Se io fossi onesto

The young and very handsome Vittorio De Sica stars in this comedy of a good-for-nothing who, sentenced to prison for a short term, hires a respectable but poor young man (De Sica) to take his place. The substitute serves the term, gets out--and unexpectedly has to continue the impersonation, while the guilty scapegrace has to assume his identity. The comedy is mild and gentle rather than the quick, knockabout farce of an American film, but, if not hilarious, the movie is very pleasant, and one really feels for the poor young man, forced to dig himself in deeper and deeper.

These Italian White Telephone films are real treasures. I thoroughly enjoy the fun, lighthearted, silly situations that drive these wonderful films.

Paolo Stoppa and Vittorio De Sica trade identies for one reason and then are forced to continue as each other long after the original necessity of the trade is long past.

De Sica is very sympathetic in this role, as usual. María Mercader is lovely. I wish they could have given her a larger part in the movie. It would have made the love story more meaningful. This was done a little better in Signor Max. And although this story wraps up a little too quickly and a little too illogically, it is still a very fun ride.

I definitely recommend this fun film.