Sympathetic and fun movie with a great and attractive Spanish/Italian cast . An entertaining and funny film with diverting scenes , grotesque incidents , nutty situations and hilarious set pieces , but above all containing catching touches of humor and irony . Doña Pura (Sara Garcia) , don Benito (José Isbert) and don Augusto (Carlo Pisacane) usually coincide each month in the queues of the mutuality windows to collect their pension , an opportunity they take advantage of to talk about their unfortunate lives . Don Benito is grumpy , on the contrary, Don Augusto is a leering old man who does not go beyond looking lewdly at the girls who pass by , while Doña Pura results to be the most practical . When they aware that the old don Felipe, an old acquaintance , is very ill , alone and without money for a decent funeral , they decide to a commit a perfect heist . To do the complex robbery , they will scheme everything thoroughly and manufacture a homemade explosive , but then things go wrong .
"Los dinamiteros" is a Spanish comedy , co-produced between Spain and Italy , and known in the former country as "L'ultimo rififì", which alerts us to its most notable influence , the nowadays vintage and exemplary film "Rufufú" (I soliti ignoti original title) , directed in 1957 by Mario Monicelli and in which Carlo Pisacane already acted , it actually was a satire of the unforgettable "Rififí" (Du rififi chez les hommes, 1954), by Jules Dassin, the latter along with ¨Topkapi¨by Dassin himself turned out to be two extraordinary films about perfect robberies that would unleash a tsunami of imitations here and there . While Los dinamiteros(1964) moves between neorealist cinema and ¨costumbrismo¨, showing a style focused on custom and manners , and at the same time, in a kind of archeology of Madrid's urbanity , depicting its harsh social reality until the decadence of Francoism . It deals with a group of old people who decide to ask for a loan to help a sick man , but, as they do not grant it , as they decide to rob the bank savings . An enjoyable comedy that takes parts here and there of ¨Atraco a las tres¨, ¨Los Tramposos¨ or the ¨Cheaters¨, ¨Se vende un tranvia¨, "Los Picaros" TV series from the greatest writers/directors as Rafael Azcona , Pedro Lazaga , José Maria Forque or Luis García Berlanga , providing an agreeable script by writer/director Juan Garcia Atienza himself with full of silly amusement, gentleness , diversion , laughter with tongue-in-cheek and entertainment enough . There are some nice jokes and the stunning cast playing eccentric characters make a cosy fit . Stars a great main and support cast with plenty of familiar faces giving top-notch interpretations , such as the three venerable old people who were three greatest veteran actors from Spain : José Isbert , Mexico : Sara Garcia and Italy : Carlos Pisacane . There is a great chemistry between these three senior actors, typecast in the eternal role of grandfathers , to the point that one wonders if they were ever young . Each one brings its own personality and balances the whole . Supported by a lot of familiar Spanish secondaries , such as : Lola Gaos , María José Alfonso , Xan das Bolas , Ricardo Tundidor , Fernando Sánchez Polack and special appearance from Adolfo Marsillach, Laura Valenzuela and even Richard Harrison as actors playing in 'Rapiña en Golden City' .
The motion picture displays atmospheric and lively musical score by Italian composer Piero Umiliani and evocative cinematography by Juan Mariné . The picture was competently written and directed by Juan Garcia Atienza . He was a prestigious documentary filmmaker and this Los dinamiteros (1964) was his film debut . Rating : 7.5/10 . Above average . The flick will appeal to Spanish classic films lovers .
