Reviews

Toto againat four of his better and longtime sidekicks (Aldo Fabrizi, Peppino de Filippo, Macario and Nino taranto). Like most of his Steno directed flicks it's mostly a hilarious spoof this time of police procedurals italian style of course. Of all the four episodes only one is quiite lame and dull (the one with Macario and the fake Landru) while the others are all funny (my fav is the one with Taranto as a Customs Inspector with a puzzling paesant accent). It's one of Toto last movies, burdened, almost blind and still a roring lion. Then came Pasolini and well... That's another story. Rate: three and a half stars out of five.

One of the best Italian comedies of the 50s. Taking his cue from the chronicle of the era (the lack of popular housing and the 1958 merlin law that had abolished the brothels) Bolognini, with his usual polite and elegant direction, sets up a funny bittersweet comedy about the vicissitudes of a roman family that is living for rent in a former brothel. The award-winning comic duo of De Filippo (variety lights, boccaccio 70) and Toto (guards and thieves, big deal on madonna street) is really on full throttle here (especially peppino de filippo excels in a more serious role than usual) but equally terrific is the interpretation of mrs Adani, a theater actress with Visconti in one of her rare film appearances. Also noteworthy in minor roles Franca Valeri, vittorio Caprioli and the young beautiful Cristina Gaioni, the Italian Bardot. If you want to enjoy the great prince of laughter Toto in a less farcical (but still funny as hell) role this forgotten gem is not to be missed!