Carla Del Poggio) and puts her in the show as a dancer. When it appears that her sex appeal is drawing in large crowds of enthusiastic spectators, she quickly becomes the star of the show. Checco soon becomes infatuated with her, casting aside Melina and breaking up the troupe in order to put on a showcase for Lily instead. The loyal group of outcast performers are left without a leader, while star-eyed Lily proves to be relentless in her quest for fame. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1951
The seemingly effortless direction of Luigi Zampa helps smooth over the rough spots of Signori in Carroza. Aldo Fabrizi stars as a Pullman porter working the Rome-Paris-Rome route. Anticipating The Captain's Paradise by a full year, Vincenzo Nardi (Fabrizi) has a wife and family in Rome and a mistress in Paris, and is able to devote ample attention to both. His "perfect" set-up is spoiled when his snoopy brother-in-law decides to follow Nardi to Paris. Things look bleak for Our Hero until his understanding wife untangles the mess. A few scattered moments of pathos never lessen the overall comic impact of Signori in Carroza. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aldo Fabrizi, Peppino De Filippo, (more)
- 1951
This episodic Italian comedy follows the misadventures of housemaid Maria (Elsa Merlini). Her various employers include a salesman (Aldo Fabrizi) who values peace and quiet, but never gets it, and a vainglorious actor (Vittorio de Sica) with woman trouble. Through it all, Maria survives with a little help from her friends, including best pal Ermelinda, played by the future star of Stromboli and Juliet of the Spirits, Giulette Masina. Among the screenwriters for this film was Masina's husband Federico Fellini. Cameriera Bella, Presenza Offresi marked the return to the screen of Elsa Merlini, one of the most popular personalities of the prewar Italian cinema. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elsa Merlini, Vittorio De Sica, (more)
- 1950
Character actor Mischa Auer tended to choose vehicles unworthy of his talents when he left Hollywood for Europe during the postwar era. Biancaneve e I Setti Lavri is a heavy-handed variation on the "Snow White" legend, with a gang of thieves replacing the seven dwarves. Auer glowers and grimaces through his performance as the gang leader, while the Snow White character -- actually a naïve young man -- is played by Neapolitan comedian Peppino De Felippo, to whom subtlety is a lost art. The plot finds De Felippo plotting to rob the home of his wealthy fiancee. Naturally, everything goes sour -- including the script. Still, Biancaneve e i Sette Lavri posted a decent profit when first released in Italy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peppino De Filippo, Mischa Auer, (more)
- 1936
Also known as Three-Cornered Hat, this Italian comedy is based on a Spanish folk tale, which had previously been adapted as a ballet by Manuel de Filla. Director Mario Camerini and his team of screenwriters have refashioned the material as a vehicle for the popular De Filipo brothers, Peppino and Eduardo. The story is a mistaken-identity affair, predicated on the fact that a pompous governor is the exact look-alike of a poor miller. Much of the fun is derived from the efforts to pass off the miller's homely wife as the governor's gorgeous spouse. Described by one Mario Camerini devotee as "pretty, noisy and accomplished," 'Il Cappell a Tre Punte= was filmed in 1934, and released in the U.S. two years later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leda Gloria, Peppino De Filippo, (more)
