Il vedovo

This is the first major collaboration between Dino Risi and Alberto Sordi with the magnificent 'La Vita Difficile' still to come. Sordi's character here is not unlike the role he was to play in de Sica's masterpiece 'Il Boom', that of an absurd little man suffering from delusions of adequacy. Sordi must have blessed the day he encountered writer Rodolpho Sonego who has again turned up trumps. Sonego has seemingly based this story on the notorious Fenaroli case of 1958 in which an industrialist allegedly murdered his wife so as to collect on the insurance. Needless to say the case kept Italians enthralled and over 20,000 waited outside the courtroom to hear the verdict. Sordi's character in this is ecstatic when he hears that his smarter and richer wife has perished in a train accident. To his horror she survives which prompts him to take matters into his own hands..... There are laughs galore here but as with so many films of the genre Commedia all'Italiana this has a dark side and the scenes where he and his cronies plan her death with military precision are quite chilling. Sordi's performance never misses a beat and Franca Valeri is pitch-perfect as his wife. There is also of course the customary collection of bimbos and buffoons that populate films of this type. During the Fenaroli trial one commentator observed that the murderer was not motivated by financial gain but by hatred of his wife who had come to see her husband for what he really was, a loser. This, I am sure, will strike a chord with many married couples and certainly contributes to the effectiveness of this excellent satire.

Another great film of the great Alberto Sordi, another great film directed by Dino Risi. Franca Valeri and Alberto Sordi, they are a strange couple, wife and husband, which... but, watch the movie! You'll discover how great Alberto was plus you'll discover many other great Italian actors. Franca Valeri is exceptional as Elvira Almiraghi, the rich wife. The beautiful Leonora Ruffo is the mistress of Alberto "Cretinetti" Nardi, the character of Sordi.

This is a really funny movie with the great Alberto Sordi (at his best) and the incredible Franca Valeri. It's another portrait of the defects and geniality of some Italian people. Sordi is quite specialized in showing our egoism and hypocrisy.

Il vedovo (the widowed) is Alberto Sordi, a little and stupid entrepreneur who is married with the rich and smart Franca Valeri. He wishes the death of her wife as he is often humiliated by her due to his stupidity. She is smart and makes a lot of money with her business. He is always asking her for some money and tries to be good with her just for this.

It's very funny also his relationship with his attendant, his former superior during the War whom now he considers like a slave servant (it's so true that cowardly people is bad with subordinates and bootlicker with superiors!).

The entrepreneur starts thinking of killing his wife to get the money, but his plans are destined to be changed.

Very very funny, not one of the best movies ever of Alberto Sordi but one of the best of Franca Valeri. Absolutely worth watching. A little gem of Italian Comedy. Thanks Dino Risi!

Please be aware that this is one of the funniest movies ever produced. Alberto Sordi is here at his best comedy, and he is surrounded by a cast of great characters, portrayed by a group of wonderful, lesser-known Italian actors (Franca Valeri, the wife, a clear cut above everybody else). You really should not pass on this movie. The story it's even a great depiction of a specific Italian period (the late 50's, early 60's of the industrial growth after WW2). Some of the greatest talents of Italian cinema, namely director Dino Risi and writer Rodolfo Sonego, are featured in the credits: and they are probably in what could be considered their prime. So you should do yourself a favor, and watch this movie.