Il commissario

This police comedy relies entirely on Alberto Sordi's shoulders, who once again delivers a very fine performance in this role of an obstinate, hyperactive and ambitious investigator who despairs his girlfriend and embarrasses his superiors. The moral touch at the end of the film is commendable but a little outdated in its form. It's not Alberto Sordi's best comedy, but it's a honest and well acted movie I enjoyed watching.

Luigi Comencini and Alberto Sordi had first worked together in 1955 and their finest collaboration is undoubtedly 'Tutti a Casa', scripted by the mighty duo Age and Scarpelli. The same team is in action here in this comedy/mystery that in keeping with the genre Commedia all'Italiana reflects the darker side of the economic boom of the late 1950's.

Sordi plays deputy police commissioner Dante Lombardozzi, a mediocrity suffering from delusions of adequacy who senses a chance for promotion by investigating what appears to be an open and shut case of murder. The victim is a highly respected Christian Democrat and the alleged killer, a petty criminal, has confessed. As he delves further he merely succeeds in opening a can of worms and he is forced to face an agonising moral dilemma..........

There are some fine moments in this but on the whole it is rather uneven. 'Colourful' characters abound as one would expect and especially touching is Franca Tamantini as Lombardozzi's long-suffering girlfriend.

The persona of Alberto Sordi will invariably dominate any film in which he stars and he is a master of his craft. Here however the delicate balance between his comic genius and the films sinister undertones doesn't quite come off. This will not in the least deter devotees of Signor Sordi who is a delight to watch.

Comedy of newly hired police officer with his excessive youthful enthusiasm, pedantic and obsessive ways, causes a lot of exasperation among his more laid back colleagues. Also his courtship of a young lady is done strictly by the police rule book, with military like respect and obsequiousness. A good Alberto Sordi comedy, but certainly not his best.

Not worth to buy DVD or Video, but worth to watch on TV (in the unlikely event it ever gets shown on Italian TV,…..forget about ever seeing it outside Italy). The best Alberto Sordi comedy(or tragi-comedy) DVD films worth to buy, are……

'Vita difficile', 'Il Vigile', 'Tutti a casa', 'Il maestro di Vigevano', 'Americano a Roma', to name a few.

Vote for this film, only 6.

Well acted and well scripted sweet and sour comedy: smiles are never cheap in this story of a police detective (Alberto Sordi) struggling against a murder cover-up in Rome. Sordi is the perfect man to deliver his unique blend of dark humor and social awareness. The ending is true to the movie's intentions and it won't disappoint anyone. Director Comencini also deserves praise for his discreet and clean style.