Mario Alberto Ettore Monicelli (; 16 May 1915 – 29 November 2010) was an Italian film director and screenwriter and one of the masters of the '' Commedia all'Italiana'' (Comedy Italian style). He was nominated six times for an Oscar, and was awarded the

Golden Lion The Golden Lion ( it, Leone d'oro) is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is now regarded as one of the film industry's most prestigious and distinguis ...

for his career.

Biography

The early times

Monicelli was born in Rome to a well-do family from Ostiglia,. a ''

comune The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...

'' in the

province of Mantua The Province of Mantua ( it, provincia di Mantova; Mantovano, Lower Mantovano: ; Upper Mantovano: ) is a province in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy. Its capital is the city of Mantua. It is bordered to the north-east by the Province of ...

, in the Northern Italian region of

Lombardy (man), (woman) lmo, lumbard, links=no (man), (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , ...

, as the second of five children of Tomaso Monicelli, a journalist, and Maria Carreri, a housewife. His older half-brother, Giorgio (whose mother was actress Elisa Severi), worked as writer and translator. An older brother, Franco, was a journalist. Raised in Rome, Viareggio (

Tuscany it, Toscano (man) it, Toscana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Citizenship , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = Italian , demogra ...

) and

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city ...

,.. Monicelli lived a carefree youth, and many of the cinematic jokes he later shot in ''Amici Miei'' ( My Friends) were inspired by his own experiences during his youth in Tuscany. In Milan, he finished his third year of high school and began his university studies. In the Lombard capital, Monicelli met Riccardo Freda, Remo Cantoni, Alberto Lattuada, Alberto Mondadori and Vittorio Sereni; together they founded, with the support of the publisher Mondadori, the newspaper "Camminare", in which Monicelli dealt with film criticism. Monicelli recounted how, in his criticism, he was very critical of Italian films, while, on the other hand, he exalted American and French films, which he loved very much, stating that perhaps he did so out of a veiled form of anti-fascism. "Camminare" did not last long as the Ministry of Popular Culture suppressed it because it was considered left-wing. Later, Monicelli returned to Tuscany, where he completed his University studies in Pisa, at the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy. Interested in the world of celluloid, he kept on putting off graduating until he was called up for military service. Monicelli said: "it was enough to go to graduation dressed as a soldier and you didn't need a thesis or anything else ..That's how my degree came about, I don't even know if it's valid". In 1934 he shot his "first cinematographic experiment", the short film Cuore rivelatore (Tell-tale Heart), inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's work of the same name, together with Alberto Mondadori and Alberto Lattuada, with the latter acting as set designer as he was an architecture student at the time. The three sent it to a national cultural festival, "Littoriali", hoping in vain that it would be shown, but the film was branded as an example of "paranoid cinema".

Breakthrough

Always with his friend Alberto Mondadori, he released the silent film ''I ragazzi della Via Paal'' (an adaptation of the novel '' The Paul Street Boys''), which was an award-winner in the

Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival h ...

. The award earned Monicelli the opportunity to work in the production of a professional film. He was therefore able to skip the various stages of professional training and was sent, together with Mondadori, to work as a camera assistant in the production of Gustav Machatý's film "Ballerine". After that he found work, as a camera assistant again, in

Augusto Genina Augusto Genina (28 January 1892 – 18 September 1957) was an Italian film pioneer. He was a movie producer and director. Biography Born in Rome, Genina was a drama critic and wrote comedies for the ''Il Mondo'' Magazine, under advise of Aldo ...

's film

Lo squadrone bianco ''Lo squadrone bianco'' (Italian for "The White Squadron") is a 1936 Italian film directed by Augusto Genina. The plot features a cavalry lieutenant, unlucky in love, who redeems himself by battling the "rebels" of Tripolitania (modern Libya). The ...

and ''

The Castiglioni Brothers ''The Castiglioni Brothers'' (Italian: ''I fratelli Castiglioni'') is a 1937 Italian " white-telephones" comedy film directed by Corrado D'Errico and starring Camillo Pilotto, Ugo Ceseri and Amedeo Nazzari. It was based on a play of the same ti ...

'' by

Corrado D'Errico Corrado D'Errico (1902–1941) was an Italian screenwriter and film director. D'Errico was one of a number of directors in the Fascist era to graduate from the Instituto Luce.Brunetta p.76 Selected filmography Director * '' Golden Arrow'' (19 ...

. There he met Giacomo Gentilomo, who hired him as an assistant director and co-writer for ''

Short Circuit A short circuit (sometimes abbreviated to short or s/c) is an electrical circuit that allows a current to travel along an unintended path with no or very low electrical impedance. This results in an excessive current flowing through the circu ...

'', considered as a possible precursor to the

giallo In Italian cinema, ''Giallo'' (; plural ''gialli'', from ''giallo'', Italian for yellow) is a genre of mystery fiction and thrillers that often contains slasher, crime fiction, psychological thriller, psychological horror, sexploitation, and, ...

genre. In 1937, under the pseudonym of Michele Badiek, he wrote and directed the amateur film '' Pioggia d'estate'' ("Summer Rain") The film was attended by many friends and fellow citizens. Monicelli said that this experience was important for his training as he learned to From 1939–42, he produced up to 40 numerous screenplays, and worked as an assistant director. In 1940 Monicelli enlisted in the

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry in ...

, hoping that this choice could avoid him being sent to

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...

or to

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

. When the army broke up in 1943, he fled to Rome, where he remained hidden until the summer of 1944. In 1946 his father Tomaso committed suicide. Being a journalist and a literary critic, Tomaso Monicelli had dared to criticise the fascist regime especially after the murder of Giacomo Matteotti in 1924. He was blacklisted and boycotted for his writings and endured a series of failures. Later on, Monicelli said he could understand his father's decision

Comedy Italian Style

Monicelli made his official debut as a director in 1949 along with Steno, with the film ''Totò cerca casa'' starring the comedy genius Totò. From the very beginning of his career Monicelli's cinematic style had a remarkable flow to it. The duo produced eight successful movies in four years, including the cult film Cops and Robbers (1951) and ''Totò a colori'' ( 1952). From 1953 onwards Monicelli worked alone, without leaving his role as a writer of screenplays. Monicelli's career includes some of the masterpieces of Italian cinema. In '' I soliti ignoti (Big Deal on Madonna Street)'' (1958), featuring the ubiquitous comedian Totò in a side role, he discovered the comical talent of Vittorio Gassman and

Marcello Mastroianni Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni (28 September 1924 – 19 December 1996) was an Italian film actor, regarded as one of his country's most iconic male performers of the 20th century. He played leading roles for many of Italy's top di ...

and probably started the new genre of the modern ''commedia all'italiana'' (comedy Italian style). While better known in the English-speaking world under the title ''Big Deal on Madonna Street'', the actual translation from the Italian is ''"the usual unknown perpetrators"'' (closely resembling the famous line from ''

Casablanca Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...

'': "Round up the usual suspects"). The film was nominated for the

Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

at the 31st Academy Awards. '' The Great War'', released one year later, is generally regarded as one of his most successful works, which rewarded Monicelli with a

in the

, and an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

nomination for the Best Foreign Film. The film featured the famous drama actor Vittorio Gassman, the Italian superstar of comedy, Alberto Sordi, and a star of Italian neorealism Silvana Mangano. It excelled in the absence of rhetorical accents and for its sharp, tragicomical sense of history while portraying the Italian defeat during World War I. Among the difficulties encountered in the production of the films, those related to censorship were particularly strong. The film "

Totò e Carolina Antonio Griffo Focas Flavio Angelo Ducas Comneno Porfirogenito Gagliardi de Curtis di Bisanzio (15 February 1898 – 15 April 1967), best known by his stage name Totò (), or simply as Antonio de Curtis, and nicknamed ''il Principe della risata ...

" underwent three revisions, because according to the censors, the mere fact that the policeman was played by Totò was tantamount to pillorying the police. Monicelli received two more Academy Award nominations with ''

I compagni ''The Organizer'' ( it, I compagni"''I compagni''" literally translates into "''The Comrades''.") is a 1963 Italian-French-Yugoslavian-produced drama film written by Mario Monicelli and Age & Scarpelli, and directed by Mario Monicelli. Set in ...

'' (''The Organizer'', 1963), a heart-felt homage to "humanitarian socialism" and ''

The Girl with the Pistol ''The Girl with the Pistol'' ( it, La ragazza con la pistola) is a 1968 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Monica Vitti won the David di Donatello as Best Actre ...

'' (1968), which tackled the themes of bride kidnapping and

honor killing An honor killing (American English), honour killing (Commonwealth English), or shame killing is the murder of an individual, either an outsider or a member of a family, by someone seeking to protect what they see as the dignity and honor of ...

, still relevant in the Southern-Italian culture of the time. '' L'armata Brancaleone'' (''

For Love and Gold ''L'armata Brancaleone'' (known in English-speaking countries as ''For Love and Gold'' or ''The Incredible Army of Brancaleone'') is an Italian comedy film released on April 7, 1966, written by the duo Age & Scarpelli and directed by Mario Monicel ...

'', 1966) is another masterpiece of Italian cinema. The film tells the tragicomic tale of a

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

Italian knight, with uncertain nobility and few means but high ideals, self-confidence and pomposity (Vittorio Gassman). The bizarre '' Macaronic'' Latin-Italian dialogues were devised by Age & Scarpelli, the most renowned writers of Italian comedies, and represent a whole linguistic invention which was followed by ''

Brancaleone alle Crociate ''Brancaleone at the Crusades'' ( it, Brancaleone alle Crociate) is an Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli and released in 1970, the sequel to ''L'armata Brancaleone''. Plot The film starts where ''L'armata Brancaleone'' has ended. B ...

'' (''Brancaleone at the Crusades'') in 1970, and less successfully in ''

Bertoldo, Bertoldino e Cacasenno ''Bertoldo, Bertoldino e Cacasenno'' (internationally released as ''Bertoldo, Bertoldino, and Cascacenno'') is a 1984 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli. It was filmed in Rome, Cappadocia, Marano Lagunare and Exilles. Plot summar ...

''. ''

Amici miei ''My Friends'' ( it, Amici miei) is a 1975 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Mario Monicelli. The film project belonged to Pietro Germi, who had no chance to make it happen because of his untimely death. The opening credits of the film, in fa ...

'' (''My Friends'', 1975), featuring Ugo Tognazzi, Adolfo Celi, Gastone Moschin,

Duilio Del Prete Duilio Del Prete (25 June 1938 – 2 February 1998) was an Italian actor, dubber and singer-songwriter. Del Prete was born at Cuneo, Piedmont. As a singer-songwriter, he wrote political songs and recorded an album of Jacques Brel's covers; he al ...

and Philippe Noiret, was one of the most successful films in Italy and confirmed Monicelli's genius in mixing humour, irony and bitter understanding of the human condition. The film was popular to the point that some lines are today turned into well established idiomatic expression ("la supercazzola"), and even a programming language ("monicelli") has been created using a syntax based on film quotes. His 1976 film '' Caro Michele'' won him the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 26th Berlin International Film Festival. Dramatic accents were predominant in the ''

Un borghese piccolo piccolo ''An Average Little Man'' ( it, Un borghese piccolo piccolo, literally meaning ''a petty petty bourgeois'', also known in English as ''A Very Little Man'') is a 1977 Italian drama film directed by Mario Monicelli. It is based on the novel of the sa ...

'' (''A Very Little Man'',

1978 Events January * January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213. * January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd government). * January 6 ...

), featuring Alberto Sordi for his first complete dramatic role. Here Monicelli's pessimism takes over: the transformation of Italian society was such that it was no longer possible to laugh, believe or hope. This is why it is considered by many critics to be the film that brings the season of Comedy Italian Style to a close.

Final years

He turned again to more cheerful comedy and attention to historical events from a popular, intimate point of view with '' Il Marchese del Grillo'' ( 1981), also featuring Alberto Sordi at his best. The film was awarded Monicelli's third Silver Bear for Best Director award at the

32nd Berlin International Film Festival The 32nd annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 12–23 February 1982. The Golden Bear was awarded to the West German film ''Veronika Voss'' directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. The Honorary Golden Bear (''Goldener Ehrenbär'' ...

. The Rogues (1987) was also a historical parody set during

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ide ...

. Among the final works by Monicelli are '' Let's Hope It's a Girl'' ( 1985), '' Dearest Relatives, Poisonous Relations'' (

1992 File:1992 Events Collage V1.png, From left, clockwise: Riots break out across Los Angeles, California after the police beating of Rodney King; El Al Flight 1862 crashes into a residential apartment building in Amsterdam after two of its engin ...

) and ''

Dear Goddamned Friends ''Dear Goddamned Friends'' ( it, Cari fottutissimi amici) is a 1994 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli. It was entered into the 44th Berlin International Film Festival where it won an Honourable Mention. Plot In 1944 in Tuscany, ...

'' (

1994 File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which sank in the Baltic Sea; Nels ...

), featuring

Paolo Hendel Paolo Hendel (born 2 January 1952) is an Italian actor, playwright and comedian. Life and career Born in Florence, at young age Hendel made several works, including gamekeeper, guardian of a garage and detective.Giorgio Dell’Arti, Massimo Par ...

. The latter won an Honourable Mention at the

44th Berlin International Film Festival The 44th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 10 to 21 February 1994. The Golden Bear was awarded to British-Irish film '' In the Name of the Father'' directed by Jim Sheridan. The retrospective dedicated to Austrian director, ...

. His 1999 film ''

Dirty Linen ''Dirty Linen'' was a bi-monthly magazine of folk and world music based in Baltimore, Maryland. The magazine ceased publication in the spring of 2010. The magazine offered extensive reviews of folk music recordings, videos, books, and concert ...

'' was entered into the 21st Moscow International Film Festival. His last

feature film A feature film or feature-length film is a narrative film (motion picture or "movie") with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment program. The term ''feature film'' originall ...

was ''

The Roses of the Desert ''The Roses of the Desert'' ( it, Le rose del deserto) is an Italian film released in 2006. It was directed by Mario Monicelli, in his final film, and was loosely inspired by the romance '' Il deserto della Libia'' of Mario Tobino. Plot In Worl ...

'' (''

Le rose del deserto ''The Roses of the Desert'' ( it, Le rose del deserto) is an Italian film released in 2006. It was directed by Mario Monicelli, in his final film, and was loosely inspired by the romance '' Il deserto della Libia'' of Mario Tobino. Plot In World ...

'', 2006), which he directed when he was 91 years old. In 1991 he received the

for Career of the

. A documentary made by Roberto Salinas and Marina Catucci, ''Una storia da ridere, breve biografia di Mario Monicelli'', appeared in 2008.

Death

At the age of 90, Monicelli decided to go and live on his own, in order to remain self-sufficient and survive to

ageing Ageing ( BE) or aging ( AE) is the process of becoming older. The term refers mainly to humans, many other animals, and fungi, whereas for example, bacteria, perennial plants and some simple animals are potentially biologically immortal. ...

for a longer time. He died on 29 November 2010 at the age of 95. He killed himself by jumping from a window of the San Giovanni Hospital in Rome, where he had been admitted a few days earlier for prostate cancer in the terminal stage He had two daughters, Martina (1967) and Ottavia (1974), from Antonella Salerni. He had a third daughter, Rosa (1988), from his last companion Chiara Rapaccini. He was an outspoken atheist.

Filmography

Director

* '' I ragazzi della Via Paal'', with Alberto Mondadori (1935) * '' Pioggia d'estate'' (1937) * '' Toto Looks for a House'' (with Steno, 1949) * ''

Al diavolo la celebrità ''A Night of Fame'' ( it, Al diavolo la celebrità) is a 1949 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli and Steno. Cast * Marcel Cerdan as Maurice Cardan * Ferruccio Tagliavini as Gino Marini * Mischa Auer as Bernard Stork * Marilyn Bu ...

'' (1949, with Steno) * ''

Vita da cani ''A Dog's Life'' ( it, Vita da cani) is a 1950 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli and Steno. Plot Nino Martoni is the manager of a ramshackle show company. Her dancers include Lucy, the soubrette, capricious and obstinate, Fran ...

'' (with Steno, 1950) * '' The Knight Has Arrived!'' (with Steno, 1950) * '' Guardie e ladri'' (with Steno, 1951) * ''

Totò e i re di Roma ''Toto and the King of Rome'' ( it, Totò e i re di Roma) is a 1952 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli and Steno. Italian horror film director Lucio Fulci worked on this film as an assistant director.Thrower, Stephen (1999). Beyond ...

'' (with Steno, 1952) * ''

Totò e le donne ''Toto and the Women'' ( it, Totò e le donne) is a 1952 Italian film directed by Mario Monicelli and Steno. Plot The cloth retailer Philip (Totò) is no longer able to stand his possessive and tyrannical wife (Ave Ninchi) who claims a higher l ...

'' (''Toto and the Women'', 1952, with Steno) * ''

Le infedeli ''The Unfaithfuls'' ( it, Le infedeli) is a 1953 Italian comedy drama film directed by Mario Monicelli and Steno and starring Gina Lollobrigida. Cast * Gina Lollobrigida as Lulla Possenti * May Britt as Liliana Rogers * Pierre Cressoy as Osva ...

'', with Steno (1953) * ''

Proibito ''Proibito'' (''Forbidden'') is a 1954 Italian drama film directed by Mario Monicelli and starring Mel Ferrer. Cast * Mel Ferrer as Don Paolo Solinas * Amedeo Nazzari as Costantino Corraine * Lea Massari as Agnese Barras * Henri Vilbert as Nic ...

'' (1954) * ''

Un eroe dei nostri tempi ''A Hero of Our Times'' ( it, Un eroe dei nostri tempi) is a 1955 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli and starring Alberto Sordi. Plot Alberto is an employee who is the Italian average of society of the Fifties. Alberto is a go-ge ...

'' (1955) * ''

'' (1955) * '' Donatella'' (1956) * ''

Il medico e lo stregone ''Doctor and the Healer'' ( it, Il medico e lo stregone) is a 1957 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli. Plot The young Dr. Marchetti relocates to a small mountain village in rural southern Italy. He quickly runs into trouble with ...

'' (1957) * ''

Padri e figli ''Fathers and Sons'' ( it, Padri e figli and also known as ''A Tailor's Maid'') is a 1957 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli. At the 7th Berlin International Film Festival Monicelli won the Silver Bear for Best Director award. P ...

'' (1957) * ''

I soliti ignoti ''Big Deal on Madonna Street'' ( it, I soliti ignoti; released in the UK as ''Persons Unknown'') is a 1958 Italian comedy caper film directed by Mario Monicelli and considered to be among the masterpieces of Italian cinema. Its original Italian ...

'' ('' Big Deal on Madonna Street'', 1958) * '' The Great War'' (1959) * '' The Passionate Thief'' (

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Ja ...

) * ''

Boccaccio '70 ''Boccaccio '70'' is a 1962 comedy anthology film directed by Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Mario Monicelli and Luchino Visconti from an idea by Cesare Zavattini. It consists of four episodes, each by one of the directors, all about a diff ...

'' (1962 – segment "Renzo and Luciana") * ''

'' (''The Organizer'', 1963) * '' Alta infedeltà'' (''High Infidelity'', 1964, with Luciano Salce, Elio Petri and Franco Rossi) * ''

Casanova '70 ''Casanova 70'' is a 1965 Italian comedy film produced by Carlo Ponti, directed by Mario Monicelli and starring Marcello Mastroianni, Virna Lisi, Enrico Maria Salerno and Michèle Mercier. Plot NATO officer Andrea Rossi-Colombotti is a ladie ...

'' (1965) * ''

Le fate ''Sex Quartet'' (US title: ''The Queens'', it, Le fate, 'the fairies') is a 1966 Italian-French comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli, Mauro Bolognini, Antonio Pietrangeli and Luciano Salce. It starred Capucine, Claudia Cardinale, Monica Vitti ...

'' (1966 –, with Mauro Bolognini,

Antonio Pietrangeli Antonio Pietrangeli (19 January 191912 July 1968) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He was a major practitioner of the Commedia all'italiana genre. Biography Pietrangeli was born in Rome. He started in the film industry by writing m ...

and Luciano Salce ) * '' L'armata Brancaleone'' (''For Love and Gold'', 1966) * ''

'' (1968) * ''

Capriccio all'italiana ''Caprice Italian Style'' ( it, Capriccio all'italiana) is a 1968 Italian comedy film directed by six different directors, including Mario Monicelli and Pier Paolo Pasolini. The film starred both Totò and the comic duo Franco and Ciccio. Pl ...

'' (''Caprice Italian Style'', 1968, with Mauro Bolognini, Steno, Pino Zac,

Pier Paolo Pasolini Pier Paolo Pasolini (; 5 March 1922 – 2 November 1975) was an Italian poet, filmmaker, writer and intellectual who also distinguished himself as a journalist, novelist, translator, playwright, visual artist and actor. He is considered one of ...

and Franco Rossi) * '' Toh, è morta la nonna!'' (1969) * ''

'' (''Brancaleone at the Crusades'', 1970) * '' Le coppie'' (1971, with Alberto Sordi and

Vittorio De Sica Vittorio De Sica ( , ; 7 July 1901 – 13 November 1974) was an Italian film director and actor, a leading figure in the Italian neorealism, neorealist movement. Four of the films he directed won Academy Awards: ''Shoeshine (film), Sciuscià ...

) * '' La mortadella'' (1971) * ''

Vogliamo i colonnelli ''We Want the Colonels'' ( it, Vogliamo i colonnelli) is a 1973 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli. It was entered in the 1973 Cannes Film Festival. It is a satire of the attempted far-right Borghese Coup. Cast * Ugo Tognazzi as G ...

'' (1973) * ''

Romanzo popolare ''Romanzo popolare'' (internationally released as ''Come Home and Meet My Wife'') is a 1974 Italian comedy drama film directed by Mario Monicelli. The film won the David di Donatello for Best Script. Cast *Ugo Tognazzi: Giulio Basletti *Ornella ...

'' (1974) * ''

'' (1975) * '' Caro Michele'' (1976) * '' Signore e signori, buonanotte'' (1976, with Luigi Comencini,

Nanni Loy Nanni Loy (born Giovanni Loi; 23 October 1925 – 21 August 1995) was an Italian film, theatre and TV director. Specifically, Nanni Loy was Sardinian, and one of several notable Sardinian film makers, including Franco Solinas. Biography Lo ...

, Luigi Magni and

Ettore Scola Ettore Scola (; 10 May 1931 – 19 January 2016) was an Italian screenwriter and film director. He received a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film in 1978 for his film '' A Special Day'' and over the course of his film career was nominated for fiv ...

) * ''

'' (1977) * ''

Viva Italia! ''I nuovi mostri'' (English-language version: ''Viva l'Italia!''; meaning of Italian original title: "The new monsters") is a 1977 commedia all'italiana film composed by 14 episodes, directed by Dino Risi, Ettore Scola and Mario Monicelli. It is ...

'' (1977, with Dino Risi and

) * ''

Viaggio con Anita ''Lovers and Liars'' (''Viaggio con Anita'') is a 1979 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli and starring Goldie Hawn and Giancarlo Giannini. It is Hawn's only foreign film. It was released in the United States in February 1981. P ...

'' (1979) * ''

Temporale Rosy ''Hurricane Rosy'' ( it, Temporale Rosy, french: Rosy la bourrasque) is a 1979 Italian-French comedy film written and directed by Mario Monicelli. It is loosely based on a novel by Carlo Brizzolara. Cast * Gérard Depardieu as Raoul Lamarre * ...

'' (1979) * '' Camera d'albergo'' (1981) * '' Il marchese del Grillo'' (1981) * ''

Amici miei atto II ''All My Friends Part 2'' ( it, Amici miei Atto II) is a 1982 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli. It is the sequel to ''Amici miei'' of 1975. The movie features Paolo Stoppa in one of his last roles. The last chapter of this saga ...

'' (1982) * ''

'' (1984) * ''

Le due vite di Mattia Pascal ''The Two Lives of Mattia Pascal'' ( it, Le due vite di Mattia Pascal) is a 1985 Italian drama film directed by Mario Monicelli. It was adapted from the novel '' Il fu Mattia Pascal'' by Luigi Pirandello. It was entered into the 1985 Cannes Fi ...

'' (1985) * ''

Speriamo che sia femmina ''Let's Hope It's a Girl'' ( it, Speriamo che sia femmina) is a 1986 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli. For this film Monicelli was awarded with a David di Donatello for Best Director and a Nastro d'Argento in the same category. The ...

'' (1986) * '' I picari'' (1987) * ''

La moglie ingenua e il marito malato LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figur ...

'' (1989) * '' 12 registi per 12 città'' (1989, documentary. Segment "Verona") * '' Il male oscuro'' (1990) * ''

Rossini! Rossini! ''Rossini! Rossini!'' is a 1991 Italian biographical film written and directed by Mario Monicelli. It depicts real life events of composer Gioachino Rossini. Monicelli replaced Robert Altman, who was experiencing differences with the producers. The ...

'' (1991) * ''

Parenti serpenti ''Parenti serpenti'' (also known as ''Dearest Relatives, Poisonous Relations'') is a 1992 Italian black comedy film written and directed by Mario Monicelli. It won the Italian film critics Silver Ribbon for Best Costumes. Writer Carmine Amoroso, w ...

'' (1992) * ''

Cari fottutissimi amici ''Dear Goddamned Friends'' ( it, Cari fottutissimi amici) is a 1994 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli. It was entered into the 44th Berlin International Film Festival where it won an Honourable Mention. Plot In 1944 in Tuscany, ...

'' (1994) * ''

Facciamo paradiso ''Facciamo paradiso'' (also known as ''Looking for Paradise'') is a 1995 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Mario Monicelli. It is based on a short story by Giuseppe Pontiggia. Plot The film tells the story of Claudia Bertelli, a young Ita ...

'' (1995) * '' Esercizi di stile'' (1996 – segment ''Idillio edile'') * ''

Topi di appartamento ''Damaliscus lunatus jimela'' is a subspecies of topi, and is usually just called a topi. It is a highly social and fast type of antelope found in the savannas, semi-deserts, and floodplains of sub-Saharan Africa. Names The word ''tope'' or ''t ...

'' (1997, short) * ''

Panni sporchi ''Dirty Linen'' ( it, Panni sporchi) is a 1999 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli. It was entered into the 21st Moscow International Film Festival. Plot An extended family in Le Marche reunites as the old father and leader of th ...

'' (1999) * '' Un amico magico: il maestro Nino Rota'' (1999, documentary) * ''

Come quando fuori piove Come may refer to: *Comè, a city and commune in Benin *Come (Tenos), an ancient town on Tenos island, Greece Music *Come (American band), an American indie rock band formed in 1990 *Come (UK band), a British noise project founded in 1979 **Come ...

'' (2000, TV mini series) * '' Un altro mondo è possibile'' (2001, documentary) * ''

Lettere dalla Palestina Lettere is a '' comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Naples in the southern central Italian region Campania, located about 30 km southeast of Naples. Lettere borders the following municipalities: Angri, Casola di Napoli, Corbar ...

'' (2002, documentary) * '' Firenze, il nostro domani'' (2003, documentary) * ''

'' (''

'', 2006)

Screenplays

*'' I ragazzi della via Paal'' (1935) *'' Pioggia d'estate'' (1937) *'' La granduchessa si diverte'' (1940) *'' Brivido'' (1941) *'' La donna è mobile'' (1942) * ''

'' (1943) *'' Il sole di Montecassino'' (1945) * '' Black Eagle'' (1946) * ''

The Opium Den ''The Opium Den'' (Italian: ''Fumeria d'oppio'') is a 1947 Italian crime film directed by Raffaello Matarazzo and starring Emilio Ghione Jr., Mariella Lotti, and Emilio Cigoli. It was an unsuccessful attempt to revive the Za La Mort character ...

'' (1947) *''

Gioventù perduta ''Lost Youth'' ( it, Gioventù perduta) is a 1948 Italian-language drama film directed by Pietro Germi. The style of the film is close to the Italian neorealism film movement. It was remade in 1953 as the British film ''Black 13''. Two impor ...

'' (1947) * ''

The Captain's Daughter ''The Captain's Daughter'' (russian: «Капитанская дочка», Kapitanskaya dochka) is a historical novel by the Russian writer Alexander Pushkin. It was first published in 1836 in the fourth issue of the literary journal '' Sovre ...

'' (1947) * ''

The Courier of the King ''The Courier of the King'' (Italian: ''Il corriere del re'') is a 1947 Italian historical film directed by Gennaro Righelli and starring Rossano Brazzi, Irasema Dilián and Valentina Cortese.Moliterno p.208 It is an adaptation of the 1830 novel ' ...

'' (1947) *''

Follie per l'opera ''Mad About Opera'' (Italian: ''Follie per l'opera'') is a 1948 Italian musical comedy film directed by Mario Costa and starring Gino Bechi, Gina Lollobrigida, and Carlo Campanini. It was shot at the Scalera Studios in Rome. The film's sets ...

'' (1948) *''

I Miserabili I, or i, is the ninth letter and the third vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''i'' (pronounced ), plural ...

'' (1948) *'' L'ebreo errante'' (1948) *''

Il cavaliere misterioso ''The Mysterious Rider'' ( it, Il cavaliere misterioso, lit=The Mysterious Cavalier) is a 1948 Italian historical-adventure film directed by Riccardo Freda. Cast * Vittorio Gassman: Giacomo Casanova, Cavalier of Seingalt *María Mercader: Elisa ...

'' (1948) *'' Accidenti alla guerra!'' (1948) *''

Il tradimento ''Double Cross'' ( it, Il tradimento, also known as ''Treason'' and ''Passato che uccide'') is a 1951 Italian crime-melodrama film directed by Riccardo Freda and starring Amedeo Nazzari, Vittorio Gassman and Gianna Maria Canale. Plot The engin ...

'' (1949) *''

'' (1949) *'' Totò cerca casa'' (1949) * ''

The Wolf of the Sila ''The Wolf of the Sila'' (Italian: ''Il lupo della Sila'') is a 1949 Italian drama film directed by Duilio Coletti and starring Silvana Mangano, Amedeo Nazzari and Vittorio Gassman.Forgacs & Gundle p.166 Much of the film was shot on location arou ...

'' (1949) *'' Il conte Ugolino'' (1949) * ''

Her Favourite Husband ''Her Favourite Husband'' (also known by the alternative titles ''The Taming of Dorothy'' and ''Quel bandito sono io'') is a 1950 British-Italian comedy film directed by Mario Soldati and starring Jean Kent, Robert Beatty and Margaret Rutherf ...

'' (1950) *''

Soho Conspiracy ''Soho Conspiracy'' is a 1950 British musical drama film directed by Cecil H. Williamson and starring Jacques Labrecque, Zena Marshall and Peter Gawthorne. Premise A young man attempts to stage a charity concert in order to raise funds to refur ...

'' (1950) *''

The Elusive Twelve ''The Elusive Twelve'' (Italian: ''L'inafferrabile 12'') is a 1950 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Walter Chiari, Silvana Pampanini and Isa Barzizza. It was shot at the Farnesina Studios of Titanus in Rome. The film's ...

'' (1950) *''

È arrivato il cavaliere! ''The Knight Has Arrived!'' (Italian: ''È arrivato il cavaliere!'') is a 1950 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli and Steno and starring Tino Scotti, Silvana Pampanini and Nyta Dover. The film's sets were designed by the art dire ...

'' (1950) *''

Il brigante Musolino ''Il Brigante Musolino'' (Italian: ''The Brigand Musolino''), released in the US as ''Outlaw Girl'', is a 1950 Italian crime drama film inspired by the life of the Calabrian outlaw Giuseppe Musolino. It was directed and written by Mario Camerin ...

'' (1950) *''

Botta e risposta ''I'm in the Revue'' ( it, Botta e risposta) is a 1950 French-Italian comedy film directed by Mario Soldati. It was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy at the 67th Venice International Film Festival. Cast * Nino Taranto - L'Hab ...

'' (1950) *'' Vendetta... sarda'' (1951) *'' Guardie e ladri'' (1951) *''

Tizio, Caio, Sempronio ''Tizio, Caio, Sempronio'' (Italian equivalent of "Tom, Dick, and Harry") is a 1951 Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of ...

'' (1951) * '' It's Love That's Ruining Me'' (1951) * ''

The Ungrateful Heart ''The Ungrateful Heart'' ( nap, Core 'ngrato) is a 1951 Italian melodrama film directed by Guido Brignone and starring Carla Del Poggio, Frank Latimore and Gabriele Ferzetti.Forgacs & Gundle p.29 It takes its name from the Neapolitan song " Core ...

'' (1951) *''

Accidenti alle tasse!! ''Accidents to the Taxes!!'' ( it, Accidenti alle tasse!!) is a 1951 Italian comedy film directed by and written by Mario Mattoli. Cast * Riccardo Billi as Gaetano Pellecchia * Mario Riva as Mario * Dorian Gray as Margot * Aroldo Tieri as I ...

'' (1951) *''

Amo un assassino ''Appointment for Murder'' ( it, Amo un assassino) is a 1951 Italian crime melodrama film drama directed by Baccio Bandini. Plot A woman is found dead in the atrium of a Roman building. In that same building lives the police commissioner Pie ...

'' (1951) *''

'' (1952) *''

Totò a colori ''Toto in Color'' (Italian: ''Totò a colori'') is a 1952 Italian comedy film, and was the first Italian color film shot with the Ferraniacolor system. The film was directed by Steno and starred the comic actor Totò. Plot Antonio Scannagatti is ...

'' (1952) *'' Perdonami'' (1952) *''

Cinque poveri in automobile ''Five Paupers in an Automobile'' ( it, Cinque poveri in automobile) is a 1952 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Eduardo De Filippo. Cast * Eduardo De Filippo as Eduardo Moschettone * Aldo Fabrizi as Cesare Baroni * Ti ...

'' (1952) *'' Cani e gatti'' (1952) *''

Un turco napoletano ''Neapolitan Turk'' ( it, Un turco napoletano) is a 1953 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Totò. Plot The film is based on a play by the famous Neapolitan writer Eduardo Scarpetta, father of Eduardo and Peppino De Fi ...

'' (1953) *'' Il più comico spettacolo del mondo'' (1953) *''

'' (1953) * '' Fatal Desire'' (1953) *''

Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the h ...

'' (1953) *''

Guai ai vinti ''Guai ai vinti'' (''Woe to the Vanquished Ones'') is a 1954 Italian melodrama film directed by Raffaello Matarazzo. It is based on the novel ''Vae Victis'' by Annie Vivanti. Plot During the First World War the Italian front at Caporetto is ...

'' (1954) *''

'' (1955) *''

'' (1955) *'' La donna più bella del mondo'' (1955) *'' Donatella'' (1956) *''

'' (1957) *''

'' (1958) *'' The Great War'' (1959) *''

Risate di gioia ''The Passionate Thief'' ( it, Risate di gioia) is a 1960 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli, starring Anna Magnani and Totò. Plot Two friends (Toto and Magnani) live by their wits working as comedians and cabaret at Cinecittà, ...

'' (1960) *'' A cavallo della tigre'' (1961) *''

'' (1962 – segment "Renzo e Luciana") *''

Frenesia dell'estate ''Shivers in Summer'' ( it, Frenesia dell'estate) is a 1963 Italian comedy film directed by Luigi Zampa and starring among others Vittorio Gassman. Cast * Vittorio Gassman - Captain Nardoni * Sandra Milo - Yvonne * Michèle Mercier - Gigi * ...

'' (1963) *''

Casanova 70 ''Casanova 70'' is a 1965 Italian comedy film produced by Carlo Ponti, directed by Mario Monicelli and starring Marcello Mastroianni, Virna Lisi, Enrico Maria Salerno and Michèle Mercier. Plot NATO officer Andrea Rossi-Colombotti is a ladies' ...

'' (1965) *''

I nostri mariti ''I nostri mariti'' is a 1966 Italian comedy film directed by Luigi Filippo D'Amico, Dino Risi and Luigi Zampa. Cast * Alberto Sordi - Giovanni Lo Verso (segment "Il marito di Roberta") * Ugo Tognazzi - Carabiniere (segment "Il Marito di A ...

'' (1966 – segment "Il marito di Olga") *'' L'armata Brancaleone'' (1966) *''

'' (1968) *'' Toh, è morta la nonna!'' (1969) *''

Brancaleone alle crociate ''Brancaleone at the Crusades'' ( it, Brancaleone alle Crociate) is an Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli and released in 1970, the sequel to ''L'armata Brancaleone''. Plot The film starts where ''L'armata Brancaleone'' has ended. B ...

'' (1970) *''

'' (1973) *''

Gran bollito ''Black Journal'' ( it, Gran bollito, lit=Large bollito) is a 1977 Italian black comedy film directed by Mauro Bolognini. It is loosely based on real-life serial killer Leonarda Cianciulli, who killed three women between 1939 and 1940, and turn ...

'' (1977) *''

'' (''My Friends'', 1975) *''

'' (1977) *''

'' (1979) *'' Camera d'albergo'' (1981) *'' Il marchese del Grillo'' (1981) *''

'' (1982) *''

'' (1984) *''

'' (1985) *''

'' (1986) *'' I picari'' (1987) *'' Il male oscuro'' (1990) *''

'' (1991) *''

'' (1992) *''

'' (1994) *''

'' (1995) *''

'' (1999) *'' Un amico magico: il maestro Nino Rota'' (1999, documentary) *''

'' (2000, TV mini series) *''

'' (''

'', 2006)

Actor

*''

Rue du Pied de Grue ''Ruta graveolens'', commonly known as rue, common rue or herb-of-grace, is a species of ''Ruta'' grown as an ornamental plant and herb. It is native to the Balkan Peninsula. It is grown throughout the world in gardens, especially for its bl ...

'' (1979) *'' Sono fotogenico'', directed by Dino Risi (1980) *'' Il ciclone'', directed by Leonardo Pieraccioni (1996, voice) *''

Sotto il sole della Toscana ''Under the Tuscan Sun'' is a 2003 American romantic comedy-drama film written, produced, and directed by Audrey Wells and starring Diane Lane. Based on Frances Mayes' 1996 memoir of the same name, the film is about a recently divorced writer ...

'' (''Under the Tuscan Sun'', 2003)

References

External links

* *
Presentation of the documentary ''Monicelli, Mario’s Version''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monicelli, Mario 1915 births 2010 deaths 2010 suicides Writers from Rome Film people from Rome Italian film directors Italian screenwriters Italian male screenwriters Italian atheists Directors of Golden Lion winners Silver Bear for Best Director recipients Italian communists Suicides by jumping in Italy David di Donatello winners David di Donatello Career Award winners Nastro d'Argento winners Ciak d'oro winners