''The Elusive Twelve'' (Italian: ''L'inafferrabile 12'') is a 1950 Italian

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Mario Mattoli Mario Mattoli (; 30 November 1898 – 26 February 1980) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 86 films between 1934 and 1966. His 1939 film ''Defendant, Stand Up!'' was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comed ...

and starring

Walter Chiari Walter Annicchiarico (8 March 1924 – 20 December 1991), known as Walter Chiari , was an Italian stage and screen actor, mostly in comedy roles. Biography Walter Annicchiarico was born in Verona, Italy on 8 March 1924 to a family originall ...

Silvana Pampanini Silvana Pampanini (25 September 1925 – 6 January 2016) was an Italian film actress, director and singer. She was also the niece of the soprano of the golden era of opera, Dame Rosetta Pampanini. Silvana Pampanini caused a sensation when she t ...

and

Isa Barzizza Isa Barzizza (22 November 1929 – 28 May 2023) was an Italian actress whose career spanned over 60 years. Life and career Early life Born in Sanremo, Barzizza was the daughter of the conductor and composer Pippo Barzizza. Gianfranco Baldazzi ...

. It was shot at the Farnesina Studios of

Titanus Titanus (also called Titanus Distribuzione) is an Italian film production and distribution company, founded in 1904 by Gustavo Lombardo (1885–1951). The company's headquarters are located at 28 Via Sommacampagna, Rome and its studios on the Vi ...

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

. The film's sets were designed by the

art director Art director is a title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, live-action and animated film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supe ...

Piero Filippone Piero Filippone (1911–1998) was an Italian art director who designed the sets for around two hundred films. He created the sets for Roberto Rossellini's 1954 film ''Journey to Italy''.Brunette p.416 Selected filmography * '' Three Cornered Hat ...

. It earned 400 million

lira Lira is the name of several currency units. It is the current Turkish lira, currency of Turkey and also the local name of the Lebanese pound, currencies of Lebanon and of Syrian pound, Syria. It is also the name of several former currencies, ...

at the domestic box office.Chiti & Poppi p.189

Plot

When his wife gives birth to twin boys, her husband sends one to the

orphanage An orphanage is a residential institution, total institution or group home, devoted to the care of orphans and children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared by their biological families. The parents may be deceased, absent, or abusi ...

as they already have eleven children and thirteen would be unlucky. The two boys grow up completely apart, one becoming a

professional footballer Association football is the world's most popular sport and is worth US$600 billion worldwide. By the end of the 20th century it was played by over 250 million players in over 200 countries. Around the world, the sport is played at a profes ...

for

Juventus Juventus Football Club (; from , ), commonly known as Juventus or colloquially as Juve (), is an Italian professional Association football, football List of football clubs in Italy, club based in Turin, Piedmont, who compete in Serie A, the ...

and the other an employee of the state

lottery A lottery (or lotto) is a form of gambling that involves the drawing of numbers at random for a prize. Some governments outlaw lotteries, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find som ...

. Without meeting, the two now keep accidentally crossing paths. The second man is mistaken for the first man by his girlfriend, and ends up playing in a football match in place of his twin.

Cast

as Carletto Esposito\Brandoletti *

as Clara *

as Teresa *

Carlo Campanini Carlo Campanini (5 October 1906 – 20 November 1984) was an Italian actor, singer and comedian. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1939 and 1969. Life and career Born in Turin, Campanini attended a technical school and a course of ...

as Beppe *

Aroldo Tieri Aroldo Tieri (28 August 1917 – 28 December 2006) was an Italian actor. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1939 and 1969. Life and career Born in Corigliano Calabro, province of Cosenza, son of the journalist and playwright Vincen ...

as Il dottor Giechi *

Marilyn Buferd Marilyn Buferd (January 30, 1925 – March 27, 1990) was an American film and television actress as well as the winner of both the Miss California and Miss America pageants of 1946. During the latter half of the 1940s and throughout the 1950s, s ...

as L'assistente del dott. Giechi *

Laura Gore Laura Gore (born Laura Emilia Regli; 30 September 1918 – 27 March 1957) was an Italian actress and voice actress. She appeared in 39 films between 1945 and 1955. While studying accounting, in 1940 she won the eighth edition of the amateur ...

as Carletta *

Enzo Biliotti Enzo Biliotti (28 June 1887 – 19 November 1976) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 80 films between 1916 and 1958. Life and career Born in Livorno, Biliotti started his career in 1918, in the stage company of and Olga Vittoria Gentil ...

as Cav. Federico Pallino * Agnese Dubbini as La levatrice *

Luigi Pavese Luigi Pavese (25 October 1897 – 13 December 1969) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Biography Born in Asti, Pavese started his career in 1916 working as a silent film actor at 19 years of age. He then began his theatrical debut in 1 ...

as Umberto *

Pina Gallini Pina Gallini (19 March 1888 – 31 January 1974) was an Italian film actress. She appeared in 82 films between 1935 and 1963. Selected filmography * ''The Countess of Parma'' (1936) * '' The Ferocious Saladin'' (1937) * '' The Former Matti ...

as La direttrice *

Yvonne Sanson Yvonne Sanson, born Fotini Sapountzakis (Greek: Φωτεινή Σαπουντζάκη1950 films 1950 comedy films 1950s sports comedy films Italian sports comedy films Italian association football films 1950s Italian-language films Italian black-and-white films Films directed by Mario Mattoli Titanus films Films set in Rome 1950s Italian films Italian-language sports comedy films {{1950s-Italy-comedy-film-stub