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:

train station | card game | crossdressing | goodbye | fired | 

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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, 16 November 2003

Gross USA:

$116,428

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$126,793

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

Trieste and co-star Sordi died a month apart in 2003, fifty years after release of film.

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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

Fausto Moretti: [reunited with Sandra, after his father has whipped him for his infidelities] You scared me so, Sandra. Never do that again, you hear?
Sandra Rubini: And if you make me mad again, I'll beat you like your father. But even harder. I'll beat you senseless.
Fausto Moretti: [starts to laugh] That's how I like you. Here, let me hold the baby

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Connections

Referenced in Goodfellas (1990)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Italian Melodrama

In a small seaside town in Italy, Moraldo Rubini (Franco Interlenghi), Alberto (Alberto Sordi), Fausto Moretti (Franco Fabrizi), Leopoldo Vannucci (Leopoldo Trieste) and Riccardo (Riccardo Fellini) form a group of idle friends that spend their time together doing nothing but drinking, flirting and going to parties. When Fausto's girlfriend Sandra Rubini (Eleonora Ruffo) gets pregnant, he is pressed by his own father to marry her. However, the irresponsible Fausto remains unfaithful to Sandra, cheating her with many women and almost leading his family to a tragedy.

"I Vitelloni" is an Italian melodrama with the signature of Federico Fellini: excellent production, great music score, outstanding interpretations, wonderful cinematography. The story is dated in the present days, it is not my favorite Fellini's film, but it is still a magnificent movie. I am not sure whether the story of this group of "Peter Pans" is autobiographic or not, but it is a good screenplay related to Italian culture of the 50s. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Os Boas Vidas" ("The Bons Vivants")