I maniaci (1964)

Features a series of brief comic shetches based on manias, mainly sexual, featuring several figures of Italian society.

Director:

Lucio Fulci

Writers:

Franco Castellano (screenplay), Franco Castellano (story),

Stars:

Walter Chiari, Enrico Maria Salerno, Barbara Steele

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Walter Chiari	...	The Sicilian hitchhiker (segment "L'autostop") / Car driver (segment "Il sorpasso") / Pasquale Taddei (segment "La protesta") / Client of Night-clubs (segment "Lo strip")
Enrico Maria Salerno	...	Castelli (segment "la parolaccia")
Barbara Steele	...	Barbara (segment "l'hobby")
Raimondo Vianello	...	Mr. Brugnoli (segment "la cambiale") / Giulio Errani (segment "Lo sport") / Paolo (segment "I consigli") / Micozzi (segment "Le interviste")
Gaia Germani	...	Carla (segment "l'hobby")
Umberto D'Orsi	...	Ilario Baietti (segment "La parolaccia") / Friar (segment "Il pezzo unico") / Car driver (segment "L'autostop")
Sandra Mondaini	...	The wife (segment "i consigli")
Franco Fabrizi	...	Sita - the insolent employee (segment "Lo sport")
Aroldo Tieri	...	Mr. Bonfanti (segment "La cambiale") / Mario (segment "La protesta")
Ingrid Schoeller	...	Mrs. Bonfanti (segment "La cambiale")
Lisa Gastoni	...	Gulio's wife (segment "lo sport")
Margaret Lee	...	Rosalie (segment "Il week-end")
Franco Franchi	...	Thief #1 (segment 'Il week-end)
Ciccio Ingrassia	...	Thief #2 (segment 'Il week-end)
Franca Valeri	...	The wife (segment "il pezzo antico")

Storyline

A series of comic sketches revolving around the "mania" in people's deepest personality. In "The Elaboration", a hearse driver has his favorite hearse made out to perfection for his "clients". In "Sport" a bossy office supervisor loses a sports bet to co-workers and is forced to pimp out his wife, while one colleague decides to take advantage of it. In "Overtaking" a man tries to outrun a set of lights on a highway late at night... not realizing that it's an airplane. In "The Hobby" two best friends, Barbara and Carla, team up to find where one's husband is going to every weekend and being secretive about it. In "Advice" a bickering couple out for a drive bicker about one's well being which leads to a traffic accident. In "The Protest", Pasquale and Mario are two men who cannot seem to pass up every attempt to protest against the government from 1943 to present day 1964. In "The Antique", a couple travels to a remote monastery to shop for antiques and seek which ones to buy or leave. ...

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Plot Keywords:

antique | interview | hitchhiking | prostitute | soccer | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

Spain Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

28 March 1964 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Maniacs

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Gross:

ESP 6,330,838 (Spain)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hesperia Films S.A., Produzione Associata, Tecisa

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Pel di carota"
Performed by Rita Pavone

User Reviews

Uneven but it has a lot of nice vignettes

"I Maniaci" is a highly uneven film that is still well worth seeing. It's an Italian film made up of lots of little skits. Some work, some do not. But they come so quickly that even with the lesser ones, you know a good one is soon coming. However, I did notice that the poorest vignettes occurred near the beginning, so if you find your attention waning--hold on--it will get better.

Of the skits, my favorites were the one about the REALLY obnoxious couple who visit a monastery as well as the hitchhiker. They were particularly funny though the rest are generally good. In the last one, however, they managed to make a funny skit--but a seriously flawed one where there is TONS of mugging and overacting.

Overall, a very good film that is light and simple entertainment. Just turn off your brain and enjoy.