Luigi Comencini and Alberto Sordi had first worked together in 1955 and their finest collaboration is undoubtedly 'Tutti a Casa', scripted by the mighty duo Age and Scarpelli. The same team is in action here in this comedy/mystery that in keeping with the genre Commedia all'Italiana reflects the darker side of the economic boom of the late 1950's.
Sordi plays deputy police commissioner Dante Lombardozzi, a mediocrity suffering from delusions of adequacy who senses a chance for promotion by investigating what appears to be an open and shut case of murder. The victim is a highly respected Christian Democrat and the alleged killer, a petty criminal, has confessed. As he delves further he merely succeeds in opening a can of worms and he is forced to face an agonising moral dilemma..........
There are some fine moments in this but on the whole it is rather uneven. 'Colourful' characters abound as one would expect and especially touching is Franca Tamantini as Lombardozzi's long-suffering girlfriend.
The persona of Alberto Sordi will invariably dominate any film in which he stars and he is a master of his craft. Here however the delicate balance between his comic genius and the films sinister undertones doesn't quite come off. This will not in the least deter devotees of Signor Sordi who is a delight to watch.
Sordi plays deputy police commissioner Dante Lombardozzi, a mediocrity suffering from delusions of adequacy who senses a chance for promotion by investigating what appears to be an open and shut case of murder. The victim is a highly respected Christian Democrat and the alleged killer, a petty criminal, has confessed. As he delves further he merely succeeds in opening a can of worms and he is forced to face an agonising moral dilemma..........
There are some fine moments in this but on the whole it is rather uneven. 'Colourful' characters abound as one would expect and especially touching is Franca Tamantini as Lombardozzi's long-suffering girlfriend.
The persona of Alberto Sordi will invariably dominate any film in which he stars and he is a master of his craft. Here however the delicate balance between his comic genius and the films sinister undertones doesn't quite come off. This will not in the least deter devotees of Signor Sordi who is a delight to watch.