Allegro non troppo (1976)

An enthusiastic filmmaker thinks he's come up with a totally original idea: animation set to classical music! When he is informed that some American named "Prisney" (or something) has ... See full summary »

Director:

Bruno Bozzetto

Writers:

Bruno Bozzetto (screenplay), Guido Manuli (screenplay)

Stars:

Maurizio Nichetti, Maurizio Micheli, Marialuisa Giovannini

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marialuisa Giovannini	...	The Cleaning Girl
Néstor Garay	...	The Orchestra Master
Maurizio Micheli	...	The Presenter
Maurizio Nichetti	...	The Animator
Mirella Falco	...	Non-Exercising Orchestra Member
Osvaldo Salvi	...	Man in gorilla costume
Jolanda Cappi	...	Fallen Orchestra Member
Franca Mantelli	...	Dancing Orchestra Member

Storyline

An enthusiastic filmmaker thinks he's come up with a totally original idea: animation set to classical music! When he is informed that some American named "Prisney" (or something) has already done it, he decides to do his own version, using an orchestra comprising mostly old ladies and an animator he's kept locked in a dungeon. Several different classical pieces are animated, while the animator plots his escape.

---

Plot Keywords:

classical music | parody | slapstick comedy | live action animated hybrid | bottle | 

---

Taglines:

Rollover, Beethoven

---

Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Fantasy | Music | Romance

---

Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ward Kimball once called the "Bolero" sequence one of the greatest pieces of animation he had ever seen and would recommend it to students learning about the medium.

---

Goofs

Since this film is a parody AND a cartoon, it's arguable whether anything can be legitimately considered a goof. However, at the end of the film, when the director sends Franceschini down to the archives, each time he pulls a finale off the pile the same animation is reused all three times. The effect is that Franceschini takes the same stage each time, only to have it reappear when he goes back for the next.

---

Quotes

[opening lines]
The Presenter: P:Ladies and gentlemen, you are about to see an unforgettable show, a film destined to become immortal, as immortal as the music which will follow, and which will be interpreted through animation. Beginning with his childhood fantasies, the greatest ambition that burns and swells in the soul of every creative animator is to illustrate music, to give visual form and color to its notes. With this film, we have finally succeeded in achieving this union of animation and classical ...
[...]

---

Crazy Credits

Si ringrazia il Comune di Bergamo di aver concesso il Teatro Donizetti per le riprese dal vero. [We thank the City of Bergamo for providing the Teatro Donizetti for the live-action filming.]

---

Alternate Versions

There are two cuts to be found on home video. A 1985 release by RCA/Columbia Home Video on VHS and LD is English dubbed and edited for content. These edits appear only within the live-action interludes, a full 10 minutes worth though - this version is 75min run time. Interesting what they chose to remove, considering that much of the animation itself could be seen by some as rather risqué and probably intended for an adult audience. The removed bits generally are those containing abuse by the conductor upon the orchestra and animator. This is the version that was theatrically released in the U.S.. The video transfer (both tape and LD) is somewhat green throughout, unlike the current version available from HomeVision on DVD and VHS which is the original Italian w/English subtitles and appears to be uncensored.

---

Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Avalon/Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones/Henry & June/Desperate Hours (1990)

---

Soundtracks

Boléro
Written by Maurice Ravel
Performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker (as Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra) conducted by Herbert von Karajan

User Reviews

The best cartoon of it's type. Sorry Walt.

I first saw "Allegro non troppo" in a cinema on it's release and have watched it since whenever it appears on TV. The choice of music and the contrast of the grainy B&W film with the animator's coloured cartoon efforts make for a wonderfully crafted film. I was so impressed by Allegro that I had always wanted a top quality commercial copy so I considered buying the VHS tape when it became available but waited 'til a more stable technology was available. As it has not been on sale at any DVD shops I have finally bitten the bullet and ordered a copy. It has been a long wait(nearly 30 years) but well worth it.

The internal comparisons with Disney's Fantasia, which I also have, parodying the constant US remakes such as The Bird Cage for La Cage, The Good the bad for Seven samurai etc. The music is all great, a better mix than in Fantasia. The Bolero will always remind me of Allegro and the monkey rather than "10" and Bo.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

27 July 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Allegro non troppo

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bruno Bozzetto Film, Ministero del Turismo e dello Spettacolo

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1