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
The inept Ensign Garland (Robert Morse) battles a trio of jewel thieves in this Walt Disney comedy. Garland starts by spilling paint on the lovely Kate Fairchild (Stephanie Powers). Harry (Phil Silvers), Max (Norman Fell) and Charlie (Mickey Shaughnessy) try to recover the jewels accidentally dumped by Garland into a picnic basket. Garland's superior is Commander Taylor (Don Ameche), who hounds the harried ensign for being a constant bumbler. Jason Bennett (Wally Cox) is the playboy who has replaced his yacht engine with a wine cellar. Character actors Joe E. Ross and Al Lewis witness the sight gags and react to the seafaring shenanigans. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Morse, Stefanie Powers, (more)
- 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
Goldie Hawn won an Oscar for her performance as a Greenwich Village free spirit in Cactus Flower. Middle-aged dentist Winston (Walter Matthau) is enjoying an affair with Toni (Goldie Hawn) but doesn't want to be hemmed in by marriage. He prevails upon his non-glamorous assistant Stephanie (Ingrid Bergman) to pose as his wife so as to keep from campaigning for a ring. Then, to justify his "infidelity," Winston talks his pal (Jack Weston) into pretending to be Stephanie's illicit lover. Flattered by all the attention, Stephanie begins to "doll up." Confronted by a newly gorgeous Stephanie, Winston realizes that his Dream Girl has been right there in his office all along. As for Toni, she ends up in the arms of a writer (Rick Lenz), who has loved her since Reel One. Cactus Flower was adapted by Billy Wilder's frequent collaborator I.A.L. Diamond from the play by Abe Burrows -- which in turn was adapted from a French farce. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman, (more)
- 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)
- 1968
Ever anxious to pounce upon potential lawbreakers, Police Captain Fomento installs parking meters near Convent San Tanco. When the meters yield an abundance of marked coins previously in his possession, Fomento suspects the nuns of ripping him off. "Slightly Hot Parking Meters" was written by Elroy Schwartz and directed by Claudio Guzman, both veterans of another fanciful Screen Gems sitcom, I Dream of Jeannie. The episode first aired on December 12, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Sr. Bertrille adopts two bird eggs, accidentally breaking a musty old law which is rigidly enforced by bean-counting Police Captain Fomento. Meanwhile, Carlos tries to escape an angry former flame (Diana Herbert Markes). And to make matters even worse, Fomento is bound and determined to capture an invading "space alien" (Sr. Bertrille, of course). Written by Bruce Howard, "Two Bad Eggs" was first hatched by ABC on November 14, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
In the absence of the other nuns, Sr. Betrille nervously holds down the fort at Convent San Tanco all by herself. Meanwhile, Police Captain Fomento dogged pursues fugitive criminal Ignacio Ferrente (Cliff Osmond). Inevitably, once Fomento has left the premises Ferrente takes refuge in the convent, terrorizing Sr. Bertrille and a sick child left in her care. First shown on November 21, 1968, "All Alone by the Convent Phone" was written by Michael Morris. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Season two of The Flying Nun finds spunky Sister Bertrille (Sally Field), who takes flight whenever the winds are strong, struggling to remain earthbound while going about her duties at Convent San Tanco in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Carried over from the previous season are such supporting characters as local discotheque owner Carlos Ramirez (Alejandro Rey), who despite his hedonistic lifestyle in the convent's most devoted patron; Reverend Mother Plaseato (Marge Redmond), who fears that calamity will befall the convent should word of Sr. Bertrille's aerial skills be made public; Sister Jacqueline (Madeleine Sherwood) the good-humored liaison between the Reverend Mother and the younger nuns; and Sister Sixto (Shelley Morrison), still fracturing the English language with innocent abandon. Adding a bit a curry to the proceedings this season is Vito Scotti in the role of Police Captain Gasper Fomento. Inexplicably, Fomento is convinced that the nuns of San Tanco are involved in criminal activities, and he goes to great and ridiculous lengths to "expose" them -- only to be hilariously humiliated time after time, usually by the resourceful Sr. Bertrille. Don Diamond makes sporadic appearances as Fomento's long-suffering second in command, Chief Galindo. The best of the second-season episodes include "Song of Bertrille," highlighted by the musical talents of former Donna Reed Show regular Paul Petersen and the Sundowners; "The Return of Father Lundigan," with Paul Lynde taking over from John Astin in the role of a psychiatrist-priest whose nervous encounters with the Flying Nun are always good for a few laughs; "Slightly Hot Parking Meters," the apotheosis of Captain Fomento's tireless efforts to throw the nuns in the hoosegow; the two-part "Great Casino Robbery," featuring Gilligan's Island escapee Alan Hale Jr. as Sr. Bertrille's ne'er-do-well uncle; "The Boyfriend," with Dwayne Hickman of Dobie Gillis fame as the boy who courted Sr. Bertrille back when she was still Elsie Ethrington; and "The Kleptomonkeyac," the series' obligatory "funny chimp" episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sally Field, Marge Redmond, (more)
LAPD detective Sgt. Tom Valens (David Janssen) is a ten-year veteran of the force who has had more than his share of hard luck lately -- his marriage is a wreck, and he hasn't fully recovered from a serious wound suffered in the line of duty a year ago. He and his partner, Sgt. Ed Musso (Keenan Wynn), are working a stakeout one night at the Seascape Apartments, in hope of catching a killer who has already claimed three victims in that part of the city, when he confronts a man seemingly trying to sneak off the premises. The man tries to run, stops when ordered but starts to pull a gun, and Valens shoots him dead. The deceased turns out to be Dr. James B. Ruston, a well-known humanitarian and pillar of the community -- worse yet, the police can't find any trace of the gun Valens says he saw Ruston pull. Valens' nightmare builds gradually, as he's first assigned to a desk, then hung out to dry by an indifferent coroner (Carroll O'Connor) at an inquest, suspended from the force, and then indicted for manslaughter by a crusading prosecutor (Sam Wanamaker) with a personal ax to grind. Villified in the press and by protesters in the street, Valens has few even slightly sympathetic ears around him -- his partner, his captain (Ed Begley Sr.), and his soon-to-be-ex-wife (Joan Collins) -- and even fewer allies. The one attorney (Walter Pidgeon) with enough juice to fight the case on an even footing with the DA says he would only plead him guilty and try for a deal, based on his understanding of the law and of juries; and the one public pundit (Steve Allen) who takes his part is doing so for the most cynical of reasons. Valens realizes that the only way to save himself is to first prove that the so-called victim wasn't quite the candidate for sainthood that he seemed -- why did he run? -- and to find the missing gun. To do all of that, he's got to confront the victim's aggrieved patients (Lillian Gish), his alcoholic widow (Eleanor Parker), and his employees (Stefanie Powers), all of whom have every reason to hate Valens. He starts to dig into the doctor's finances and finds some anomalies that no one can explain (or wants to look at -- they'd rather hang Valens), and as he puts together the pieces of the puzzle, helped by a sympathetic tenant at Seascape (George Grizzard), Valens finds himself pursued by the doctor's thug of son and his friends with mayhem on their minds -- and someone else with a deadlier agenda. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Janssen, Ed Begley, Sr., (more)
- 1967
Career bank robber Peter Churchman Stephen Boyd plans to retire from his life of crime and live the good life in this uninspired crime thriller. He is blackmailed by Angela Tresler Giovanna Ralli into pulling off one last heist of some precious jewels located in the bank in Pamplona, Spain. Peter and three accomplices must steal the jewels during the annual running of the bulls. The festival atmosphere will hopefully allow them to pull off the crime, but the bank is located directly across the street from the local police station. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Boyd, Yvette Mimieux, (more)
- 1967
Peter stumbles onto a plot to kidnap distinguished nuclear scientist Professor Schnitzler (Norbert Schiller). Attempting to rescue the victim, Peter is himself kidnapped and spirited away to a sinister rest home run by the mad Dr. Markovich (Vito Scotti). Vincent Gardenia also appears as Markovich's henchman Bruno. Song: "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone". Written by Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso, "Case of the Missing Monkee" first aired on January 9, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
The Perils of Pauline appropriates the title and nothing else from the legendary 1914 Pearl White serial (and also bears no relation to the 1947 Pearl White biopic of the same name, which starred Betty Hutton). Pamela Austin plays Pauline, a young heiress who finds herself plunked into one peril after another: a typical dilemma has Pauline at the mercy of an adolescent sheik. Pat Boone plays Pauline's millionaire childhood sweetheart, who follows the girl throughout the world to declare his love but who always manages to miss her as she hops from country to country. The best performances are delivered by the supporting cast, including Terry-Thomas, Edward Everett Horton, and comic actor/cartoon voice-over expert Hamilton Camp. "Camp" in fact is the byword of Perils of Pauline, which is deliberately overacted and hoked up in the manner of the contemporary Batman TV series. Perils of Pauline was the pilot film for a projected weekly TV series that underwent several format changes (including one that would have featured Larry Storch as the top-hatted villain) before the producers gave up on the project altogether. The plucky Pauline is played by Pamela Austin, who'd risen to fame in the 1960s as the "Dodge Rebellion" girl in a series of popular car commercials. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pat Boone, Terry-Thomas, (more)
- 1966
Vito Scotti, Jamie Farr, Francesca Bellini, and Argentina Brunetti guest-star as a band of gypsies who bring their caravan into Mayberry. Correctly assuming that the visitors are less than honest, Andy tells them to leave, whereupon the gypsies place a curse on Mayberry, threatening to create a drought. Armed with "inside" weather information courtesy of a well-hidden shortwave radio, the gypsies are able to coerce the gullible townsfolk into allowing them to stay-but Andy is not quite so easily hoodwinked. Written by Roland MacLane, this episode originally aired on February 21, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
