Torna... a Sorrento

This is a romance about singing and the wonders of it. The film begins with an opera performance, and afterwards the main singer meets with an old friend and tells the strange story how he became an opera singer without having the slightest intention, having been a rather ordinary complacent salesman. At the post office he received a letter from a girl telling him she would escape from Sorrento to marry him. The problem is he has no idea who she is. It later turns out the letter was intended for another person with the same name, and that's where this hilarious comedy of confusions starts. Her father in Sorrento is furious and sets out with the uncle of the intended bridegroom to hunt for the girl and the other namesake who has found her and taken care of her. They all go to prison to have the mess sorted out. In the meanwhile the former salesman has sung a number of songs and been discovered, and so he is forced into a career. This is just a sketchy outline of this great comedy of errors, which is extremely entertaining, if you can stand hearing Gino Bechi singing the same song over and over again - a warning, the song is not the classical well known "Torna a Surriento" but just a minor melancholy romance about the moon.

This is an enjoyable comedy where a letter addressed to a man is accidentally read by another man with the same name, resulting in a fun scramble all over Rome.

Most of the film is made up of situations where people just miss each other, which could easily be frustrating, but never is in this film. The director, Bragaglia, does a great job making one of the two men antipathetic early in the movie, after which the audience is willing to be amused by his misfortunes. In a review for a different film, I had some criticisms of Bragaglia, but not here. You can see he knows what he's doing.

All of the major roles are executed well. Beautiful Adriana Benetti does an excellent job in the part of the female love interest, and when she smiles the whole scene lights up. She makes the audience really appreciate the male lead because she appears to appreciate him so much.

Gino Bechi is very sympathetic in his role and his voice has a beautiful smooth tone. My major criticism is that the audience has to listen to that same song over and over. Other songs written by Bixio are sensational, such as Mamma, but this one is just a little ditty and becomes a little tiresome by the end of the movie.

Aroldo Tieri does a really good job walking a line between someone that the female lead could fall in love with, while still being unpleasant enough for the audience to be willing to throw over.

I wouldn't say to go right out and watch this movie, but it's a pleasant way to spend an hour and 35 minutes.