ITALIA

1954 – 35mm – b/w – 91’

Direction: Aldo Fabrizi
Screenplay: Aldo Fabrizi, Ruggero Maccari, Mario Bonnard
Cinematography: Mario Bava
Editing: Maria Rosada
Set design: Flavio Mogherini
Music: Carlo Rustichelli
Cast: Aldo Fabrizi, Carlo Campanini, Juan de Landa, Lucia Banti, Lia Rainer, Mimo Billi, Alvaro Alvisi, Oreste Biavati
Producer: Luigi Rovere
Production: Imperial Film

SYNOPSIS

Cesare Mancini, a tram driver, is an extremely skilful bowler; and his uncommon skill irritates the tram inspector, who begins to inexorably notice and report any infringement of the rules by Mancini himself. One day, Mancini runs over a woman in a moment of distraction. The accident does not have serious consequences, but the inspector does not fail to immediately report the event to the management, which fires Mancini as a driver and employs him as a ticket agent. Mancini can hardly stand the degradation inflicted on him: he shows his irritation in his demeanour towards the passengers, which in turn earns him more negative reports. Mancini tries to make amends; but one Sunday, his tram is stormed by a crowd of people…

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

“Actor Fabrizi, matured through the very unordinary experience gained on stage and in films, shows that he has achieved a taste and discretion that many intellectual filmmakers are far from possessing.” (La Nazione, 24/3/1955)