El especulador

Vittorio De Sica's name will forever be associated with neo-realism, however there are other films in his oeuvre that are worthy entries. "Il Boom" is De Sica's finest contribution to the "Commedia all'Italiana" films which dominated Italian cinema from the mid-1950s to the late 1970s. These comedies were often witty observations of daily life with all its compromises, hypocrisies and struggles.

"Il Boom" is one of the finest entries in the series and one of the blackest. Alberto Sordi plays a husband who is living beyond his means largely thanks to his high-spending wife and due to that need to "Keep up appearances", a vital part of Italian city life. Sordi's character is called on to make a great sacrifice to get out of debt. To reveal more would be to spoil the plot for other viewers.

Well worth hunting down. The great Cesare Zavattini wrote the script (say no more) and the master Vittorio De Sica directs. Fine effort!

This is one of those movies where all characters are unpleasant to various degrees, starting from main character Giovanni Alberti, a pathetic man who got into debts to keep up with the Joneses. His wife is shallow and greedy and their "friends" are everything but, a bunch of envious hypocrites who spend their time trying to seduce each other's wives.

After having uselessly asked his "friends" to lend him money (and having been the object of their contempt) Giovanni finds the unlikely solution of his problems in selling one eye to a billionaire. Giovanni is convinced to proceed with the deal by a large amount of money, and the he organises the saddest party in history inviting his "friends" only to be able to spit out all his resentment.

De Sica probably wanted to show how the economic boom of the Sixties corrupted the Italians, and how the only "pure" people were those who didn't care about money, like Giovanni's parents (the only likeable people in the movie). Unfortunately, Italians where probably hypocrites, greedy and nasty even before and haven't changed since. Being Italian myself, I know what I am talking about.

Not a De Sica masterpiece, just a minor, unpleasant film made even more grating by the incongruously cheerful and very dated soundtrack, playing at the worst moment.

Sweet-sour comedy on Italy's 1950's rage to get rich as fast as possible !!The lead actor (Alberto Sordi) plays the part of a psuedo businessman who to satisfy his wife's craving for luxury and a "respectable life" becomes heavily indebted. In desperation he agrees to sell a precious part of his body for a large sum of money.But just before the crucial operation he panics !

The whole film is a grotesque comedy on Italy's obsession of those times to be "respectable" i.e. be rich,show it,and give the impression of being part of the respectable upper-middle class even though "secretly" you are just another of those "noveau riches". The film is very realistic and at times hilarious !Worth to see!

After the end of neorealism cinema movement,it was Italian cinema's turn to give a different cinema genre to the world.It was called "Commedia All'Italiana", an Italian way of making comedy films.These films tackled Italian realities in a comical fashion.Among its leading proponents,one can cite names of directors such as Dino Risi,Ettore Scola,Mario Monicelli,Luigi Comencini and Nanni Loy.Taking cue from the widespread financial as well as industrial boom which Italy witnessed in 1960s,Dino Risi decided to direct a film called "Il Boom".His film is a brilliant comical attack on Italian upper middle families especially against their ludicrous tendencies to spend more than what they really earn.One sees them enjoying all the comforts which a life can offer them including a visit to a horse racing show and a gourmet food party.The film focuses its attention on Giovanni Alberto,a role played with perfect dexterity by great Italian actor Alberto Sordi,who sacrifices a lot including his family,friends and even a precious part of himself in order to get rid of his mounting debts.Apart from Italian middle classes,Dino Risi's 'Il Boom' is replete with a lot of easy to identify symbols which represent the Italian nation namely church and an ability to dance to excellent English music tracks helmed by Piero Piccioni.All music lovers would like to dance to the tunes of "Il Twist".

It may well be Vittorio De Sica's best sixties (overlooked) movie.A very somber comedy,with Alberto Sordi on the top of his form.This movie has a contemporary feel:what could one person do to stay (or to become ) rich? A broke businessman is approached with a smile by a middle-aged lady (wife of a wealthy man) .He believes she wants to make him her lover .Little did he know she would ask for one of the most precious parts of his body (no,it is not what you are thinking of,but I won't write a spoiler and reveal what it is).Like Comencini's "Lo Scopone Scientifico" ,"Il Boom" deals with man's exploitation of his fellow man. De Sica ,Comencini and Dino Risi are much more accessible directors than Fellini or Antonioni but their words don't cut;they bite.