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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Reportedly said to be Stanley Kubrick's favorite movie.

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Goofs

When Sandra is called up to receive the 'Miss Mermaid' sash, she is on the left of the screen, to the right of the compere. As the actress comes up to present the sash, Sandra is seen standing on the compere's left. But when the actress presents the sash, Sandra is back on the left, to the right of the compere.

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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

Scorsese Knows Best

I first saw this film as a college student in an Italian Cinema class. I was impressed then, and recently saw it again and was touched anew by these characters.

Then I noted that Martin Scorsese, in his documentary about Italian film on Turner Movies Classics ("My Voyage to Italy") names this film as a huge inspiration for his film "Mean Streets" -- and I felt totally exonerated that I had always placed this film up there with La Strada, 8 1/2, La Dolce Vita, and Amarcord.

Scorsese sets the record straight about how these characters are successfully fleshed out -- including Moraldo, the Fellini autobiographical character. This is a film of simple beauty, and while it may lack the complex allegorical meanings of La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2, the story more than delivers in its straight forward approach to story telling.

Forget Diner (a decent movie), Slackers, Clerks, and any other "slacker/loafer" movie; I Vitelloni transcends the genre -- and it is a true classic.

Rent this film - it will not let you down.

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:

$144,103

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cité Films, Peg-Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1