This much forgotten film has kept me in stitches for years. My brother and I quoted lines from it for years on appropriate occasions. What a surprise to find that Victor Mature was very funny. You have to see it to believe it.
In this clever little film Neil Simon crafted one of his greatest screenplays and the actors translated it into one of the most humorous off-beat comedies of the 60's. It is hilarious even by Coen brother and Zucker brother standards.
Essentially this film is a study in human ego:
Aldo Vanucci (Peter Sellers) wants to be seen as the great master thief.
His sister (Britt Ekland) wants to be a film actress (pronounced "film akdress")
Aldo's mother wants to be the mother of famous children ("my son the director" "My daughter the akdress")
The Agent (Martin Balsam) is proud that he can see through everybody--save himself.
Tony Powell, famous film star, (Victor Mature) is an aging actor that won't accept that he's an aging actor. He wants to play young man roles even though he is in his 60's.
The Police chief wants to say "Gooda Morning" in the movie so he'll get his "Warhol allotment."
The whole town of Savalio wants: "To be inna movie."
This film is a scream. If you watch this and don't simply crack up, its obvious that farce is not your fare. It's okay--farcical humor isn't for everyone. CAVEAT: If you like this check out "The Wrong Box."
At any rate, the finale of this film (I won't give it away) surely made Fellini blush--he is so well lampooned by Simon. This film hands out the ultimate insult to the avant guard film crowd of the 60's. It has the courage to insinuate: "We don't get your films and that doesn't make you smarter than us!"
