Vittorio Gassman Movies
One of the most popular and versatile stars in Italy for over 40 years, handsome, flamboyant Vittorio Gassman has found tremendous success on stage and screen as an actor. Internationally, Gassman is perhaps best known as the comic star of such films as I Soliti Ignoti (Big Deal on Madonna Street) (1956) and Lo Zio Indegno (The Sleazy Uncle) (1989). Before making his film debut in the 1946 Preludio d'Amore, Gassman had established himself as a major stage star, having appeared in some 40 productions; he specialized in classical plays.He was born in Genoa, the son of an Italian mother and an Austrian father, and before entering the National Academy of Dramatic Art in Rome, studied law. It was his mother who encouraged Gassman to become an actor. In film, he started out in dramatic or romantic roles, but did not become a star until his fourth film, Giuseppe De Santis' Riso Amaro (Bitter Rice) (1949), in which he played the fugitive lover of buxom peasant Silvana Mangano. The film was an international hit as was Gassman. He had further success playing the villainous Vittorio to Mangano's Anna in Anna (1951). In 1952, Gassman headed for Hollywood to call on Shelly Winters. The two married shortly thereafter and Gassman was contracted to MGM. Appearing in such average fare as Cry of the Hunted (1953), Mambo, and Rhapsody (1954) did little to popularize him in the U.S. Gassman eventually tired of trying to make it in the States and after divorcing Winters, returned to the Italian stage. In 1956, he played Anatole in King Vidor's War and Peace and reestablished himself as a star in the Rififi parody I Soliti Ignoti. That year, Gassman also established the Teatro Popolare Italiano, his own theater troupe. The actor cut his directorial teeth with filmmaker Francesco Rosi with a biography of a famous British actor for Kean (1957). The film was not a success but did serve to add fuel to Gassman's reputation for occasionally hamming up his roles. By the 1960s, the heretofore serious actor began focusing on comedic, often satirical films. His winning of the 1975 Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Award for his portrayal of a sightless captain in Porfumo di Donna was a highlight in Gassman's career (the film inspired an American version, The Scent of a Woman (1992) starring Al Pacino). Gassman's film career continued in high gear through the mid-'80s with notable films including C'Eravama Tanto Amati (Those Were the Years) (1975) and Caro Papa (Dear Father) (1979), some of which, like The Nude Bomb (1980), were made in Hollywood. After 1985, Gassman began appearing in fewer films, though he did have a memorable turn as a crime lord in the tense Hollywood drama Sleepers in 1996. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1999
In this bawdy Italian comedy, Nino (Alessandro Gassman) and his buddy Sergio (Enrico Brignano) are a pair of aspiring actors who decide to move to New York in hope of breaking into the business. Nino and Sergio meet another Italian expatriate at an audition, a sexy young woman named Daisy (Lola Pagnani), and when the trio meet up with part-time actor and most-of-the-time waiter Gaetano (Rocco Papaleo), they get a "brilliant" idea -- as an acting exercise and a way of making a few bucks, they'll pose as a powerful Mafia family that's just arrived in town. The truly remarkable part is that the venerable Don Vito (Vittorio Gassman) actually falls for the ruse, and to shore up his crime empire even tries to arrange a marriage between Nino and his chaste daughter Immacolata (Chiara Muti). A framing device turns most of the action into a movie-within-a-movie, even going so far as to report how well the internal movie did at the box office. Shelley Winters plays an acting teacher in a cameo; Winters and fellow cast member Vittorio Gassman were married from 1952 to 1954. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alessandro Gassman, Enrico Brignano, (more)
- 1998
This complexly plotted comedy interweaves snippets from the lives of nearly 40 diverse patrons sitting at 14 tables in a little Italian trattoria. Though the diners come from all levels of society, most are bound by one or two common threads: their engagement in illicit romantic affairs and the fact that they are, for the most part, morally and spiritually bankrupt. The restaurant's unflappable, wise owner Flora (Fanny Ardant) is the only one with any real common sense. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Vittorio Gassman, (more)
- 1994
In this Italian comedy, eight lifelong friends attending their annual dinner party/reunion must re-evaluate their lives after they read a provocative letter from a group member who recently died. All of the remaining eight are retired. The letter suggests they all move into an empty convent and live the rest of their lives together. Though the eight seem outwardly comfortable and happy, the proposition becomes more enticing. As the evening wears on their truths are revealed. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Giorgio Albertazzi, Paolo Bonacelli, (more)
This entry into TNT's lavish and acclaimed Bible Series follows the tale of humble shepherd Abraham (Richard Harris) as he leads his flock to the Promised Land despite great danger. When the voice of God himself tells Abraham that he must lead his family and a group of like-minded believers on a harrowing journey to the Promised Land, the travelers' faith is tested as they face famine, death, and war at every turn. Through all of their hardships, Abraham's flock is determined to make the journey no matter what the cost. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Harris
- 1992
In 1939, Ramon (Jacques Penot) was a young man, caught up in his Barcelona family's involvement on the Republic side in the brutal Spanish Civil War. He and his family fled into exile ahead of Franco's troops. Now it is many years later, and he has come back to see how his old homestead fared in the intervening years. The only person he can find who is able to remember those years clearly is his family's old butler Claudio (Vittorio Gassman). This film is a sequel to the 1975 film by director Jaime Camino, Largas Vacaciones del 36. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Jacques Penot, (more)
- 1990
The tale of this movie is familiar enough, Sheherazade (Catherine Zeta-Jones) has been married to a ruler (Thierry Lhermitte) who wants many wives, but only one at a time. Consequently, as soon as he has bedded them, he has them put to death. In most retellings, the girl staves off this unfortunate conclusion by putting off the connubial event for a thousand and one nights, telling irresistable stories instead. In this one, she gets hold of a magic lamp and acquires a genie named Jimmy Genius (Gerard Jugnot) from the 20th century, who helps her escape and avoid recapture a thousand and one ways, by providing her with airplanes, cars, and other twentieth-century magical devices. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Thierry Lhermitte, Catherine Zeta-Jones, (more)
- 1989
This wickedly funny Italian comedy centers upon a lascivious, fun-loving old uncle who hands out blood-test certificates to potential lovers to prove that he is "clean" and wreaks all sorts of havoc when he must temporarily stay with his wealthy but emotionally constipated nephew. At first the nephew is appalled by his uncle's lust for wild-living, but in time he becomes utterly fascinated by the old man. Soon the previously staid young man finds himself drawn into his uncle's crazy life-style and begins learning the value of living life to the fullest. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Giancarlo Giannini, (more)
- 1987
In one popular Spanish-English dictionary, "picaro" is defined as "roguish; scheming, tricky; low, vile; mischievous," and when used as a noun it refers to a rogue, a schemer. Yet the word also harkens to the kinds of novels (picaresque) that came out of Spain in the 17th century, including Don Quixote, stories that recounted the wanderings of vagabonds of one kind or another. This film by the esteemed director Mario Monicelli is set in the 17th century and concerns the picaresque adventures of two amusing "picaros." Lazarillo and Guzman (Enrico Montesano and Giancarlo Giannini) first met when they were slaves rowing on a prison-galley ship, and they strike up a friendship based on their having endured similarly horrific childhoods. While escaping from the slave ship during a mutiny (they chose the wrong side) they narrowly escape drowning and are separated. Guzman becomes an impoverished Baron's (Vittorio Gassman) personal servant and puts his thieving ways to good use in that capacity, while Lazarillo joins an acting troupe. When they meet again, they immediately decide to pull off a con-job they call "the cannoli trick." ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Enrico Montesano, Giancarlo Giannini, (more)
- 1985
In a befuddling look at the nature of evil (apparently linked with how much money one has), a young idealist finds himself in hot water by sticking with his beliefs. Hubert (Benjamin Voelz) is studying theology supported by a grant from a weapons manufacturer (Vittorio Gassman) -- the first crack in the student's ideals. Next, after he saves his sponsor's wife Sylvie (Marie-Christine Barrault) from suicide, the two start an illicit affair -- the second crack. Finally, Sylvie gets pregnant and convinces Hubert to face her husband with the truth. Her secret motivation is to cause her husband's weak heart to give out so she can inherit his fortune. It does, and lo and behold, it is Hubert who inherits the fortune. Sylvie manages to connive a solution to her dilemma that eventually helps Hubert heal those cracks in his virtue but leaves him as penniless as the day is long. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marie-Christine Barrault, Vittorio Gassman, (more)
- 1985
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The vast differences 27 years makes between Italian comedy, the city of Rome, the stars in this film, and filmmaking itself are apparent in this 1985 sequel to the 1958 I Soliti Ignoti. Clips from the earlier film highlight the changes. Returning to reprise their roles are Marcello Mastroianni, Vittorio Gassman, and Tiberio Murgia. Tiberio (the character played by Mastroianni) has been released from jail, and he is unable to find work. Forced to reluctantly join up with the old gang leader Peppe (Gassman), Tiberio agrees to do a smuggling job when Peppe falls ill. Packing his vehicle with decoy passengers for the border guards, the run works well until everyone is heading back again -- then a series of misunderstandings lead to an unexpected turn of events and a mistaken killing. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marcello Mastroianni, Vittorio Gassman, (more)
- 1983
This complex French tale eschews a single linear narrative in favor of two parallel storylines that move freely between past and present, reality and fantasy, to chronicle a scandalous love affair between a female author and a certain man who may or may not be a fabrication and the attempts of a screenwriter, wanting to use the story for a film, to learn the truth. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fanny Ardant, Vittorio Gassman, (more)
- 1983
Loosely based on an historical character and his ennoblement by a Pope, Conte Tacchia relates the adventures of Checco (Enrico Montesano), an upbeat carpenter living at the beginning of the 20th century who is convinced that he is the illegitimate son of a local prince (Vittorio Gassman). Because of his fixation, Checco is nicknamed "Count Tacchia" for the wedge tacchia that a carpenter puts underneath the short leg on an unbalanced table. Checco tries to romance a young Duchess and soon becomes the brunt of cruel jokes by the aristocracy, but then King Humbert actually gives him the title of Count so Checco can fight a French swordsman in a duel to the death. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Enrico Montesano, Vittorio Gassman, (more)
Maxwell Smart, the infamous Agent 86 from the '60s television sitcom Get Smart makes his feature-film debut in this goofy espionage spoof. This time, Smart and his cohorts must stop enemy spies from detonating a bomb that would destroy all the world's clothing. On television, the film was renamed The Return of Maxwell Smart. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Adams, Sylvia Kristel, (more)
- 1979
Perhaps a little over-ambitious for the casual audience unfamiliar with the Italian world of entertainment and politics, La Terrazza involves a total of eight main protagonists and how they have changed or are changing. All eight are sitting on a terrace talking, while flashbacks and flashforwards fill in their past, present, and future relationships. Enrico (Jean-Louis Tritignant) is a burnt-out screenwriter, Amedeo (Ugo Tognazzi) is a self-made producer, Mario (Vittorio Gassman) is a communist member of parliament who is having an affair with the married Giovanna (Stefania Sandrelli) and is otherwise having a hard time trying to tow the tough, virtuous line the party demands. Giovanna, as well as the other women on the terrace, have all the spirit of people looking forward to the future while the men have been there and found it wanting. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ugo Tognazzi, Vittorio Gassman, (more)
- 1979
Dear Father and Dear Papa are the English-language titles for the Italian domestic drama Caro Papa. Vittorio Gassman plays a flint-hearted industrialist who thinks as little of destroying his business partner as he does of cheating on his wife. Gassman's son is an apparently weak-willed lad, who may or may not have become involved in the "Red Brigade". When Gassman learns that his son has been appointed to execute someone known only as "P", he assumes the victim is his ex-partner. Only as he is being gunned down does the industrialist realize that "P" stands for Papa. But that's not the end of Dear Father; there's still a viciously ironic coda before the final fade-out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Aurore Clément, (more)
- 1978
The two wandering minstrels Pippo (Vittorio Gassman) and Peppe (Philippe Noiret) have long been favorites in their Roman neighborhood, each separately contributing a musical accompaniment to the lives of its inhabitants. During a critical time some months previously, they had both had relations with the same woman. Tragically, she has just died in childbirth. The resulting baby boy belongs to one of them, but no one can decide who. At first prepared to fight over the boy's paternity (simultaneously dividing the neighborhood into factions), they agree to raise the boy together and call him Piripicchio. Over the following years, they lovingly teach him everything they know. However, when he reaches adulthood, like many before him, he shuns their ways and their world. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Philippe Noiret, (more)
- 1977
When the young would-be artist Tino arrives in Venice to live at the house of his uncle while he studies art, he soon discovers that his Austrian/Venetian uncle's house is packed with mystery -- there are abandoned rooms from which strange sounds emanate. Eventually, he is told that his uncle's insane brother is being kept in rooms on the top floor, and only Uncle Fabio (who is seldom home) is permitted to visit them. However, youth and curiosity impel him onward to even more discoveries. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Catherine Deneuve, (more)
- 1976
In this episodic anthology, written and directed by assorted Italian filmmakers, the political and social aspects of Italian life are chronicled. In one satirical episode, The Bomb, a bogus bomb threat at a police headquarters gradually balloons into a real terrorist plot culminating with the bombing of the police commissioner. Other episodes satirize the CIA, Christmas in Naples and pompous public officials. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
With fear and trepidation, the military division encamped in a desert fort await the return of a Tartar army--which attacked the fort years ago. One young soldier (Jacques Perrin), however, can't wait for the boredom to end and the fighting to begin. Ennio Morricone provided the musical score. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Giuliano Gemma, (more)
- 1975
This satirical comedy recounts a tale of love across class boundaries; the twist is that here a middle-class juror, Gabriella Sansoni (Claudia Cardinale), learns about love from the testimony of Tina Candela (Monica Vitti), a woman on trial for murder. It seems that Tina has found ecstasy in a masochistic fashion by being slapped around by her beloved husband Gino (Giancarlo Giannini). She is so persuasive in this regard that Gabriella lays out a plan to receive similar treatment from her man, Andrea (Vittorio Gassman). ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudia Cardinale, Vittorio Gassman, (more)
- 1975
Stefania Sandrelli, a bit player in Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita, stars in the deliberately Felliniesque comedy We All Loved Each Other So Much. Sandrelli plays the longtime object of three friends' affections. The film traces the interrelationships of those friends-Vittorio Gassman, Nino Manfredi and Satta Flores-over a period of thirty years, beginning with their involvement in the wartime Resistance. In addition to freely quoting from La Dolce Vita, director Ettore Scola also calculatedly evokes memories of Fellini's I Vitteloni. As a bonus, the film offers affectionate homages to several other neorealist filmmakers, including Rossellini and de Sica. We All Loved Each Other So Much was originally released as C'erevamo tanto amati. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nino Manfredi, Vittorio Gassman, (more)
- 1974
Before Al Pacino ever picked up a blind man's cane in the 1992 production of Scent of A Woman, Vittorio Gassman played a blind army captain in the 1974 Italian film Profumo di Donna, based on a novel by Giovanni Arpino. The earlier film unquestionably inspired the later one, though they differ significantly. The Captain, accompanied by Ciccio (Alessandro Momo), who has been assigned to him by the army, is on his way from Turin to Naples to meet with an army compatriot who was also disfigured in the same military incident. Unknown to his aide, the Captain means to fulfill a suicide pact there. While they journey, the captain asks Ciccio to help him spot beautiful women. Unsatisfied with the boy's descriptions, he uses his nose instead, claiming that he can smell a beautiful woman. The dashing blind military man enjoys considerable success with women. During their journey, he carries with him a picture of his beloved Sara (Agostina Belli), whom he could not bear to have see him disfigured and helpless. The suicide pact is eventually thwarted, Sara enters the picture, and the boy Ciccio does some much-needed growing up. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Alessandro Momo, (more)
