The Widower (1959)
"Il vedovo" (original title)

Director:

Dino Risi

Writers:

Fabio Carpi (screenplay), Fabio Carpi (story),

Stars:

Alberto Sordi, Franca Valeri, Livio Lorenzon

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alberto Sordi	...	Alberto Nardi
Franca Valeri	...	Elvira Almiraghi
Livio Lorenzon	...	Stucchi
Nando Bruno	...	Alberto's Uncle
Ruggero Marchi	...	Carlo Fenoglio
Gastone Bettanini
Mario Passante	...	Comm. Lambertoni
Enzo Petito
Nanda Primavera	...	Italia, Gioia's mother
Rosita Pisano	...	Nardi's employee
Alberto Rabagliati	...	Himself
Mario Cianfanelli
Carlo Di Maggio
Ignazio Dolce	...	(as Ignazio Doci)
Consalvo Flirt	...	(as Consalvo Flirt)

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

commedia all'italiana | italian comedy

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Also Known As:

Der Witwer

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cino del Duca, Paneuropa

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

User Reviews

still laughing

This is a really funny movie with the great Alberto Sordi (at his best) and the incredible Franca Valeri. It's another portrait of the defects and geniality of some Italian people. Sordi is quite specialized in showing our egoism and hypocrisy.

Il vedovo (the widowed) is Alberto Sordi, a little and stupid entrepreneur who is married with the rich and smart Franca Valeri. He wishes the death of her wife as he is often humiliated by her due to his stupidity. She is smart and makes a lot of money with her business. He is always asking her for some money and tries to be good with her just for this.

It's very funny also his relationship with his attendant, his former superior during the War whom now he considers like a slave servant (it's so true that cowardly people is bad with subordinates and bootlicker with superiors!).

The entrepreneur starts thinking of killing his wife to get the money, but his plans are destined to be changed.

Very very funny, not one of the best movies ever of Alberto Sordi but one of the best of Franca Valeri. Absolutely worth watching. A little gem of Italian Comedy. Thanks Dino Risi!