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IMDbPro

A Special Day

Original title: Una giornata particolare
  • 19771977
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
15K
YOUR RATING
Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in A Special Day (1977)
Italian cinema's most iconic screen couple, Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni - here cast against glamorous type - deliver the finest and most nuanced performances of their career in this rarely seen masterpiece finally presented, restored and remastered in 4K - with striking desaturated colours - as originally created by its multi-awarded director Ettore Scola.
On this special day in 1938, all of fascist Rome has been mustered to a parade for Hitler visiting Mussolini. Loren's working-class housewife, Antonietta, left alone to her chores, meets the only other person left in their block, Gabriele (Mastroianni), a persecuted homosexual radio announcer. The two, who are poles apart, forge an unexpectedly close friendship that will change their perceptions of love, politics and life itself...
Play trailer1:16
1 Video
74 Photos
Drama
Two neighbors, a persecuted journalist and a resigned housewife, meet during Hitler's visit to Italy in May 1938.Two neighbors, a persecuted journalist and a resigned housewife, meet during Hitler's visit to Italy in May 1938.Two neighbors, a persecuted journalist and a resigned housewife, meet during Hitler's visit to Italy in May 1938.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
15K
YOUR RATING
    • Ettore Scola
    • Ruggero Maccari(original idea)
    • Ettore Scola(original idea)
    • Maurizio Costanzo(collaboration)
  • Stars
    • Sophia Loren
    • Marcello Mastroianni
    • John Vernon
    • Ettore Scola
    • Ruggero Maccari(original idea)
    • Ettore Scola(original idea)
    • Maurizio Costanzo(collaboration)
  • Stars
    • Sophia Loren
    • Marcello Mastroianni
    • John Vernon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 59User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars

    Videos1

    A Special Day trailer
    Trailer 1:16
    Watch A Special Day trailer

    Photos74

    Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in A Special Day (1977)
    Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in A Special Day (1977)
    Sophia Loren in A Special Day (1977)
    Sophia Loren in A Special Day (1977)
    Sophia Loren in A Special Day (1977)
    Sophia Loren in A Special Day (1977)
    Sophia Loren in A Special Day (1977)
    Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in A Special Day (1977)
    Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in A Special Day (1977)
    Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in A Special Day (1977)
    Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in A Special Day (1977)
    Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni in A Special Day (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sophia Loren
    Sophia Loren
    • Antonietta Taberi
    Marcello Mastroianni
    Marcello Mastroianni
    • Gabriele
    John Vernon
    John Vernon
    • Emanuele Taberi
    Françoise Berd
    Françoise Berd
    • Concierge
    Patrizia Basso
    • Romana Taberi
    Tiziano De Persio
    • Arnaldo Taberi
    Maurizio Di Paolantonio
    • Fabio Taberi
    Antonio Garibaldi
    • Littorio Taberi
    Vittorio Guerrieri
    • Umberto Taberi
    Alessandra Mussolini
    • Maria Luisa Taberi
    Nicole Magny
    • Officer's Daughter
    Galeazzo Ciano
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Adolf Hitler
    Adolf Hitler
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    King Victor Emmanuel III
    King Victor Emmanuel III
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Benito Mussolini
    Benito Mussolini
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
      • Ettore Scola
      • Ruggero Maccari(original idea) (screenplay by)
      • Ettore Scola(original idea) (screenplay by)
      • Maurizio Costanzo(collaboration)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Marcello Mastroianni's character, Gabriele, is partially based on Nunzio Filogamo, an Italian radio broadcaster and presenter. During the 1930s, Filogamo was persecuted by the Fascist regime for his homosexuality, but he was so popular with the Italian people that the government couldn't fire him or deport him. Instead, Filogamo was required to carry a medical card stating that he was not a homosexual (as Gabriele mentions he is required to do in the film).
    • Goofs
      Hitler's address, heard in the background, is not from his visit to Rome but from the 1934 Nuremberg Party Meeting, more particularly from his address to the German Youth on the third day. He's heard summoning them to be "strong and peaceful", "courageous and peace-loving".
    • Quotes

      Gabriele: As they say, "Tidiness is the virtue of a mediocre mind."

      Antonietta: Then I'm a genius.

    • Connections
      Edited into Marcello, una vita dolce (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Horst Wessel Lied
      Composed by Horst Wessel in 1929.

      Heard on piano as Mastroianni's character is led away to prison

    User reviews59

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Sober but beautiful and effective masterpiece: brilliant
    How is it possible that this brilliant masterpiece only received 243 votes and I write only the second comment? Do something about that and go and see this film before you read any further! It is the most human film I've ever seen with one of the greatest performances in history of cinema. Forget about 'Todo sobre mi madre' and 'La vita e bella' as they are surpassed by 'Una Giornata Particolare' by (light)years. It never gets ambitious nor pretentious in trying to capture the 'crucial problems of the world', but instead is an extensive characterstudy that I consider 2 B 1 of the most important films ever made: not especially for its influence on cinema, but for society and for people as human beings (after all, we ARE human). Cinematographer Pasqualino De Santis (Lucky Luciano, Morte a Venezia, L'Innocente) created a sober but beautiful and effective masterpiece and proves that the best films don't have to be expensive.

    Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni made a few other films together, but this has to be their best. Scola's (Brutti sporchi e cattivi, C'eravamo tanto amati) very best too of course! I am glad that I saw this film first about twelve years ago, because it is not a film I would have wanted to miss. It may not be very accessible (you have to patient), but I think I got the point the first time I saw it. The day portrayed is not special because of the parade that's going on, but because of the attention and interest two completely different people CAN have for each other IF they are open enough. See for yourself if there ultimately arises real friendship.

    Recommendations are 'Il Conformista' (1970, Bertolucci) and 'Amarcord' (1974, Fellini), which also portray some human behaviour in the shadow of upcoming fascism, but in a more visual way. Further recommendations could be 'Kaos' (1984, Taviani Bros.) and 'La Terrazza' (1980, Scola).

    Why o why can't we vote 11 :(
    helpful•62
    5
    • rogierr
    • Jul 11, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 1977 (United States)
      • Italy
      • Canada
      • Italian
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Viale XXI Aprile, Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Compagnia Cinematografica Champion
      • Canafox Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 46 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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