Don Camillo (1983)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Terence Hill

Writers:

Giovanni Guareschi (books)
Lori Hill (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 May 1984 (West Germany)

Genre:

Action | Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Church | Soccer Football | Children | Boys' Soccer

Cast

Terence Hill	...	Don Camillo
Colin Blakely	...	Peppone
Mimsy Farmer	...	Jo Magro
Andy Luotto	...	Smilzo
Lew Ayres	...	Doc
Sam Whipple	...	Gigio
Joseph Ragno	...	Brusco
Jennifer Hingel	...	Lilly
Franco Diogene	...	Binella (as Frank Diogene)
Monica Gravina	...	Bride
Mauro Gravina	...	Groom
Roberto Boninsegna	...	Angel soccer player
Carlo Ancelotti	...	Devil soccer player
Roberto Pruzzo	...	Devil soccer player
Luciano Spinosi	...	Devil soccer player

Also Known As:

The World of Don Camillo (USA)

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:6 | Finland:K-8

Filming Locations:

Brescello, Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Company:

Paloma Films

Movie Connections:

Version of Don Camillo (1952)

Soundtrack:

Why

Too Cool - No Warmth - No Edges

This movie lacks the charm and the warmth of the original stories by Guareschi. Transporting the context 30 years forward into present-day (that is: 1980s) Italy was probably the right thing to do, since the distance in time wasn't big enough to film this as a period piece, but turning Don Camillo into such a cool dude rips the heart out of these stories. Mario Girotti plays the character in Trinity style, aloof, quirky, dead-pan; but this Camillo is barely recognisable as the passionately caring priest of the books. I don't think the earlier Camillo incarnation by Fernandel was right either (e.g. Fernandel's Camillo was not physical enough), but at least it exuded the required warmth.

A cool Don Camillo creates another problem: what happens with his constant little battles with Peppone and his party? Peppone's communist shenanigans are similarly toned down and as a result the antagonism between the two sides does not ring true - at least not to the extent the stories require. Thus, this film version also lacks the tension, conflict and hatred between the two camps. Perhaps there was some sensitivity here towards the American market: no children's movies with real communists in them, please!

A few changes to cater for the international market are also embarrassing: the two soccer teams are called "Angels" and "Devils" (in English!) and a couple of the songs performed in Church are in English as well. This is situated in rural Italy!