I Vitelloni (1953)

A character study of five young men at crucial turning points in their lives in a small town in Italy.

Director:

Federico Fellini

Writers:

Federico Fellini (story), Ennio Flaiano (story) (as Ennio Flajano)

Stars:

Alberto Sordi, Franco Fabrizi, Franco Interlenghi

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Franco Interlenghi	...	Moraldo Rubini
Alberto Sordi	...	Alberto
Franco Fabrizi	...	Fausto Moretti
Leopoldo Trieste	...	Leopoldo Vannucci
Riccardo Fellini	...	Riccardo
Leonora Ruffo	...	Sandra Rubini (as Eleonora Ruffo)
Jean Brochard	...	Francesco Moretti
Claude Farell	...	Olga
Carlo Romano	...	Michele Curti
Enrico Viarisio	...	Signor Rubini
Paola Borboni	...	Signora Rubini
Lída Baarová	...	Giulia Curti (as Lida Baarowa)
Arlette Sauvage	...	La sconosciuta del cinema
Vira Silenti	...	Gisella
Maja Niles	...	Caterina (as Maja Nipora)

Storyline

Fausto Moretti, having seduced Sandra Rubini, the sister of his friend and companion Moraldo Rubini, is forced to marry her. After their honeymoon, he takes a job as a salesman of religious objects in a small shop. He isn't changed by his marriage and still looks for women, with his friends, when and where they can find them. He even tries to seduce the wife of his boss and is fired. After each episode, Sandra forgives him. He and his friends of similar temperament are content to be idle, chase girls and leave the work and job-hunting to others. After spending the night away from home with a girl, Sandra cannot forgive anymore and runs off with their child. Fausto and his friends search all over for them, fearing the worst.

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Plot Keywords:

friend | girl | small town | religious object | pregnancy | 

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Taglines:

"We are the hollow men in this last of meeting places we grope together and avoid speech. Gathered on this beach of the torrid river." - used by permission from THE HOLLOW MEN by T.S. Eliot

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

7 November 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

I Vitelloni

Filming Locations:

Piazza delle Erbe, Viterbo, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,790, 14 November 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$97,944, 28 March 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cité Films, Peg-Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The part for 'Sergio Natali' was originally offered to the great Italian director, 'Vittorio de Sica'. He politely declined as he was concerned that the character's homosexuality might mark the director himself as a homosexual.

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Goofs

When Sandra receives the 'Miss Mermaid' sash, it is placed over her left shoulder. Later inside during the storm it is seen to be over her right shoulder.

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Quotes

Sergio Natali: He who cares not for art, cares not for life.

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Connections

Featured in Cinema Paradiso (1988)

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Soundtracks

Io Cerco la Titina
(uncredited)
Traditional
Heard during the carnival

User Reviews

listen to it too

This is a wonderful film. The BFI have got their act together and made a new print, so finally I get to se this - and to be honest I preferred it to La Dolce Vita (despite absence of Mastrionni - sexiest man in history of cinema). Anyway, some of these scenes were just breath-takingly beautiful, especially the aftermath of the carnival, where Angelo looks drunkenly at the clowns (about to become a key Fellini motif). What especially impressed was the soundtrack, which lurched from a fairly typical 'melodrama' score to brilliant use of natural sound, especially the cold wind whipping around the streets off the sea. This sound adds pathos, and helps you understand that sandra and Faustos' 'happy end' is merely temporary: this is a desolate place which makes for desolate lives. It differs from neo-realist classics such as Bicycle Thieves in that it places malaise into the spiritual and emotional realm rather than the financial, although you still get some sense that the boys' economic hardship is maybe not entirely voluntary. Really genuienely enjoyable on your first watch, something I don't think you can say about all Fellini's films, beautifully shot and wonderfully paced, you feel as if you have witnessed a little miracle watching this film.