Operazione San Gennaro

One of the funniest films I've seen, it's, at its essence, the classic story of a perfect robbery plan gone wrong in the Italian way, a bit like "I Soliti ignoti" ("Rufufú" for the Spaniards). Indeed it's an impressive meeting of Italian artists: Dino Risi was known for his optimistic realistic films, and the cast includes the great comedian Totó. And it delivers even better than it appears.

A pair of Americans want to do the greatest robbery: the treasure of San Genaro, in Napoli. But, Christ, these are the jewels of a saint, and they must convince religious and a bit superstitious "professionals" to do the job. The fun are spread everywhere: the characters and their acts are the classic Risi people, but there are very good slapstick gags, action parts, and an absurd but somewhat restrained sense of humor that carries the film pretty well. Believe me: with some parts in the theft I bursted out laughing as very few times I've had (some Hawks, some Wilder, some Sturges), and I can recall lively many twists and still laugh at them.

If you come across this movie, please don't miss it. One overlooked one to discover.

In the greatest city of the world someone wants to steal the San Gennaro's treasure. Dudu (Nino Manfredi) boss of "La Sanità" (a popular quarter of Naples) is taking time to make the right choice: can they succeed? is it really a great occasion? will San Gennaro be happy? The comedy let us understand lot of things about the city of Naples and its habits: superstitious practices, amazing people (like "the baron": the only man who has the heart on the right) and their passion for music (the Festival of Neapolitan song, and the great singer Sergio Bruni, he always wants to be the last to sing)... And TOTO', playing the role of DON VINCENZO IL FENOMENO: a genius.

Still good 51 years after. We got Toto, Nino Manfredi, Mario Adorf, 3 great great comic actors. Plus Senta Berger, young and sexy, Claudine Auger, also young and very sexy (her best role from all), Harry Guardino. Toto, which was one of greatest comic actors ever, has just a small part. Manfredi and Adorf, other two huge comics, not only of the Italian cinema but also international (mostly Adorf who is still alive), they have more consistent roles.

This is your basic "gang of crooks plot and carry out a big heist" and as such, this one is pretty darn good.

The TUBI print (July 2025) is really sharp, and it is the Italian print, so nearly everything is dubbed into Italian. (important later) Best of all, the script makes sense - it moves the plot forward and takes the group to a number of neat locations.

Experienced director Dino Risi keeps the whole thing under control, and lets his cast shine.

The cast is quite a mixture: -Nino Manfredi (Italian, good looking, solid) -Mario Adorf (Swiss-German-Italian coproduction) overacting, but only pleasantly.

-Harry Guardino (Brooklyn) speaking Italian far more than English.

-Senta Berger (Austria) as another American character, but to help establish that, she breaks into English at odd points.

-The rest of the cast, people from everywhere, doing good work. In fact, the extras and background artists are very well directed (focused and appropriate for the scene).

Sure, it has its slow moments, but overall, this one is worth the two hours.

The sixties was the decade for heist movies, more or less inspired for most of them by RIFIFI: TOPKAPI, GRAND SLAM (though not really a comedy) GAMBIT, CAPER OF THE GOLDEN BULLS, BIGGET BUNDLE OF THEM ALL, ITALIAN JOB; so this one is in the pure continuity. Dino Risi, one of the greatest Italian directors in terms of satyrical comedies, seems to be very comfortable in this comedy crime caper film, which saves us some surprises in the script, such as the death of one of the lead characters eighteen minutes before the end. Very surprising for a comedy, isn'it? . The Italian trademark is so obvious in this story about a "holy" treasure, the christianity oriented spirit, I repeat, so typical of the Italian culture. Mario Monicelli's famous THE PIGEON spirit is not so far...Italian trademark.