Department Store (1939)
"I grandi magazzini" (original title)

Director:

Mario Camerini

Writers:

Mario Camerini (story), Renato Castellani (screenplay),

Stars:

Vittorio De Sica, Assia Noris, Virgilio Riento

Cast

Credited cast:
Vittorio De Sica	...	Bruno Zacchi
Assia Noris	...	Lauretta Corelli
Virgilio Riento	...	Gaetano
Enrico Glori	...	Bertini, il capo del personale
Luisella Beghi	...	Emilia
Andrea Checchi	...	Maurizio
Nino Crisman	...	L'ispettore dei magazzini
Milena Penovich	...	Anna
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Renato Alberini
Aldo Capacci	...	Il giovane dell'ascensore
Dhia Cristiani	...	La commessa del reparto mobili
Dino De Laurentiis	...	Un fattorino
Peppino De Martino	...	L'impiegato addetto ai cartellini
Giovanni Ferrari
Alba Ferrarotti	...	Una commessa

Storyline

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

10 August 1939 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Alarm im Warenhaus

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amato Film, Era Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa # 30645 delivered on 2-6-1939.

User Reviews

Pre War Camerin De Sica moves away from realism.

Least impressive of the pre war Camerini - De Sicas is still a film of considerable interest, coming complete with OK persistent Cicognini score, back projection, so so car chase & shoot out and slick production values.

Driver De Sica romances shop girl Norris, despite becoming involved with a parcels racket. It's all set in a giant white department store atrium set (cf.the Spanish CRIMEN FERPECTO)complete with practical elevator.

This one still has working class characters but it's closer to MGM than neo realism, with it's slick studio shooting and luxury goods. Vittorio milks it. See the space he gets out of taking a drink in Penovich's apartment but by now Assia Norris, the less accomplished performer, has worked out how to hit just the right note of blonde innocent charm.

One of the more accomplish romcoms of the day.