Peppino De Filippo Movies
- 1965
Courtroom tomfoolery provides the basis for this four-episode Italian anthology comedy. In the first segment "Adultery in 16mm," an angry wife attempts to sue her neglectful husband by charging him with abandonment. Meanwhile, he charges her with adultery and claims to have a few reels of home-movie footage to prove it. The films are shown and the courtroom gasps when they learn the identity of the woman's lover. The second "The Priest and the Prostitute," centers on a self-righteous clergyman who pursues the streetwalker who picked his pocket. The hunted and hunter end up in a pool hall. When she attempts to give her ill-gotten loot to her pimp, the priest pounces and a melee erupts. The police end up taking all of them to jail where more fun follows. In the third episode, "Indecent Exposure," an overly health-conscious fellow religiously swims naked in a Roman ditch every day. The trouble begins on the day in which his clothes are stolen. In the final episode, "The Lustful Lieutenant," an old hooker is charged with soliciting. The attending judge is struck by her resemblance to his old wartime love, but he isn't sure whether it is really her or not. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1960
In this occasionally amusing frolic, Gina Lollobrigida plays a sexy widow who returns to Italy from New York following the death of her husband. Her wealth and good looks entice all the men in her small village except for the one she really wants, the town blacksmith (Dale Robertson). Giuseppe Rotunno's warm cinematography and the irresistible Lollobrigida make this one worth seeing, while the screenplay (by Ettore Margadonna, Luciana Corda, and Joseph Stefano) manages to be clever without being smirky. Look for a funny bit by Vittorio DeSica, who supervised some scenes, as a loquacious priest. This film is also known as both Anna of Brooklyn and Fast and Sexy. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gina Lollobrigida, Dale Robertson, (more)
- 1958
Anna may be from Brooklyn, but this medium-budget domestic drama was filmed and financed in Italy. The title character, played by Gina Lollobrigida, returns from Flatbush to her small village in Italy in search of a husband. Among her suitors are Dale Robertson and Vittorio DeSica, indicating that the producers were hoping to "click" in box-offices on both sides of the Atlantic. Anna finally chooses the Right Man, with plenty of time for "sampling" along the way. The English-language scenes in Anna of Brooklyn were directed by Reginald Denham, while the Italian sequences were helmed by Carlo Lasticati. The film was distributed in the US by Columbia (who bought the picture from RKO) under the title Fast and Sexy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 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)
Released in the US by 20th Century-Fox, Boccaccio '70 is a compendium of short subjects directed by three of Italy's top filmmakers. Each story is written in the style of the famed Italian essayist Boccaccio, albeit told in contemporary terms. First up is "The Raffle", written by Cesare Zavattini and directed by Vittorio De Sica: Sophia Loren (wife of Boccaccio '70 producer Carlo Ponti) plays the sexy operator of a shooting gallery, who offers herself as first prize to the best shot. In "The Job", written by Suso Cecchi D'Amico and directed by Luchino Visconti, Romy Schneider carries a torch for her philandering boss Tomas Milian. The final segment is "The Temptation of Dr. Antonio", directed by Federico Fellini and scripted by Fellini, Ennio Flaiano and Tullio Pinelli; in this one, Anita Ekberg is an image on a poster who comes to life for the benefit of a drooling middle-aged professor (Peppino De Filippo). A fourth episode, "Renzo and Luciana", directed by Mario Monicelli, was cut from U.S. release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sophia Loren, Luigi Giuliani, (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)
- 1955
Gli Ultimi Cinque Minuti (The Last Five Minutes) was adapted from the popular Italian stage play by Aldo De Benedetti. Hollywood's Linda Darnell heads the cast as Renata, who sublets an apartment in Rome. Unfortunately, Carlo Reani (Vittorio de Sica) also has a legal claim on the apartment. The two tenants solve the dilemma by getting married, with the understanding that Renata can continue pursuing any man she wants. For a while Renata dallies with Dino Moriani (Rosanno Brazzi), but her wifely insticts eventually get the better of her. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Darnell, Vittorio De Sica, (more)
- 1972
An Italian village is the site for a con game by 4 criminals who pretend to be friars. ~ All Movie Guide
- 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)
- 1960
Vittorio Gassman showcases his comic talents in this farce by director Dino Risi about the growing success of a con artist. Gerardo (Gassman) starts out as a vaudeville performer and noting that acting abilities can be used for less legit purposes, he creatively assumes different guises in order to con people out of anything from a pair of shoes to ultimately mucho lira. In one of his escapades he passes himself off as Greta Garbo, donning an appropriate disguise, and has all manner of paparazzi ready to take the bait. He did not learn all his inventive and often spontaneous tricks alone, his cellmate Chinotto (Peppino de Filippo) was a great mentor. But even his cellmate could not coach him on how to remain single after his girlfriend Annalise (Anna Maria Ferrero) sets her heart on matrimony. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Dorian Gray, (more)
- 1953
Il Segno di Venera (The Sign of Venus) offers an earthier Sophia Loren than American audiences would later become accustomed to. Agnese (Loren) has no trouble attracting men, which is more than can be said for her plain-Jane friend Cesira (Franca Valeri). The two girls embark on a search for an appropriate mate for Cesira, despite the fact that all eligible males instantly gravitate to Agnese. Some of the choices -- petty thief Alberto Sordi, impecunious poet Vittorio De Sica -- are frankly not good enough for either girl. Alternating between humor and pathos, Il Segno di Venera is light, forgettable entertainment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Franca Valeri, Vittorio De Sica, (more)
- 1967
Made in Italy is a multistoried film, set...in Italy, of course. An all-star cast appears in brief seriocomic vignettes about rich and poor, tourist and native. Director Nanni Loy exhibits the realistic and somewhat earthy technique he'd used on his earlier documentaries, with heavy emphasis on ironic punch lines. Filmed in 1965 by a Franco/Italian production team, Made in Italy received the best possible exposure upon its 1967 American release when clips were showcased on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. Best bit: The "give to the poor" poster in an impoverished Italian mountain village. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anna Magnani, Marina Berti, (more)
- 1971
Turn-of-the-century Naples is the setting for this show-business comedy about a theatrical nobody who starts a popular dance craze based on the Can-Can. This film continues lead actress Monica Vitti's successful transition from doing critically acclaimed (but not awfully profitable) dramas to popular comedy. Her acting makes up for her minimal singing and dancing skills, and the film is assisted by a strong supporting cast, first-class production values and upbeat music. This film is also notable for its efforts to accurately show Neapolitan life of the period. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1957
La Nonna Sabella (Grandmother Sabella) was one of two 1957 offerings from prolific Italian filmmaker Dino Risi. The 80-year-old title character tries to arrange a wealthy marriage for her worldly grandson. But our hero is a bit too clever for Grandmother Sabella: he intends to wed his childhood sweetheart, and he intends to get Grandma's blessing whether she's aware of it or not. The potential bride is played by Sylva Koschina, who as Sylva Koscina would attain worldwide stardom within a few years. La Nonna Sabella was the winner of the Golden Seashell Award at the 1957 San Sebastian Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tina Pica, Peppino De Filippo, (more)
- 1959
Even though this period drama is leisurely to especially slow in parts, it tells an entertaining story about Policarpo (Renato Rascel), a sincere and honest, low-level clerk in the government bureaucracy. Policarpo, dissatisfied with his salary, is moving through the labyrinth of paperwork necessary to justify and obtain a raise. Even though he refuses to go outside the bounds of the complex system, he begins to take heart when his daughter finally makes a good choice between two suitors. She chooses his boss's son. Though as Policarpo soon finds out, that union may not help him after all. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renato Rascel, Peppino De Filippo, (more)
- 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)
