Dieb aus Leidenschaft

I just had the extreme pleasure of seeing this classic comedy at a special retrospective at the National Gallery of Art. Anna Magnani almost steals the movie from our man Toto. Ben Gazzara is wonderful as a small-time crook who is stuck with Toto as his accomplice as they plan to steal small items during the New Year's festivities in town. However, our heroine constantly seems to be messing up the best laid plans of our two criminal friends.

This film uses the time-honored technique of having the audience identify with some real sympathy with our characters but we must laugh as everything goes wrong with everyone's plans for both the New Year's eve celebration, the robbery plans and life in general.

I do not know if this film is on video or if any of the classic films with Toto are on video. However, anyone who values great comedic filmmaking should make the effort to see this film. It simply does not get better than this.

A friend had a wonderful idea. After the depressing presence of the Italian entries at this 2007 Venice Film Festival, he suggested to get together around a table with good food and wine a watch a movie, an Italian movie and not one of the usual masterpieces that we all talk about all the time. He chose Mario Monicelli's "Risate Di Gioa" with Anna Magnani, Totò and Ben Gazzara. Oh my God! All of a sudden it became one of my favorite films of all time. It all takes place during a New Year's eve in Rome and I'm at a loss for words trying to explain the brilliance of this dark "minor" Italian comedy. A blonde Anna Magnani plays a film extra at the Cinecitta studios and Totò a petty thief in white tie and tails. Funny, moving, extraordinary in some many ways. Why have we moved so far away from this? Can somebody explain it?

The pleasures of this tragicomedy are constant and long lasting. Anna Magnani, after her Oscar, back at home with her old pal Toto. They even do a bit of one of their old music-hall routines. Mario Monicelli's sensational style makes the film as funny, sad today as it was then. Remember, Monicelli is the man behind that other Italian gem "Big Deal At Madonna Street" There is mix of Billy Wilder and Martin Scorsese and if you saw the film you know what I mean. Funny, bitter, funny. Anna Magnani plays a movie extra, with delusions of Kim Novak. Not to be missed!

The master Monicelli created another black humor comedy where all characters had a terrible New Year's Eve during a Roman night with all sort of mismatches and misunderstanding with a power trio as bit player actress Gioia Tortorella (Anna Magnani) that envisages a bustling night at Rome in search for a new romance, meanwhile her applicant the unlucky Umberto Infortunio Pennazutto (Totò) which agreed aid a pickpocket thief Lello (Ben Gazzara) in high class night club, Umberto just has to receive the jewels and aftermaths hide it at bathroom, when sudden appears a stone in the shoes Tortorella screw up the stealing ongoing.

Whenever Umberto and Lello are come up the tawdry Tortorella hindering the steal, then they find out an drunkard American tourist (Fred Clark) they planned steal his valet, sadly it has a chain tie up in the suit, afterwards the American has involved with a gorgeous girl as a bait to "Clean" all his valet's money, however upon meeting Tortorella who previously faces at wrong fountain's luck, soon they left behind all them and headed to "Fontana de Trevi" at late night, wreaking bedlam when the police arrived and ceased the louder mess.

Shortly after all them in front a flamboyant German palace, they are hit by fireworks with Umberto yelling about a possible suit for damages, thus the Germans to avoid some disturbance they kindly invite them to the party, champagne, high-class cuisine where the hungry Umberto savoring plenty on the table, often asking if someone on the house was there at Rome when the city was took by Nazi Germans, funniest scene, indeed.

Soon Lello figures out that such place has countless jewels to stolen and use the sexual interest of Tortorella for him, Lello settles a bold plan to hide the stolen precious objects, meanwhile Umberto and Tortorella realize all over and denied make part of the robbery afraid to sent to jail without right to a parole, sad it was too late and all them are catch in act by security staff when they found the valuable objects hidden at Tortorella's scarf.

It was a minor movie from Monicelli, full of ups and downs, a slight dated by now, therefore it will appease some and boring others, for me an above average presentation just by Anna Magnani and the priceless Totó, all remainder casting made a customary performance aside Fred Clark.

Thanks for reading.

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First Watch: 2023 /How many: 1 /Source: DVD /Rating: 7.5.

This film is probably the best showcase of the comedic capacities of acting genius Anna Magnani. Here she's paired up with Italian actor Toto', who's considered the most representative Italian comedian of all times. The chemistry between the two is the source of a splendid chain of events that allow the two actors to explore a multitude of highs and lows...almost like in a carnival. Monicelli's intricate story line is a rarity in the world of comedies. Intelligent, entertaining and hilarious, the film contains the only example (on camera) of what Anna Magnani and Toto' would do in Rome during the 1930's: "Avanspettacolo". The two sing on a small stage at one of Rome's fashionable parties: all done with immense presence and class; the result is a magnificent theatrical moment between improvisation and highly refined performing skills. Definitely a must for those who love quality comedies.