Italian Comedies

The Best Italian Movies, and the Best Italian Comedies (Il meglio della commedia all' Italiana)

I believe that Italian movies are essential to understanding Life in Italy. La commedia all' Italiana shows best of Italy, always with a touch of irony.  Read our intro here:   Italian Comedies

The following films show scenes of Italian life from a particular period and take Italians to times gone by. For example, the black and white movie 'poveri ma belli' shows scenes of Rome and a "stabilimento balneare" on the river Tevere - with the actual actors swimming in the Rome river Tevere - scenes now - due to the pollution of the Tevere - impossible to imagine. Scenes from 'Prof Guido Tersilli, a comedy based on the reality of the time - depict problems with the mutual and the private clinic / hospitals in Rome. Finally, with the latest trends from Pieraccioni in ' Il  Ciclone'  showing beautiful Tuscany country scenes …. Anyway most of this movie list will show you a different face of …Life in Italy

Above: One of the pest scenes by Alberto Sordi : Il Dentone

Commedia All' Italiana Just After WW2

Italian comedies started in earnest after War World II. Among all the actors of that period, Toto' was the most famous.

In his best movies, Toto' teamed up with some of the best post-war comic actors such as Fabrizi or Peppino de Filippo. Toto acted in so many films that he was once considered only a third rate actor.However, he is now considered (at least by many) to have been a comic genius.

Here are some of the best movies by Toto' (Toto' made more than 80 movies):

• I tartassati -  Toto' - Fabrizi
• Toto' truffa 62
• Toto' Peppino e la Malafemmina - Toto' & Peppino de Filippo
• Miseria e Nobilta'
• La Banda degli Onesti

Above: a short from Toto' Fabrizi e i Giovani d' oggi

Other Italian film titles from the '50s include:

• 'Poveri ma belli' - was a comic success in postwar Italy
• 'Pane Amore e Fantasia' - Vittorio De Sica e Gina Lollobrigida

Other notable actors from the period were Walter Chiari, Gino Bramieri, and Mario Carotenuto

Some of their films are:

-Accadde al Penitenziario

The Italian Films of the '60s and '70s

Following the economic boom in Italy, new comics emerged.Extremely important for those who want to understand Italian culture are actors such as Ugo Tognazzi (who sometimes teamed up with Raimondo Vianello), Vittorio Gassman, Nino Manfredi, and Alberto Sordi. Here are some of the best films from the '60s and '70s:

• I due Capitani. . . Sordi
• Riusciranno i nostri eroi a trovare l' amico scomparso in Africa ?... a Sordi film
• Straziami ma di baci saziami ... Nino Manfredi
• Bello Onesto Emigrato Australia… Alberto Sordi, Claudia Cardinale 1971
• I soliti ignoti ** ( Big deal on Madonna street )
• Americano a Roma . . . Alberto Sordi
• Il Vigile . . . Alberto Sordi
• La grande Guerra (A masterpiece) . . . Sordi, Gasmann -1956

I think Alberto Sordi's best acting was in 'Dentone' in the movie:

• "I complessi" - Movie in 3 episode
• Il medico dell mutua, Il prof Guido Terzilli: A Sordi
• Presidente del Borgorosso Fottball club (il), A Sordi
• Il marchese del Grillo Alberto Sordi

Other great movies from Vittorio Gassman

• L' Armata Brancaleone
• Brancaleone alle crociate

Vittorio Gassman in : L' Armata Brancaleone

Other actors that emerged around the middle of the 60s and were once considered B-class comics are Ciccio e Franco. Like Toto', today their type of comedy has been re-evaluated and is appreciated. Their best films include:

• I maghi del Pallone - Ciccio Franco
• I due Vigili - F Franchi C Ingrassia 1967
• Agenti segretissimi - F Franchi C Ingrassia 1964
• I due Deputati

Ciccio e Franco classics