Napoli d'altri tempi (1938) User Reviews

Charming De Sica Period Vehicle

[lchadbou-326-26592 · 6/10 · 2 January 2021]

The young Vittorio De Sica gets to display his singing talent here as a humble working class Neapolitan of uncertain ancestry who becomes a successful composer at the turn of the century. There are two young women he is conflicted between, one a brunette from his class and neighborhood and the other a blonde from an aristocratic family where an elderly " fairy godmother" type helps him get a gig presenting his music. The real relationship at the center of his story though is with this old lady who goes out of his way to help him and finally reveals to him that she is his long lost aunt.She is played by character actress Emma Gramatica who De Sica would use years later in his Miracle in Milan. The film also serves as a showcase for popular Neapolitan tunes which date from this turn of the century period.