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28 out of 32 people found the following review useful: Very Italian and very funny., 10 July 2000 Author: Renee Schiber (schiber@stlnet.com) from Collinsville, IL
As a comedy for an American audience, After the Fox is a pleasant diversion, especially the classic performance by Victor Mature as the aging Hollywood hunk who can't accept reality. But for any person who has spent any time in Italy--whether in an urban center such as Rome or the Italian equivalent of Mayberry--this movie is hilarious. The writers and performers have captured the essence of the Italian personality as well as the spirit of the abrasive American personality. Since this film was shot entirely on location, we get a real sense of Italy as a place. Peter Sellers posing as the self-important filmmaker Federico Fabrizi with Fellini black-rimmed glasses and all gives an excellent performance. I love this movie.
19 out of 22 people found the following review useful: A GREAT STUDY IN HUMAN EGO, 10 June 2004 Author: jawlaw from Louisville, Kentucky
This much forgotten film has kept me in stitches for years. My brother and I quoted lines from it for years on appropriate occasions. What a surprise to find that Victor Mature was very funny. You have to see it to believe it.In this clever little film Neil Simon crafted one of his greatest screenplays and the actors translated it into one of the most humorous off-beat comedies of the 60's. It is hilarious even by Coen brother and Zucker brother standards.Essentially this film is a study in human ego:Aldo Vanucci (Peter Sellers) wants to be seen as the great master thief.His sister (Britt Ekland) wants to be a film actress (pronounced "film akdress")Aldo's mother wants to be the mother of famous children ("my son the director" "My daughter the akdress")The Agent (Martin Balsam) is proud that he can see through everybody--save himself.Tony Powell, famous film star, (Victor Mature) is an aging actor that won't accept that he's an aging actor. He wants to play young man roles even though he is in his 60's.The Police chief wants to say "Gooda Morning" in the movie so he'll get his "Warhol allotment."The whole town of Savalio wants: "To be inna movie."This film is a scream. If you watch this and don't simply crack up, its obvious that farce is not your fare. It's okay--farcical humor isn't for everyone. CAVEAT: If you like this check out "The Wrong Box." At any rate, the finale of this film (I won't give it away) surely made Fellini blush--he is so well lampooned by Simon. This film hands out the ultimate insult to the avant guard film crowd of the 60's. It has the courage to insinuate: "We don't get your films and that doesn't make you smarter than us!"
16 out of 18 people found the following review useful: Surprising Sellers, 24 May 2003 Author: Brad A. (bradmagic) from San Diego, CA
When I found this film I had never heard of it. In glancing at its box I saw "Peter Sellers" and "Vittorio De Sica." Just those two names prompted me to take it home.I was quite happy with what this film is.The story is solid, and is what keeps this film running. Sellers does a good job, but I still enjoy his Pink Panther role, as well as his roles in Dr. Sstrangelove. Nevertheless, he does well as an Italian crook and "flamboyant" film director.The comedy isn't too slapstick, it is smart. There are sight gags, there are setups and punchlines, there are one-liners, not to mention spoofed-themes, and pokes at other Italian film directors/producers.I didn't exactly know what I would get with a De Sica comedy. He did a fine job, though. "Federico Fabrizi" sometimes looks and seems to be just like Federico Fellini. There are some moments where Fellini's 8 1/2 comes to mind.A critic said that he didn't understand the ending. At first, I didn't. Think, though! Think! This is De Sica!Take a look at this film, it's a good one.
17 out of 20 people found the following review useful: underrated, 23 February 2002 Author: Darren Gauthier (darren_g) from Baton Rouge
Peter Sellers...thats all one needs to say! His star turn in this role is so infectious don't be surprised if there are moments when you break out into spontaneous laughter. Di Sica (yes, the Bicycle Thief director) relies less on Sellers than Blake Edwards ever did (Edwards's comedies usually zero in on one star to carry the feature, resulting in too much of a good thing. The Party, 10 and Skin Deep come to mind.) Victor Mature is equally hysterical in the Hollywood star role, self-parodying his own image. Kudos to Martin Balsam as the protective manager. You can't go wrong with Akim Tamiroff as the bad guy. About the only thing annoying about this picture is Britt Ekland when she speaks...because she ain't half bad to look at. Burt Bacharach's score is energetic and exciting, fitting in with the Italian backdrop and less "groovy '60s" than What's New Pussycat and Casino Royale. This early Neil Simon (!) romp is almost as much fun as "Murder By Death" and certainly less pretentious than any of his "Goodbye Girl" type- stuff. Look for him as the analyst at the beginning and end of the film...and look for Di Sica as himself. Lots of fun, don't miss it.
12 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Very clever, very delightful, 28 June 2003 Author: SybilLudington
This is actually my favorite Peter Sellers film, and my favorite Neil Simon script, though I suppose I'm in the minority there. I just love it to pieces, though, and re-watch it at least once a year. Sellers as thief in prison, as devoted son and stern brother, as American tourist, and especially as a Felliniesque film director--it's just terrific stuff, he is so pricelessly funny, and yet there is somehow a little less of him and more of a script than there is in the Blake Edwards films, which is why I think I like it better. And I do think Victor Mature is marvelous in it too, with a touching wistfulness underneath all the vain posturing. Ditto the chief of police. The sets are fabulous too, and so is the Bacharach music, much of it deliciously cheerfully Italianate but also the wonderfully catchy main title sung by Sellers himself with the Hollies (that would be Graham Nash later of Crosby, Stills and Nash).There are certain things about the film that remind me of The Producers, though the comedy style is not quite the same. But anyway, not to be missed!
11 out of 12 people found the following review useful: Do you know how many good kisser are starving in Italy?, 18 February 2001 Author: Thomas Clement (Mr. OpEd) from Los Angeles
"Do you know how many good kisser are starving in Italy?" That's just one of the excellent lines from this underrated movie. The credits alone sound like the plot for a waco 60s jet-set movie: Vittorio De Sica directing a Neil Simon script? You've got to be kidding. True, the film sags and lags at parts, but between Peter Sellers, Victor Mature (truly awesome here), and the mouth-wateringly hummana-hummana Brit Ekland, the movie has enough going for it that it remains a favorite. And that incredible Burt Bacharach score! I swear that if you're depressed and listen to this music (available on CD as I write this), you'll be cured for life!
11 out of 12 people found the following review useful: What a Fantastic movie, 22 October 1998 Author: Robert E. Larkin from Crane Hill, AL
Without a doubt Peter Sellers is the finest of them all, But Victor Mature steals this show. Gina Romantica and cast are so entertaining. I love this movie, we lost Peter too soon. We need him now, what a loss.
10 out of 11 people found the following review useful: Very funny film!, 28 April 1999 Author: RufusT from Mpls., MN
While certainly not one of his greatest works, Peter Sellers nonetheless shines as Aldo Vanucci, aka "The Fox". He underplays the role in his early scenes, as the scheming criminal, but pulls out all the stops when the character hits upon the idea to masquerade as "Fredrico Fabrizi" the great neo-realist. Much like the scheme inspires Vanucci, the disguise inspires Sellers, and his wildly inventive genius kicks into high gear.Equally funny is Victor Mature as aging, past-his-prime movie idol Tony Powell. It's a well-written part (by Neil Simon), but Mature really brings him to life, and rather than merely making him a buffoon, which would have been easy to do, he gives him a quality of sympathy; deep down, despite all his posturing and pompousness, Powell probably knows he's on the decline.All-in-all, a very funny film, with a truly inspired Sellers performance, even if it's not his best. Even a little really good Sellers goes a long way. He's sadly missed.
12 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Wonderful film with absolute sense of humor., 15 April 2003 Author: togan from Istanbul
De Sica's very good film.He make fun of all the film industry,film critics and neo-realism.He makes fun of himself too.Very well written script form Neil Simon with help of old friend Zavattini.This film is close to the word "perfect". This film makes me to watch it at 3:00 am which I have an important exam at 9 am on that day.
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: A bit uneven, but it's still unique and a lot of fun, 1 May 2007 Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida
Peter Sellers is a real enigma. During his career, he made many brilliant films with amazing characterizations (such as DR. STRANGELOVE, BEING THERE, THE MOUSE THAT ROARED and many others), but he also did a lot of amazingly limp films that he practically slept through (THE FIENDISH PLOT OF FU MANCHU and THE PRISONER OF ZENDA). AFTER THE FOX is unusual in that it isn't exactly brilliant but still is very good. As far as Sellers' performance goes, he did a lovely Italian accent and his character was pretty credible, though despite being the star of the film, he wasn't the standout performer (I think this was actually Victor Mature--doing a wonderful self-parody).The Fox is a master criminal who escapes from prison rather easily in order to keep his sister out of trouble. At first, he thinks she's become a prostitute, but later he finds she's become (horrors) and actress!! Interestingly enough, his sister is played by Sellers' real-life wife, Britt Ekland and his love interest in the film was played by an unknown (but beautiful) Italian. Once out of prison, he learns about a big caper from Akim Tamiroff--smuggling in millions of dollars worth of gold into Italy. So, inspired by his sister's desire to be a movie star, he decides to make a fake film and use this as the cover to smuggle in the gold--and this is how Victor Mature comes into the film. He plays a parody of himself but is very vain and over the hill--telling everyone he's in his thirties even though he's pushing 60! I loved how he insisted he was so young when it was so obvious he wasn't--especially in the scene where Britt throws herself at him and runs her fingers through his hair--only to have them stained black by hair dye. Plus, he was so full of himself that he was gullible enough to believe he was making an art film when in fact Sellers and his gang obviously had no idea what they were doing.By the way, how Sellers got all the film equipment was pretty interesting. As the film was directed by Vittorio DeSica, he himself appeared in a small scene. He and his crew were filming some Egyptian epic when suddenly the wind machines turned on at full blast. When they were finally turned off, all the equipment--even DeSica's platform and cameras--were missing--stolen by Sellers' gang.Throughout the film there were many cute moments, but also towards the end the film did lag a bit and the ending seemed to be a bit of a letdown. I especially became bored with the chase scene and the ensuing courtroom scene. Still, it was original and moderately funny with some excellent performances.By the way, the film clip we see of a younger Victor Mature in an older black and white film was from EASY LIVING--one of Mature's better films. I suggest you try to find it.
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