Doctor, Beware (1941)

Teresa, a young orphan, falls in love with Pietro, a health inspector. She will try to bring order to his reckless life full of debts and lies.

Director:

Vittorio De Sica

Writers:

Gherardo Gherardi (story), Franco Riganti (story)

Stars:

Adriana Benetti, Irasema Dilián, Anna Magnani

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Adriana Benetti	...	Teresa Venerdì
Irasema Dilián	...	Lilli Passalacqua (as Irasema Dillian)
Anna Magnani	...	Loletta Prima
Clara Auteri Pepe	...	Giuseppina
Zaira La Fratta	...	Alice
Olga Vittoria Gentilli	...	Rosa Passalacqua
Elvira Betrone	...	La direttrice dell'orfanotrofio
Giuditta Rissone	...	L'istutrice Anna
Alessandra Adari	...	L'istutrice Caterina (as Sandra Adari)
Lina Marengo	...	La maestra Ricci
Vittorio De Sica	...	Dott. Pietro Vignali
Nico Pepe	...	Dott. Pasquale Grosso
Virgilio Riento	...	Antonio
Guglielmo Barnabò	...	Agostino Passalacqua
Annibale Betrone	...	Umberto Vignali

Storyline

A comedy of errors in which the sweetly incompetent Dr. Pietro Vignali (de Sica) has been run deep into debt by his girlfriend, Loletta Prima (Magnani). After his creditors threaten to sell his belongings, he takes a job as an orphanage health inspector to pay his debts and ends up engaged to wealthy Lilli, daughter of a mattress tycoon, and chased after by the orphan Teresa Venerdí, while trying to keep his life in order.

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Plot Keywords:

falling in love | love | girl | debt | orphanage | 

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Taglines:

A rollicking new comedy by the distinguished director of "SHOE SHINE" and "THE BICYCLE THIEF"

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Did You Know?

Goofs

Teresa's card taken from the card box by the headmistress is different from the one she hands to the presidente. E.g. the former says "nata il 2 luglio 1924" and "adottata dai..." (adopted from). On the latter it says "nata 2-7-1924" (which in the European format is indeed the same date) and instead of "adottata" it says "allevata dai..." (raised by).

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Connections

Referenced in Vittorio D. (2009)

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Soundtracks

Qui nel cuor
(uncredited)
Written by Giovanni D'Anzi and Devilli
Performed by Anna Magnani

User Reviews

Blurb

This minor but winning little filmic treasure from the Italian fascist era was directed by Vittorio De Sica before he made all the films that brought him international fame like SHOE SHINE, BICYCLE THIEF, MIRACLE IN MILAN, and UMBERTO D. De Sica himself plays a young physician in an orphanage for girls where a young girl named Teresa "Venerdi'" or "Teresa Friday" (because that was the day she arrived) becomes infatuated with him. The doctor is carrying on a romance at the same time with a flirtatious singer, Loletta, played by a feisty Anna Magnani in a short but fabulous supporting role. The expressions of boredom on her face as she goes through a tiresome and tacky dance number are a wonder to behold. Teresa, the love-struck heroine, is played by the lovely Adriana Benetti, whom Italian film buffs remember from Blasetti's landmark QUATTRO PASSI FRA LE NUVOLE, made a year later.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

29 April 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Doctor, Beware

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alleanza Cinematografica Italiana (A.C.I.), Europa Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1