I'd not heard of the director but got this on DVD from Movie Detective's splendid site because of the three stars, and because I love Italian films. I'm glad I did and I share MRBICKLE's enthusiasm, particularly for Mastroianni's performance The film chops between three stories, all about young couples with obstacles to their love. Franco (Mastroianni) is a waiter on railway dining cars whose girlfriend Lisa is a telephone operator. His travels and their shift patterns mean they hardly get any time together. Paolo (Basehart) has been in prison after a fight, and now finds it hard to get a job, which he needs if he's to marry his mute girlfriend Marisa (Cortese.) Roberto seems to love Teresa, but is wary of marriage, and sees himself more as Casanova than faithful Romeo.

With six screenwriters and a director making his first film this could have been a mess, but instead it's a delight, as so many Italian films were at that time. It seems almost totally forgotten, and David Shipman's section on Mastroianni in his book on Great Movie Stars doesn't mention it. Dorigo made 6 more films, which are equally neglected. Four of them have no plot/synopsis on IMDB, and several have leads you'll ever have heard of. It's a pity, as he does a really good job here. One oddity; the Basehart - Cortese section (they were married at the time) was in colour, while the other two were in black and white.

Italian cinema has deeply influenced world cinema through its socially conscious realism and modernist experimentation, but it also flourished in popular genres like peplum (sword & sandal), giallo thrillers, and broad comedies. Its narratives often weave together politics, contemporary social change, class consciousness, and family dynamics, balancing artistic ambition with entertainment that resonated widely.

Lamberto Maggiorani in Bicycle Thieves (1948)

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

The romance genre features the theme of romantic relationships and emotional connections between characters. These stories focus on the development of love, desire, and intimacy between protagonists, often exploring the challenges, conflicts, and triumphs that arise in their relationships.

Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)

Three vignettes about couples trying to get together and the problems that continue to keep them apart.

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Amore e guai...

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