Allegro non troppo

Many many years ago, I saw this film and I was absolutely transfixed. This film cannot helped BUT be compared to Fantasia due to the fact that they mention this themselves. But what sets this film apart is its absolutely brilliant interpretations, in animated form, of these wonderful classical pieces that don't get as much attention as the ones Fantasia made popular amongst the general public. And there is one classical piece, above all, that was so brilliantly interpreted that it STILL stands out as one of the most moving pieces ever to be put on screen and that is the "Valse Triste" segment set to the music of Sibelius. Don't get me wrong, Disney's "clean" animation of Fantasia is a wonderful film, but none of its segment moved me as much as Valse Triste. And I think it's free form, scrubby, its understated color use and none heavy handed animation fits BRILLIANTLY here. You don't feel you are watching an animation, you feel as you are watching a painter, with each stroke, visualize the musical note of this wonderful classical piece. You get to see the abandon cat go from fantasy, reality, fantasy, that you wish you could adopt the poor cartoon kitty. If you are a teacher of music, especially classical, get this film and show it to your students, if they are not moved, then nothing will move them. This is the type of stuff that stays with you for YEARS and I guarantee you will be the better for it.

I stumbled upon this one by accident. This is a parody of the Disney film Fantasia, so much so that someone from Disney personally calls the narrator of the film to tell him it's been done before. The narrator then refers to a "Mr Gisney or Pisney or someone" calling. This film is not to be taken seriously. Plus, I've never seen Fantasia so I can't compare.

The strange story is as follows: An angry conductor wishes to put on a show that ties classical music with animation, and employs an orchestra of old women to play at his show. He also has a captive animator whom he uses to provide the cartoons for the film. This all acts as a bridging element between the animated segments, while our narrator tries to give a bit of background to each piece.

The first segment clues you in that the usual Italian obsession with naked women has not been forgotten in this film as we have an aging Satyr trying and failing to attract many of the nymphs frolicking about the landscape. Strangely beautiful, especially if you like trees made out of boobs, nipples everywhere, and a strangely poignant ending. I don't know what it means but it must mean something.

I'm not going through every segment but the linking segments and animated segments run into each other and you see life evolve from the bottom of a coke bottle, a monkey escape into the theatre from the same segment, a man turn himself into a cartoon, a very sad piece involving a cat having flashbacks, and the narrator having to call someone in to provide an ending to the film.

The whole thing is very tongue and cheek and, as a person who doesn't get Italian comedy, I found it actually funny too. The animation is great in certain bits too (especially the house the cat remembers recreating itself), and it's all rather moving and beautiful. Like a steak pie on a roller skate.

I first saw Allegro non Troppo around 1985 in a VHS copy. I truly loved the film, since it was so different from standard Disney fare. Even the B&W interludes seemed wacky and added to the overall viewing pleasure.

Specially great clips were the Sibelius Valse Triste and the Firebird Suite.

Well, I recently bought the DVD version from this movie (after joining a list in Amazon, so they would edit a DVD version of the film) and I must say that this version is GREAT. Not only is the original film complete and in an excellent version, but there's also 10 additional Bruno Bozzetto shorts plus a documentary about him and his filmmaking.

So I really got a wonderful deal and would truly reccommend this DVD to all animation fans.

9/10!

"Allegro Non Troppo" is truly a great movie. The storyline, although sample and maybe awkward, is very, very funny.

Animations are good, too. The second and third ones are my personal favorite, but the finales are good, too! The storyline can be offending and crude, but that's all the point of it : it's like "Fantasia", from Walt Disney, as it said in the beginning of the movie, but actions made by characters are more adult-oriented (i.e. : sexual connotation).

Everybody who loves bizarre movies, animations, and stuff like that should love this movie. It is also posing a critical eye over the modern society, one made of consummation and things like that.

Definitely, a must-have!

I was introduced to this obscure gem by my mom when I was 9 years old. I have not seen it since, but I have looked for it since then, and now found it on DVD from Netflix. Reading the reviews of some more recent viewers has brought back many memories. I never forgot the "Bolero" evolution, and the poor kitty DID make me cry so...I didn't understand everything, and our TV was too old and small to let us see the subtitles at all, so no wonder I couldn't get it all. My favorite part was the little man that outsmarted the evil dictator. That still makes me laugh, although it's been so long (17 years!) I eagerly await the little red envelope to bring back some memories and strange fun! Please give this one a chance..I'm proof that it will stay in your heart for a long time.