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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
  • Director
    • Ettore Scola
  • Writers
    • Ruggero Maccari(original idea)
    • Ettore Scola(original idea)
    • Maurizio Costanzo(collaboration)
  • Stars
    • Sophia Loren
    • Marcello Mastroianni
    • John Vernon
  • Director
    • Ettore Scola
  • Writers
    • 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
    • 50Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 13 wins & 5 nominations total

    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)
    • Director
      • Ettore Scola
    • Writers
      • 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 (1929)

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

    User reviews59

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Beautiful film about being human
    I too was quite astonished to see how few people had voted on this film, and just HAD to write something about it, although my comments are quite similar to those written already.

    I like many things about the film. The superb acting between Mastroianni & Loren. The way the film is narrated: Humanity and love slowly developing between these two outsiders, and contrasted to the simultaneously & continuously ongoing inhumane marching pace of the fascist radio announcer (who happens to be a colleague of Mastroianni's part)and the adherents "going to and coming from the show". To me this is a very fine film about what it is to be human. Maybe some of you would argue that the anti-fascist "message" is too clearly delivered, but to me this didn't destroy the film in any way. My vote is 10/10.
    helpful•27
    2
    • johannes-skarin
    • Nov 14, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 1977 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • Canada
    • Language
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Ein besonderer Tag
    • Filming locations
      • Viale XXI Aprile, Rome, Lazio, Italy(building's exteriors)
    • Production companies
      • Compagnia Cinematografica Champion
      • Canafox Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 46 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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