Rodolfo Sonego Movies

An elderly Roman cabbie bids adieu to his beloved horse in this tearful drama. Gaetano and Nestor, his horse, have always enjoyed squiring the tourists around Rome. But then the owner of the cab tells Gaetano that he is fired. The poor old man is ordered to return the cab in Cinecitta and to take Nestor to the slaughterhouse. He is then to get to an old-folks home. Gaetano goes along initially, but then suddenly rebels. He and Nestor go out looking for a better ending. Unfortunately they are doomed before they start. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

The murder of a millionaire has unexpectedly humorous results in this farcical comedy. When Phoebe (Sean Young) and Julian (Richard Lewis), two Americans on a tour of Europe, discover a lost dachshund, they learn that a $5,000 reward has been posted for the dog's return. Phoebe and Julian head to Monte Carlo to return the pet and claim the money, but they find that the dog's owner has been murdered -- and suddenly, they're suspects in the killing. As hapless detective Inspector Bonnard (Giancarlo Giannini) investigates the crime (imagining that the maid and butler must somehow be involved), he grills several other American tourists he believes are likely suspects, including gambling addict Augie Morosco (John Candy) and loud-mouthed suburbanites Neil and Marilyn Schwary (James Belushi and Cybil Shepherd). George Hamilton appears as an unusually opportunistic gigolo; former SCTV star Eugene Levy directed. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Since Moliere's plays are national classics of France, an air of reverence surrounds them. However, they are for the most part comedies based on older commedia del'arte storylines and acting conventions (which most closely resemble the broad humor of the American vaudeville or the British music halls). Moliere's big innovation was to give the stock characters from these ancient themes an actual script to follow, rather than leaving them to improvise their own lines. His lines were usually much, much wittier. Otherwise, these tales are every bit as farcical (and sometimes slapstick) as anything from The Three Stooges or, for that matter, the classical farces of Plautus. However, when the actors ham it up in their parts too much, eyebrows are raised. This multinational production of Moliere's classic L'Avare, or The Miser is an excellent case in point. The lead role of Arpagone, the miser, is played exhuberantly by Alberto Sordi, who for years has traded (on and off the stage) on his pinched, miserly appearance and his romantic skittishness - somewhat akin to the shtik perfected by Jack Benny in the U.S. These characteristics also fit the role to a "T." In the story, the miserly widower is trying to arrange things for the maximum safety of his funds and to prevent his children from doing something stupid, like marrying poor people. In the meantime, his well-known wealth has made him the target of sinister matrimonial designs by the murderous sister of a powerful cardinal. He decides to find a suitable bride for himself to stave off this unhappy prospect, and at the same time arrange good marriages for his son and daughter (who have other people in mind). A triple wedding will cost little more than a single one, and will save him lots of money. Needless to say, everything goes wrong (and finally goes right) in this romantic farce. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

The Italian comic Carlo Verdone stars in (and directs and co-authors) this conventional, and unevenly humorous look at Oscar (Verdone), the neighborhood wannabe jock and biker who tries to land a part in a movie. After he is rejected, Oscar exacts revenge by causing a car crash that the producer's insurance has to cover. His plan backfires when the American actress in the film gets canned as a result (she was in the car), and moves in with him until her husband can come from Texas and bring her home. In the meantime, Oscar starts to take a shine to the woman -- even though his phone bills are beginning to take on the size of Texas as Nancy keeps dialing up her husband. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

In this take-off on Italian corruption, the indefatigable Alberto Sordi appears as Annibalo Salvemini, a morally upright and slightly eccentric judge determined to root out the causes of crime in his jurisdiction, even if the criminals lead all the way up to the highest echelons of political, corporate, and social power. His archenemy is Corrado Emilio Parisi (Joe Pesci), a crime boss who manipulates his minions and those who owe him favors like a puppeteer pulling the strings of his marionettes. Italian viewers will spot the many allusions to people in power and/or in the news with little difficulty, which may account for a twisted ending that lets most of the "accused" off the hook. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Two men (Alberto Sordi and Carlo Verdone) representing two different generations of Italian comics team up to present a swinging father (Sordi) and naïve son (Verdone) on a trip to a seaside haven where the father's mistress awaits. The first stop on their itinerary is the mother's house, shared by her "significant other," a television scriptwriter. Continuing on through gorgeous seaside vistas and several minor adventures, the mismatched father-son pair finally reach the mistress's house. At that point, the father has just about given up trying to teach his innocent son about sex because he seems hopelessly disinterested -- or so it seems. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Amedeo and Ofelia (Ugo Tognazzi and Mariangela Melato) own an old, fairly unprofitable apartment house in Rome. Someone has offered to buy the property for redevelopment for a lot of money, but only if the building has no tenants. Since six of its apartments are currently in use, Amedio and Ofelia decide to find ways to get every one of them emptied. In this antic comedy, they manage to blackmail a priest-tenant and have almost half the remainder arrested for crimes ranging from drug-trafficking to prostitution. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

A comeback film of sorts for director Marco Vicario, Mogliamante stars Laura Antonelli as the wife of political activist Marcello Mastrioanni. When her husband has to go into hiding from the authorities, Laura consoles herself by going through his private papers. Curiously, discovering the length and breadth of Mastrioanni's activities-including his extramarital affairs--sparks a sexual reawakening in his wife. More curious is the personality change undergone by Laura: formerly meek and subservient, she literally "becomes" her firebrand husband in his absence. As for Mastrioanni, once his role in life has been usurped, he is reduced to little more than a sidelines observer. This diverting domestic drama was also issued under the titles Wifemistress and Lover, Wife. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Among the spice plantations of Columbia are to be found any number of abused peasant farmers. Normally, the great landlords expect the church to support them and at the same time keep the natives quiet. In this Italian family comedy, the ruthless spice masters are instead saddled with two of the most radical revolutionary priests imaginable, Padre G. (Terence Hill) and Padre Pedro (Bud Spencer), who straighten things out using little more than fisticuffs, righteousness, and more than a little slapstick. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

In this Italian comedy, Amedio (Alberto Sordi) is a telephone lineman who works in remote parts of Australia. Unfortunately, for this shy, homely Italian man, all of Australia is remote. He wants a wife, and arranges for one by mail. The woman he has chosen is Carmela (Claudia Cardinale), a very beautiful mature prostitute who seeks to retire from her profession. The picture he sent her to induce her to come to Australia wasn't of himself, but of his handsome buddy Giuseppe (Riccardo Garrone). The picture convinces her to come out, but when she arrives and meets Amedio, she says she won't go through with the marriage because she wants Giuseppe. How will he be able to satisfy Carmela and still marry her? ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

This romantic situation comedy finds Giovanni (Alberto Sordi) extremely jealous when his wife Raffaella (Monica Vitti) admits her infatuation over their handsome neighbor Valerio (Silvano Tranquilli). Giovanni spies on his wife and recruits their 10-year-old son in an effort to stop his wife's good-neighbor policy. Giovanni's once liberal and progressive outlook changes drastically with his wife's candid revelation. The two eventually consider a temporary separation after a series of incidents which seem to prove their incompatibility. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Albert Sordi is the son who travels to America to visit his father in New York. The two are to be reunited for the first time in 30 years on a television program. His father (Vittorio De Sica) takes advantage of the fabulous prizes offered by the show in hopes of paying off his gambling debts. The faithful son has quit his job as a gas-station attendant outside Rome to visit his opportunistic father, who uses his son to collect the gifts. The father talks his son into laying down a bet at the Derby while father travels to Mississippi in his newly won luxury sedan. Instead of sharing in his father's winnings, the son once again ends up pumping gas in a service station while the police go after the felonious father. Sordi also produced and wrote this effort. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi