O.K. Néron

I was mildly intrigued by this minor Italian comedy in view of its time-travel theme, which sees a couple of Italo-American sailors (one of them played by nominal star Walter Chiari) getting 'transported' to Ancient Rome after being mugged beside the Colisseum. In this regard, it was obviously inspired by ROMAN SCANDALS (1933) – down to the musical interludes and chariot-race climax; yet another film in this vein is the British FIDDLERS THREE (1944), which I checked out a few days afterwards – both as part of my ongoing Epic Easter marathon. For the record, 5 years later there was another similar film with the same title (albeit also known as NERO'S MISTRESS) that featured the formidable triumvirate of Alberto Sordi, Brigitte Bardot and Gloria Swanson!

Gino Cervi (whom I have just watched in THE QUEEN OF SHEBA {1952}) has been featured in some of the best Italian spectacles; here, he appears in a dual role – as the Emperor Nero (where he displays an admirable willingness to let his hair down!) and, in the very last shot, a modern-day Admiral. However, surprisingly enough, Silvana Pampanini (albeit herself a genre fixture) does not make a very impressive Poppea; that said, the film does incorporate a few instances of semi-nudity along the way.

Of director Soldati's work, I had watched the fine period drama PICCOLO MONDO ANTICO (1941) and his services would subsequently be recruited for the U.S./Italian co-production of WAR AND PEACE (1956). Incidentally, the film under review was co-scripted by the late Mario Monicelli and its best moments include: the heroes destroying the sailors' bus early on when they remove a stone which had been holding it from slipping down the road; the tavern scene in which they are frowned upon by gladiators for not speaking badly of Nero, and then obliging them just as the Emperor turns up there incognito; a politically incorrect but amusing sequence depicting an auction where they are sold as Nubians (ending up in Poppea's service); and a scene in the gladiatorial arena which develops into a Rugby match; among the other 'inventions' they come up with to divert the Roman populace is the Luna Park!

Try to amuse yourself if you can, I did not succeed, though I tried very hard. They also tried in the film everything they could, Carlo Campanini, Walter Chiari and Gino Cervi. But, they do not have fun, the gags are dead, you have to tickle yourself, maybe you'll laugh. There are also two female beauties, Silvana Pampanini and Jackie Frost, but in vain, the story is dusty and smoking without fire.

This is a madcap Italian slapstick comedy of the type Roberto Benigni has made world-famous in recent years. I caught this in the mid-Sixties on a Chicago TV late-show feature, back when they still took a chance on obscure films and before they decided "Three's Company" reruns were more to their likings. It's immensely creative and weirdly, surrealistically funny, moreso than the premise might seem. It could have been just another fish-out-of-water plot, but the script and principals keep the audience guessing throughout. The numerous bit players have their day in the Roman sun with wacky blackout-type bits. Very entertaining, and I wish the film was better-known. Recommended.