Tag Archives: Aldo Fabrizi

This is the (funny) story of four agents of Roma traffic police in the ’50s. Their life are crossed in affairs that often retire from mere job relationships.

The mood is set with the opening with excerpts from the Excelsior Ball, a famous ballet at the turn of the century that heralded the advances of the upcoming century

Second World War. Field 119 in California (USA). War is long over, but the Italian prisoners are still waiting to return home, preparing to celebrate away from their families, another sad Christmas. To give some vent to their nostalgia, there are family stories of their lives. A Roman tells of her difficult marriage. A Neapolitan soldier tells his lieutenant, a Neapolitan duke penniless. Meanwhile, the camp commander gave the prisoners a gramophone and, thus, the stories are interwoven songs. Another soldier recalls the parties and the songs of the Sicilian spring, while a Venetian gondolier recalls his love affair. Sometimes, the battered radio listening to news from abroad and Italy. Finally, one day, he comes the wait liberation and they go back home.

Giovanni used to be a humble, mild-mannered government clerk whose life was turned upside down when he met Giulio, a notorious forger who at once set about manipulating the over-confident man. Giovanni did what he should never have done: he associated himself with the crook. Giulio soon laid hands on Giovanni’s money, ruined his career and manhandled him into marrying his own mistress, the beautiful Ginevra. It was of course an unhappy marriage but Giovanni found a little solace when his son Ciro was born. Seven years later though, Wanzer resurfaced…

The roman coachman Totò doesn’t want his coach being replaced by cars and doesn’t want his daughter Nannarella to go out with the taxi driver Roberto. But it is Roberto who saves him when he gets into trouble.

The film dramatizes about a dozen vignettes from the life of St. Francis and his early followers – starting with their return in the rain to Rivotorlo from Rome when the Pope blessed their Rule and ending with their dispersal to preach. The unconnected chapters are like parables, some with a moral. The slight and comic Ginepro returns naked to St. Mary’s of the Angels, having given away his tunic, but not his ricotta. The aged Giovanni shouts and holds onto his cape; the beatific St. Clair pays a visit. Humble Francis doubts his leadership, hugs a leper, and sends his brothers spinning, dizzy, and smiling into the world. This brotherhood is infused with whimsy as well as belief.