Cops and Robbers (1951)
"Guardie e ladri" (original title)

Directors:

Mario Monicelli, Steno

Writers:

Vitaliano Brancati (dialogue), Aldo Fabrizi (dialogue),

Stars:

Totò, Aldo Fabrizi, Pina Piovani

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Totò	...	Ferdinando Esposito
Aldo Fabrizi	...	Brigadiere Bottoni
Pina Piovani	...	Esposito's Wife
Ave Ninchi	...	Giovanna, Bottoni's Wife
Rossana Podestà	...	Bottoni's Daughter
Ernesto Almirante	...	Esposito's Father
Carlo Delle Piane	...	Libero, Esposito's Son
William Tubbs	...	Mr. Locuzzo, the Tourist (as William Thubbs)
Gino Leurini	...	Esposito's Brother-in-law
Mario Castellani	...	Amilcare
Aldo Giuffrè	...	Esposito's Partner
Armando Guarnieri
Pietro Carloni	...	Commissario
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aldo Alimonti
Riccardo Antolini

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

hunger | role reversal | farce | scam | slum | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian English French

Release Date:

29 November 1951 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Gendarmes et voleurs

Company Credits

Production Co:

De Laurentiis, Golden Film, Lux Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa # 10313 delivered on 23-10-1951.

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Connections

Remade as Politseiskiye i vory (1997)

User Reviews

Cops and robbers,it's all the same.

I have always thought that Italian comedies were far superior to French ones.They all have a tragical side ,which eludes the French directors.

"Guardie e Ladri" is a long chase between a two-bit crook and a cop with a tender heart.The first scene when the lad pretends he is a guide and shows to the naive tourist Colombus's grave and Poppea's bathtub is sheer genius.If it were not enough ,the guide finds an "inestimable " coin,a sesterce from Augustus' time! The depiction of the two families,the cozy house of the cop where the girl plays the piano and the seedy small flat where the runaway packs into with his large family rings true.Actually Monicelli calls the establishment into question:unemployment,poverty,plenty of mouthes to feed ,can we really blame the thief?The last picture is revealing.