''The Scientific Cardplayer'', also known as ''The Scopone Game'' ( it, Lo scopone scientifico), is a 1973 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Luigi Comencini. The screenplay was written by

Rodolfo Sonego Rodolfo Sonego (27 February 1921 – 15 October 2000) was an Italian screenwriter. He wrote Commedia all'italiana films such as ''A Difficult Life'', '' Il vedovo'', and '' The Traffic Policeman''. Life and career Born in Cavarzano, Belluno, ...

Plot

An aging and wealthy American woman journeys to Rome each year with her chauffeur George to play the card game

scopone ''Scopa'' (; literally "broom") is an Italian card game, and one of the three major national card games in Italy, the others being ''Briscola'' and ''Tresette''. It is also popular in Argentina and Brazil, brought in by Italian immigrants, mostly ...

with destitute Peppino and his wife Antonia. The annual scenario remains unchanged: she donates the initial stakes, then ultimately wins the game, shattering the couple's dream of scoring a victory and improving their lot in life. Eventually their daughter Cleopatra seeks revenge on her parents' behalf.

Production notes

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her pe ...

was in the midst of a three-week vacation at the La Costa health spa in

Carlsbad, California Carlsbad is a coastal city in the North County region of San Diego County, California, United States. The city is south of downtown Los Angeles and north of downtown San Diego. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 114,746. ...

when she received the script. On 24-hour notice, she flew to Rome for filming, but did not learn that the dialogue was to be recorded in Italian until the first day of shooting. This was the third on-screen pairing of Davis and Joseph Cotten. They had previously costarred in ''

Beyond the Forest ''Beyond the Forest'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by King Vidor, and featuring Bette Davis, Joseph Cotten, David Brian, and Ruth Roman. The screenplay is written by Lenore Coffee based on a novel by Stuart Engstrand. The film marks Dav ...

'' (1949) and '' Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte'' (1964).

Cast

as The Millionairess * Joseph Cotten as George * Alberto Sordi as Peppino * Silvana Mangano as Antonia * Antonella Demaggi as Cleopatra * Mario Carotenuto as The Professor *

Domenico Modugno Domenico Modugno (; 9 January 1928 – 6 August 1994) was an Italian singer, actor and, later in life, a member of the Italian Parliament. He is known for his 1958 international hit song "Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song), Nel blu dipinto di blu", ...

as Righetto

Production credits

* Produced by Dino De Laurentiis * Original music by Piero Piccioni * Cinematography by

Giuseppe Ruzzolini Giuseppe Ruzzolini (21 May 1930 - 16 April 2007) was an Italian cinematographer. Career Ruzzolini is known for lensing such films as Stephen King's '' Firestarter'', ''Oedipus Rex'', Sergio Leone's ''Duck, You Sucker!'', and ''My Name is Nobo ...

* Art direction by Luigi Scaccianoce * Costume design by Bruna Parmesan

Awards

* 1973 David di Donatello Award for Best Actor (Alberto Sordi, winner) * 1973 David di Donatello Award for Best Actress (Silvana Mangano, winner) * 1973 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists

Nastro d'Argento The Nastro d'Argento, also known by its translated name Silver Ribbon, is an Italian film award awarded each year since 1946 by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists (Italian: ''Sindacato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani ...

for Best Supporting Actor (Mario Carotenuto, winner)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Scientific Cardplayer, The 1973 films Italian comedy-drama films Films set in Italy 1973 drama films 1970s Italian-language films Films about gambling Films directed by Luigi Comencini Films set in Rome Films shot in Rome Films scored by Piero Piccioni 1970s Italian films