Ruggero Maccari Movies

A family history is recalled by the venerable patriarch Carlo (Vittorio Gassman) as he prepares to celebrate his 80th birthday. Young Carlo (Andrea Massimo) marries Beatrice (Stefania Sandrelli) in 1926 but later has an illicit affair with her bohemian artist sister Adriana (Fanny Ardant). Fascism, World War II, and the raising of children and grandchildren mark the passing of a lifetime. Old Carlo lives with his grandson where his recollections are interrupted by the gentle nagging of his beloved Beatrice. This feature received an Oscar nomination in 1987 for "Best Foreign Film." ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

A unique look at the history of 20th century France as illustrated in popular culture, Le Bal is set in a Parisian dance hall and features no narrative, no dialogue, and no continuous characters. The film moves from one dance number to the next, as the music reflects the political and cultural tenor of the times, from the Popular Front of 1936 to the German Occupation of World War II, on to the breezy openness of the post-war era and the open rebellion and turmoil of May 1968, and finally closing in the early 1980s. A troupe of dancers portrays all the film's characters, with make-up and costume changes (as well as appropriate period music) indicating the different time periods. Directed by Ettore Scola, Le Bal was based on a stage production that was a great success in Europe. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A large international cast takes part in this comedy in which the stories of numerous individuals whose cars are stalled in a massive Roman traffic jam are told. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

In this anthology made up of three shorter comedies, Ugo Tognazzi, Paolo Villaggio and Alberto Sordi each bring their own special brand of humor to the screen. In "Saro Tutta Per Te" (I Will Be All Yours), Tognazzi is Enrico, a dentist who has agreed to vacation with his ex-wife at her lover's villa. All he really wants to do is take her to bed one more time, but he is consistently interrupted in his attempts by the arrival of yet more guests. In "Si Buana" (Yes, Buana), Villaggio is Wilson, a man in charge of a group of tourists in Kenya. One of this segment's highlights is the outspoken homesickness of his "native" black guide for the beauties of his homeland -- Rome. In the final episode, "La Vacanze Intelligenti" (Intelligent Vacation), Alberto Sordi is Remo, a greengrocer who, along with his wife, gets sent on a vacation by their well-meaning children who want to "improve" their parents' minds by sending them off to see Etruscan tombs, hear performances of atonal modern music, and appreciate the wonders of avant-garde modern art. In one of the most amusing vignettes, they see an art exhibit consisting of an enclosure filled with sheep with purple spots painted on their backs. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

The film is set during the late 1930s: the occasion is the first meeting between Mussolini and Hitler. Left alone in her tenement home when her fascist husband runs off to attend the historic event, Sophia Loren strikes up a friendship with her homosexual neighbor Mastroianni. As the day segues into night, Loreon and Mastroianni develop a very special relationship that will radically alter both of their outlooks on life. Beyond the "sensational" aspect of virile Marcello Mastoianni playing a gay character, A Special Day garnered a great deal of American attention when the stars promoted the film on the very first installment of PBS's Dick Cavett Show (that's the one in which Mastroianni might have said the F-word). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Down & Dirty was originally titled Brutti, sporchi e cativi in Italy. That translates literally to "dirty, nasty and bad", in reference to the lower-class characters and surroundings in this Ettore Scola film. Scola zeroes in on a particularly offensive Roman family. The stingy patriarch, Nino Manfredi, is personally wealthy but morally bankrupt, and his repulsive view of life trickles down to every member of his clan. Not content with corrupting his own flesh and blood, Manfredi spreads his philosophy throughout his village, where he functions as slumlord. By the time Manfredi's wife and sons begin plotting his murder, the audience is ready for a long, cold shower, with plenty of soap. A bleak film heavily laden with humor, Down & Dirty won Ettore Scola a Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

During World War II, American USO tours gave new life to Italy's native music-hall performers, as it gave them a livelier venue for entertaining both the local population and the incoming soldiers. This Italian film, starring Alberto Sordi and Monica Vitti, tells the story of two such performers, their ambitions and their struggles. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

An obsession with fame leads to life in prison for the window-washer in this Italian farce/satire. Biagio Solise (Giancarlo Giannini) loves working on the windows of the skyscrapers high above Milan but feels overwhelmed on the ground by the tumult and pressure of the crowded streets. He makes some surplus money working as an extra at the La Scala opera house. When a famous diva is murdered, he decides that he wants to be the one who is convicted for the crime; it will make him famous. Though he is innocent of the crime, his frantic improvisations lay a trail for the police that eventually leads to his imprisonment. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

In this Italian film set in the U.S., Marcello Mastrioanni stars as sweet-natured Sicilian immigrant Rocco, a former boxing champion. In the story, he comes to Chicago with a friend to see a boxing match. After the match, his friend leaves him alone in the town, and Rocco grows more and more frustrated at the cold and aloof city dwellers he meets. He finally finds people he can talk to among the city's homeless and derelicts. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni star in this Italian comedy. The story begins with Loren as Valerie, a woman whose suicide attempt, prompted by a romantic disappointment, is thwarted by Don Mario (Mastroianni), a priest whom she called before she lost consciousness. She immediately falls in love with the priest. He is much taken with her beauty and considers asking for a dispensation to marry her, which encourages her greatly. The priest asks for advice, which ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous (castration). Meanwhile, he is promoted to be a Monsignor. At the same time, Valerie learns that she is pregnant, though it is not clear who the father is. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Pepe (Ugo Tognazzi) is the progressive chief of police in a small Italian town. Using his brains instead of his gun, his investigations net far more results than the traditional cops. Most of his inquiries involve arresting prostitutes and orgy organizers and halting gay and Lesbian lechers from adding helpless victims to their list of amorous conquests. The power structure soon becomes concerned over the success of his unconventional methods and tries to stall the cases in the judicial process. Most of the situations are taken from actual news events and police reports in Italy for this comedy satire. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

This situation comedy finds a chauffeur taking the rap for his wealthy industrialist boss for a traffic accident. To add injury to insult, the driver discovers on his wedding night that he is married to his boss' mistress as well. Oscar (Ugo Tognazzi) is the little man caught in a world of high-powered moguls who can buy their way out of any problem. Oscar takes the fall and while already doing time, he receives another prison sentence for involvement in a shipbuilding scam. He also discovers to his chagrin that his wife and his boss are expecting a child together in this satire of the rich and privileged elite versus the common man. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

A bachelor attorney with a roving eye for beautiful women stets his sights on a 17-year-old student for his next amorous conquest. He meets with her parents, an economically troubled couple who soon give their consent for the couple to date. Using an engagement ring as an enticing lure to initiate sex, the lawyer gets more than he bargained for with the wily female who is wise far beyond her years. The tables are turned on the lawyer as she withholds her affections, feigns a pregnancy and ends up holding all the cards in the relationship with the older, "more experienced" attorney. Comedy relief is provided by the man's gay houseboy who engages in his own sexual escapades in this situation comedy of love, lust and desire. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide