L'armée Brancaleone

I have seen this movie when it first came out in Germany in a dubbed version. I went back several times I liked it so much, great comedy, great acting and entertainment. After all this years I started searching on the web, because nobody in America seems to have ever heard of this movie. So far I only found an old German dubbed copy, but I look forward to finally see the original version. I have seen many movies in my time, but Brancaleone seems to always come to my mind when I think of comedy and middle ages. The Monty Python can not reach this one.

"L'Armata Brancaleone" is an absolute comedy masterpiece. Its surreal medieval world is incredibly deep and funny. The story is summarized here at IMDB, so it's not necessary to repeat it. The main comic device is based on the contrast between the heroic world that the charachters try to master (paladins, knights' tournaments, kings etc) and their actual miserable conditions. The only problem with this movie for non-italian speakers is the language: the authors re-created a mock medieval language (using ancient italian, latin and italian dialects) which is absolutely flamboyant. This particular language (very difficult to understand if you're not italian native speaker) and Vittorio Gassman make this movie one of the best comedies of the 20th century. Thanks to Mario Monicelli, the great film director.

"L'armata Brancaleone" was made at the time of Italian cinema's triumphs, when Italy could boast some excellent directors and well-known actors. There's one simple reason why this movie is still loved by young generations: it's a real comedy, hilarious without being trivial, and it can rely on a couple of ingenious tricks, such as the language and the setting. The characters speak a funny pseudo-ancient Italian crammed with Latin words and solemn sentences, and maybe some quotations from "La Divina Commedia" by Dante Alighieri (the name Matelda and her character played by the gorgeous Catherine Spaak). And what about the setting? A wild Medieval Italy, with uncontaminated natural sceneries, castles and towns infested by pestilences. Kudos to the actors, everybody is perfect in his/her own role, from Vittorio Gassman and Gian Maria Volonté to the supporting roles, and of course to the director Mario Monicelli, amalgamating all with his personal touch.

Ok, the italian comedy of the `50s and `60s is one of the best in the world. I say this not only because I am italian but because it`s true. Just rent or buy the movies of directors such as Pietro Germi, Dino Risi, Steno and of course Mario Monicelli. L`Armata Brancaleone is one of the best comedies ever because of the script, the gags, the language (a very funny mix of ancient italian and latin, I don`t know how the translation could work) and the actors, first of all Gassman, the protagonist, that Monicelli `discovered` as a comic character in `I soliti ignoti` (before that Gassman played almost exclusively drama plays). Even the representation of the Middle Age seems to me (a non-expert in history) quite accurate: see for example the prophet who guides the people towards the Crusade (an incredible Gian Maria Volonte`).

Another gem of italian comedy, a must-see for everyone.

It is difficult to export this movie outside Italy, in particular because much of the amusement lies in the funny language used, a mix of italian dialects and mock middle-age latin. Anyway, it would be yet a good choice for everyone. It may remember Monthy python's 'Holy Grail', as a surrealistic medieval comedy. Only, this is way better. It is no surprise, considering that we have two great authors, a great director, and a group a great actors. And the word 'great' is no exaggeration! If you ever get a chance to see it, don't miss it, because it's unique.