Mafioso (1962)

Director:

Alberto Lattuada

Writers:

Rafael Azcona (writer)
Bruno Caruso (story)
(more)

Release Date:

25 October 1962 (Italy)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Plot:

When a good-natured factory supervisor living in Milan with his Northern wife returns to his native Sicily, a decades' old oath forces him to fulfill a nightmarish obligation.

Plot Keywords:

Sicilian | Sicily | Supervisor | Vacation | Factory

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Alberto Sordi	...	Antonio Badalamenti
Norma Bengell	...	Marta
Gabriella Conti	...	Rosalia
Ugo Attanasio	...	Don Vincenzo
Cinzia Bruno	...	Donatella
Katiuscia	...	Patrizia (as Katiusca Piretti)
Armando Tine	...	Dr. Zanchi
Lilly Bistrattin	...	Dr. Zanchi's Secretary
Michèle Bailly	...	Young Baroness
Francesco Lo Briglio	...	Don Calogero
Carmelo Oliviero	...	Don Liborio
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stefano Benigno
Paolo Cuccia
Hugh Hurd
Vincenzo Norvese
Giuseppe Stagnitti
John Topa
Saverio Turiello

Directed by
Alberto Lattuada

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rafael Azcona		writer
Bruno Caruso		story
Marco Ferreri		writer
Agenore Incrocci		writer (as Age)
Furio Scarpelli		writer (as Scarpelli)

Produced by
Tonino Cervi	....	producer (as Antonio Cervi)
Dino De Laurentiis	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Piero Piccioni

Cinematography by
Armando Nannuzzi

Film Editing by
Nino Baragli

Art Direction by
Carlo Egidi

Set Decoration by
Mario Ravasco

Costume Design by
Angela Sammaciccia

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Aldo D'Angelo	....	assistant director

Music Department
Luigi Urbini	....	conductor
Luigi Urbini	....	musical director (as Pier Luigi Urbini)

Production Companies

• Compagnia Cinematografica Antonio Cervi
• Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica

Distributors

• Zenith International Films (1964) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Rialto Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release) (subtitled)
• Rialto Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled re-release)
• Criterion Collection, The (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Warmflash Productions Ltd.  trailer

Also Known As:

Mafioso (USA)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Compagnia Cinematografica Antonio Cervi

Quotes:

Don Vincenzo: The lies of a woman when softened by grace and courtesy are always welcome.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Baarìa (2009)

Sordi goes south

Italian cultural icon and cinematic great Alberto Sordi (1920-2003) was in peak form when he starred as Antonio Badalamenti, a Sicilian who's become a successful FIAT executive and efficiency expert in Milan and goes on a two-week vacation to his hometown of Catanao in Sicily with blonde northern wife and two little blonde daughters. Laughs and thrills happen when they're welcomed back into Antonio's family – and the good graces of Mafia boss Don Vincenzo. It turns out Antonio not only owes the Don a favor for getting him the job up north, but is regarded by the local Cosa Nostra as a piciotto d'onore, a kid who distinguished himself in the ranks (maybe you could loosely translate the phrase "good old boy") and he also happens to be the best marksman the town has ever known. What starts out as a broad comedy and a warm social satire on the Italian south turns more serious and intense as the hero fits right in and his initially standoffish wife starts liking the family and bonding with one female member whose beauty she's able to bring out.

Fine writing, direction, and use of locations add up to a seamless film. You're never bored for a minute and most of the time you're hugely entertained, so it makes sense that Mafioso is going to have a revival release in the United States. It's unseen here, not on DVD and would be worth seeing not only for the fun it provides but for the display of Alberto Sordi's range and fluency as an actor. Sordi starred in Fellini's early pair, The White Sheik and I Vitelloni. Andrew Sarris has said Lattuada is "a grossly under-appreciated directorial talent." Il Mafioso shows the writing skills of Marco Ferreri and Rafael Azcona, working with the team known as Age & Scarpelli (Agenore Incrocci and Furio Scarpelli). Their screenplay may be tongue-in-cheek, but it nonetheless provides insight into the Mafia, and the film's picture of Sicilian town life (in wonderfully rich grainy black and white, high style for the time) is vivid and authentic-looking and -feeling. Music by Piero Piccioni, another mainstay of Italian cinema (Il bel Antonio, Salvatore Giuliano, Una vita violenta). Produced by Dino De Laurentis with Antonio Cervi; this can also be seen as a product that reflects the energy and spirit of Italy's postwar "economic miracle" period when so much was exciting culturally in the country – cinema, literature, design.

Shown in a handsome new print as part of the 2006 New York Film Festival. I would give this a 9 out of ten but the overall plot somehow seems too incongruous.