For Love and Gold (1966)
"L'armata Brancaleone" (original title)

A group of misfits, headed by an incompetent knight named Brancaleone, set out to reach the small town of Aurocastro so that their leader can take possession of the fief.

Director:

Mario Monicelli

Writers:

Agenore Incrocci, Mario Monicelli (screenplay),

Stars:

Vittorio Gassman, Catherine Spaak, Folco Lulli

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vittorio Gassman	...	Brancaleone da Norcia
Catherine Spaak	...	Matelda
Folco Lulli	...	Pecoro
Gian Maria Volonté	...	Teofilatto dei Leonzi
Maria Grazia Buccella	...	The widow
Barbara Steele	...	Teodora
Enrico Maria Salerno	...	Zenone
Carlo Pisacane	...	Abacuc
Ugo Fangareggi	...	Mangold
Gianluigi Crescenzi	...	Taccone
Pippo Starnazza	...	Piccioni
Luigi Sangiorgi	...	Manuc
Fulvia Franco	...	Luisa
Tito García	...	Filuccio (as Pablo Tito García)
Joaquín Díaz	...	Guccione

Storyline

A group of rogues steal a scroll granting its bearer the property of the land of Aurocastro in Apulia (south of Italy). They elect a shaggy knight, Brancaleone from Norcia, as their leader, and decide to get possession of this supposedly wealthy land. Many adventures will occurr during the journey.

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Plot Keywords:

knight | italy | castle | medieval times | byzantine | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy

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Details

Country:

Italy France Spain

Language:

Italian Latin

Release Date:

7 April 1966 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Brancaleone's Army

Filming Locations:

Le Castella, Isola Capo Rizzuto, Crotone, Calabria, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fair Film, Les Films Marceau, Vertice Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to director Mario Monicelli, Brancaleone was dressed "halfway between a Japanese samurai and an Italian ragamuffin".

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Connections

Followed by Brancaleone at the Crusades (1970)

User Reviews

absolute fun

Ok, the italian comedy of the `50s and `60s is one of the best in the world. I say this not only because I am italian but because it`s true. Just rent or buy the movies of directors such as Pietro Germi, Dino Risi, Steno and of course Mario Monicelli. L`Armata Brancaleone is one of the best comedies ever because of the script, the gags, the language (a very funny mix of ancient italian and latin, I don`t know how the translation could work) and the actors, first of all Gassman, the protagonist, that Monicelli `discovered` as a comic character in `I soliti ignoti` (before that Gassman played almost exclusively drama plays). Even the representation of the Middle Age seems to me (a non-expert in history) quite accurate: see for example the prophet who guides the people towards the Crusade (an incredible Gian Maria Volonte`).

Another gem of italian comedy, a must-see for everyone.