Vito Scotti Movies
American character actor Vito Scotti may not be the living legend as described by his publicity packet, but he has certainly been one of the most familiar faces to bob up on small and large screens in the last five decades. Scotti's father was a vaudeville impresario, and his mother an opera singer; in fact, he was born while his mother was making a personal appearance in San Francisco. Launching his own career at seven with an Italian-language commedia del arte troupe in New York, Scotti picked up enough improvisational knowhow to develop a nightclub act. When the once-flourishing Italian theatre circuit began to fade after World War II, Scotti began auditioning for every job that came up -- whether he could do the job or not. Without his trademarked mustache, the diminuitive actor looked like a juvenile well into his thirties, and as such was cast in a supporting role as a timorous East Indian on the "Gunga Ram" segment of the '50s TV kiddie series Andy's Gang. Once the producers discovered that Scotti had mastered several foreign dialects, he was allowed to appear as a comic foil to Andy's Gang's resident puppet Froggy the Gremlin. In nighttime television, Scotti played everything from a murderous bank robber (on Steve Canyon) to a misplaced Japanese sub commander (on Gilligan's Island). He was indispensable to TV sitcoms: Scotti starred during the 1954 season of Life with Luigi (replacing J. Carroll Naish), then appeared as gesticulating Latin types in a score of comedy programs, notably The Dick Van Dyke Show (as eccentric Italian housepainter Vito Giotto) and The Flying Nun (as ever-suspicious Puerto Rican police captain Gaspar Fomento). In theatrical films, Scotti's appearances were brief but memorable. he is always greeted with appreciative audience laughter for his tiny bit as a restauranteur in The Godfather (1972); while in How Sweet it Is (1968) he is hilarious as a moonstruck chef, so overcome by the sight of bikini-clad Debbie Reynolds that he begins kissing her navel! Vito Scotti was still essaying dialect parts into the '90s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1995
This "very special" episode goes back in time to recount the hectic three months leading up to the wedding of Paul (Paul Reiser) and Jamie (Helen Hunt). Last minute complications include a call from Aunt Selma, a tiff over Incan gifts, and a detour to a manhole. And wait till you see who performs the ceremony (hint: Julia Roberts is not among the guests). Originally telecast in a single hour-long time slot, this episode has since been divided into two half-hour installments for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
This "very special" episode goes back in time to recount the hectic three months leading up to the wedding of Paul (Paul Reiser) and Jamie (Helen Hunt). Among other matters of importance, the couple must decide upon the appropriate nuptial music: "Color My World," "Alley Cat," or "The Hokey Pokey"? Originally telecast in a single hour-long time slot, this episode has since been divided into two half-hour installments for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this comedy, a wealthy teen convinces a burglar to kidnap him so he can get his family's wayward attention. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Young, Martin Sheen, (more)
- 1989
Columbo: Murder, A Self Portrait stars Patrick Bauchau as an artist hounded by a contentious ex-wife (Fionulla Flanagan). He murders his former spouse on the beach at Malibu, but arranges things to make it seem he was far away in his art studio at the time of the killing. Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk) has heard this song before, and he meticulously chips away at the artist's alibi. Also in the cast is Shera Danese, a.k.a. Mrs. Peter Falk. Murder, A Self Portrait was one of the handful of Columbo 2-hour episodes shown during the 1989-1990 season on The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
Blood Feud was a two-part TV drama, originally presented as an "Operation Prime Time" special. Robert Blake is disturbingly convincing as labor leader Jimmy Hoffa, engaged in a decade-long war of words with attorney (and later attorney general) Robert F. Kennedy. Cotter Smith makes his TV debut as Kennedy, a role he'd repeat on future occasions. Thoroughly compelling when sticking to the facts, the drama falls apart whenever indulging in flight of fanciful speculation (Sample: two of Hoffa's lieutenants watch the live telecast of Lee Harvey Oswald's murder, then celebrate the fact that Oswald will never be able to reveal their complicity in the JFK assassination!) Blood Feud was syndicated to local TV stations beginning April 24, 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Blake, Cotter Smith, (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)
- 1980
Based on the kind, generous puppetmaker from Pinocchio, Geppetto's Music Shop is an endearing children's film where Geppetto gathers the local children in his house to tell the great stories in children's literature, which are all presented in animated form. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
The Big Bus is set aboard a nonstop, nuclear-powered luxury bus commandeered by Joseph Bologna. Naturally, Bologna is a tortured hero with a deep dark secret (he keeps insisting he didn't eat all those passengers on his last disastrous drive). Stockard Channing and Harold Gould play the designers of the big bus, and of course they have a few skeletons in their closet. In fact, there isn't a passenger on the all-star manifest that isn't hiding something. The supporting cast features contributions by René Auberjonois (parodying his M*A*S*H role), Ned Beatty, José Ferrer, Ruth Gordon (doing a devastating send-up of Airport's Helen Hayes), Sally Kellerman, Richard Mulligan, and many others; Murphy Dunne contributes a memorable bit as a smarmy cocktail pianist. Unfortunately, The Big Bus was dumped onto the summer 1976 release schedule without fanfare by Paramount, and it sank without a trace. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joseph Bologna, Stockard Channing, (more)
- 1975
The Queen is a luxury cruise ship, "played" by the Queen Mary in this made-for-TV thriller. The villain has it in for one of the ship's millionaire passengers. Accordingly, he (or she-we're not telling) plans to destroy the vessel and everyone on board. The producer of this all-star disasterfest was-drum roll, please-Irwin Allen. TV movie "regulars" John Gay and David Lowell Rich served as scripter and director, respectively, for Adventures of the Queen, which first sailed into American homes on February 14, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
In this comedy, a retired Navy cook lives his dreams. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Dick Van Patten guest stars as Harry Curtis, a lovable drunk whose hilarious wisecracks have arresting officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) in stitches. What isn't so funny is the desperation which Harry is hiding under his clownish veneer--in fact, it can be said that he's laughing to keep from crying. Perhaps inevitably, this story ends on a somber note...and need we add, no one feels like laughing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Part One of the two-part Flying Nun episode "Great Casino Robbery" first aired on January 30, 1969. Alan Hale Jr. guest-stars as Sr. Bertrille's lovably larcenous Uncle Reggie, who goes to work at Carlos Ramirez' casino. Reggie's fast-and-loose relationship with honesty inadvertenly paves the way for a full-scale robbery committed by professional thief Faye (Ruta Lee)-a heist for which the nuns of San Tanco will be blamed. "Great Casino Robbery" was written by Michael Morris. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Mark (Don Mitchell) comes face to face with the Blue Berets, a group of Chicano dropouts turned freedom fighters. The leader of the group is Manolo Rodriguez (played by former UCLA drama student A Martinez in his first important TV role), who is determined to fight for the rights of his people--even if it means using a cache of stolen weapons to back up his rhetoric. Should Ironside (Raymond Burr) arrest the Blue Berets on a charge of conspiracy to commit treason, or should he wait the group out until wiser heads prevail? (Intriguingly, the word "machismo" was so little known in 1969 that the original TV Guide synopsis for this episode had to provide a definition!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Vito Scotti guest stars as peace-loving Italian officer Major Bonacelli, a role originated by Hans Conried in the first-season episode "The Pizza Parlor." Now working undercover for the Allies -- and for Hogan -- Bonacelli wants to chuck it all and escape to Switzerland. Hogan must persuade the Major to go on one final mission: photograph a top-secret German anti-aircraft base. Written by Arthur Julian, "The Return of Major Bonacelli" first aired on March 15, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer, (more)
- 1969
The nuns of San Tanco busy themselves arranging a surprise party for one of the convent orphans. Police Captain Fomento gets wind of the preparations, and mistakenly believes that the party is being thrown for him. To avoid yet another incident with the prickly Fomento, Sr. Bertrille has to do some quick thinking and high flying. Written by Arthur Alsberg, "Happy Birthday, Dear Gaspar" was originally telecast on March 13, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In the conclusion of the two-part "Great Casino Robbery," Sr. Bertrille and her light-fingered Uncle Reggie (Alan Hale Jr.) are accused of masterminded a heist at Carlos Ramirez' casino. Meanwhile, the genuine thief, a brassy blonde named Faye (Ruta Lee), is hiding in Convent San Tanco, posing as one Sister Mary Grace. Sr. Bertrille must figure out a way to escape jail without arousing the suspicions of the diligent-and dimwitted-Police Captain Fomento. Written by Michael Morris, Part Two of "Great Casino Robbery" first aired on February 6, 1969, at which time The Flying Nun switched its Thursday-night timeslot from 8:00 PM EST to 7:30 PM. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
The title character in this episode of The Flying Nun is a light-fingered monkey. When valuable items turn up missing, Police Captain Fomento suspects the nuns of Convent San Tanco. Unaware of the simian's larcenous streak, the nuns think that Sr. Bertrille is the thief. First telecast on February 20, 1969, "The Kleptomaniac" was written by Sam Locke and Joel M. Rapp, and directed by radio's former "Henry Aldrich", Ezra Stone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Facing eviction, the nuns are compelled to accept landlord Moreno (Ivor Francis) as their house guest. Doubting Moreno's claims that he is penniless, Police Captain Fomento works overtime to prove that the troublesome landlord is a crook. Meanwhile, Sr. Bertrille tries to dissuade the present owners of the San Tanco land from tearing down the convent. First broadcast on January 2, 1969, "The Landlord Cometh" was written by Frank Crow and Searle Kramer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Michael Constantine guest-stars as Juan, a compulsive-and monumentally unlucky-gambler. A sudden upsurge in his fortunes convinces Juan that Sr. Bertrille is his good luck charm. As usual, one thing leads to another, and both the gambler and the nun (what, no radio?) nearly end up facing a stiff prison term. Originally telecast on February 1, 1968, "Sister Lucky" was written by Gene Thompson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
This World War II comedy finds Harry Frigg (Paul Newman) as the unwilling volunteer slated to rescue five generals from the clutches of the Germans and Italians. Frigg would rather spend his time goofing off than fighting the war, but his superiors make him a fake general and pack him off to retrieve the top brass. He has a romantic interest in the Countess (Sylva Koscina), an Italian beauty who helps Harry locate the missing officers. Tom Bosley, Andrew Duggan, Charles D. Gray, Jacques Roux and John Williams are the five generals who carry most of the comedy. Normal Fell and Buck Henry excel in small roles as well. General Prentiss (James Gregory) is the brains behind the plan that finds the frustrated Frigg rise to the occasion when he reluctantly accepts his assignment. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Newman, Sylva Koscina, (more)
- 1968
Vito Scotti makes his first appearance on The Flying Nun as relentless-and relentlessly stupid-Police Captain Fomento. Establishing a pattern for all future episodes, Fomento is convinced that the Convent San Tanco is running an illegal gambling operation when, attending a charity bazaar, he loses 25 dollars-and a box of fudge--on a wheel-of-fortune donated by casino owner Carlos Ramirez. In the course of his investigation, the good Captain manages to make Inspector Clouseau look like Columbo in comparison. Written by Arthur Julian, "The Crooked Convent" first aired on October 3, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Sr. Bertrille tries to patch up the romance between a Jewish couple. The crux of the breakup is the man's chronic gambling, prompting our heroine to use her wiles-and her flying skills-to recover his lost money. Harold Gould guest-stars as Rabbi Mendez, while Vito Scotti officially becomes a series regular in the role of anal-retentive Captain Fomento. First telecast October 10, 1968, "The Rabbi and the Nun" was written by Michael Morris. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Doltishly diligent Police Captain Fomento once again thinks he has sniffed out illegal activities at Convent San Tanco. This time, he goes after the nuns for selling old clothes without a permit, then slaps a summons on casino owner Carlos Ramirez for protecting a gang of ash-tray thieves! To make sure that Carlos doesn't leave the island in disgust, Sr. Bertrille hoodwinks Fomento into condemning the Convent building. Originally broadcast on October 24, 1968, "This Convent is Condemned" was written by Arthur Julian. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Two parents worry about the feelings of their love-struck teenage son in this engaging romantic comedy. Grif (James Garner) and wife Jenny (Debbie Reynolds) are concerned about their son Davey (Donald Losby). When his girlfriend is slated for a tour of Europe, the teenage boy is heartbroken. Grif, a photographer by trade, draws the assignment as a photo journalist to cover the girl's tour. Jenny is swindled by Mr. Tilly (Terry-Thomas) who takes her money as rent payment on a Riviera villa. The house is owned by a French playboy who allows the pretty mom to stay. Comedy ensues when a jealous Grif discovers wife Jenny in a bikini given to her by the amorous Frenchman. Prolific songwriter Jimmy Webb provides the music for this feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Garner, Debbie Reynolds, (more)
The Monkees -- Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith, Davy Jones and Peter Tork -- didn't really enjoy being labelled the Prefab Four back when their TV series was all the rage in 1966. With the help and support of Bob Rafaelson (co-producer, co-writer and director) and Jack Nicholson (co-producer, co-writer, and, if you look closely, bit player), the Monkees expressed their displeasure over being packaged for popular consumption in the non sequitur masterpiece Head. At least, it seems that the film is an indictment of the merchandising of pop stars. It's hard to tell at times, because Head literally has no plot; it is instead a patchwork of loopy sight gags, instant parodies, "camp" cutups, musical numbers and wry inside jokes. Clips of such old movies as the 1934 Karloff-Lugosi epic The Black Cat pop up every so often, as does an impressive lineup of pop-culture icons: Victor Mature, Annette Funicello, Sonny Liston, Frank Zappa (he's the one leading a cow) and Ray Nitschke, as well as such movie-trivia "answers" as Timothy Carey, Vito Scotti, Teri Garr, Percy Helton, Logan Ramsey, Carol Doda, and pre-Divine cross-dresser T.C. Jones. The best bits include a lengthy Golden Boy parody which does double duty as a lampoon of the network's efforts to create "personalities" for the individual Monkees, and a psychedelic buck-and-wing performed by Davy Jones. One gag, in which Micky Dolenz blows up a Coca Cola machine, is usually excised from TV showings. Head did zero business when it first came out thanks to poor distribution, but it has since become a fixture of midnight-movie showings and campus cinema classes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Tork, Davy Jones, (more)
