Peccato che sia una canaglia

Wow! Until you hear SOPHIA LOREN speak in her native language, you'd never guess how fast she can talk--especially when it comes to a breezy comedy like this involving a family of thieves run by VITTORIO DeSICA and trying to fleece, among others, MARCELLO MASTROIANNI from his cab while trying to stay one step ahead of the authorities.

Her fast talk is exceptional--and funny--considering the situations she gets into. She has a fluency in Italian that she never showed in her English speaking roles and a terrific sense of timing and humor. She also looks fabulous.

But the real star of the film is VITTORIO DeSICA as the smooth talking and very elegant head of a family of thieves. Grandma is adept at stealing wallets and the kids are handy at stealing tires off cars. From the start, it's obvious that Sophia (as Lina) and Marcello (as Paolo) are bound to fall in love despite the stormy relationship that has them embroiled in arguments over all of their mishaps.

It's amusing from start to finish, which has the predictable ending which has the two of them in a clinch from which they're in no hurry to abandon after a quarrel, not even with a bunch of onlookers wondering why he slapped her first.

It's a pure joy to watch these pros at work, but it's clear that DeSica has to be one of the most consummate actors of Italian cinema--just as wonderful before the camera as behind it. And Sophia and Marcello keep up with him every step of the way.

Watching this with subtitles is worth it, even though they speak so fast that you'll spend a lot of time just reading the English captions.

Marcello Mastroianni is a cab driver hired by Sophia Loren and two guys to take them to a beach out in the countryside. It's a ruse to steal his cab, but when it fails, Mastroianni is left with Loren, who he tries to take to the police. She gets away, but Mastroianni finds his way to her family, a clan of thieves headed by her father Vittorio De Sica. Mastroianni spends the film alternately falling in love with Loren and trying to turn her in to the police.

This is a delightful screwball comedy quite reminiscent at times of "The Lady Eve". Mastroianni and Loren appeared together in 14 films, and their chemistry is magnificent. That said, De Sica steals the film, especially in the climactic scene that sees everyone in a judge's chambers trying to explain what happened.

The "Bingo Bango Bongo" song will stay in your head for days.

One of the last century's great life forces Sophia Loren is on fine display in this entertaining piece of screwball Italiano as she teams up with Marcello Mastroianni for the first of fifteen pairings. Loren is Lina Stroppiani who along with her father (Vittorio De Sica) are professional thieves. With two male accomplices Lina attempts to steal Paolo's (Mastroianni) taxi but instead of taking her to the police he grudgingly and through much frustration falls for her.

Too Bad's thin and inane plot is brusquely carried along by the energetic, suave and sexy style of its cast. Loren's face, breasts and hips seduce the camera and dominate the scenery as she understandably flusters the comic Marcello. Loren's presence negates anyone stealing the film from her but De Sica as her father shrewdly manipulates with a suave charm, especially in one of the film's final scenes where he all but takes over a police station.

Over a half a century later Too Bad She's Bad retains its comic energy and entertainment value much in part to the ideal melding of opera and screwball and the earthy blinding presence of the stunning Ms. Loren strolling the sidewalks of Rome.

This film of Alessandro Blasetti is not only extremely entertaining but fascinating in terms of the history of Italian cinema. It was released in the same year as de Sica's masterful 'Gold of Naples' in which Sophia Loren scored a hit under his Svengali-like guidance. Their professional relationship was to prove fruitful to say the least and here they are playing father and daughter. This also happens to be the first time that Loren appeared opposite Marcello Mastroianni who was then in what he later called his 'taxi driver phase', thus beginning a magical screen partnership. Alongside her sexual charisma La Loren shows a keen sense of comedy and improved artistry so one can only assume that de Sica is still a 'guiding hand' here. De Sica's own performance is one of perfect comedy timing and consummate artistry. As is customary in Italian films there is more than one screenwriter and this Roman Tale of Moravia has been adapted by two of the best in the business, Suso Checchi D'Amico and Ennio Flaiano. Blasetti keeps the pace brisk and there is a catchy score by maestro Alessandro Cicogna. There is also good use made of Sigman and Hilliard's 'Bingo Bango Bongo' which once heard, becomes what is commonly referred to as a musical 'earworm'. As a film this is lightweight to be sure but to watch the three leads bouncing off each other is hugely enjoyable especially in light of what is to come.

Whatever the silly story, this has to be watched! And admired!

With Sophia Loren, Vittorio de Sica and the young Marcello Mastroianni noathing can go wrong, and nothing does go wrong. Usually, Sophia alone already plays anyone to the ground, and in here, a masterly de Sica at times even outpaces her. It is a pity that he tends to be forgotten.

The whole plot circles around these two, father and daughter, kind of outdoing each other with petty and not quite so petty crime. De Sica shows enormous talent as a comedian in this movie.

Watch it at least twice, and one time just follow Sophia Loren, and the second time Vittorio de Sica.

And then tell yourself which 'more modern' actors are able to do likewise. Doing almost nothing. Just being there. Actually, in this respect Fernando Rey falls into this same class. But that's another story altogether.

Unfortunately, my copy is dubbed in German. A horrible choice of speakers spoil half of it. Mastroianni dubbed by someone who sounds like a 17-year-old dimwit, and Loren by a 17-year-old nanny.