''Siamo tutti inquilini'' (literally: We are all tenants) is a 1953 Italian comedy film 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 comedy ...

and starring Aldo Fabrizi.

Production

The film is a 98 minute black and white that was produced for Documento.

Plot

Anna has been since childhood the housemaid of an old lady, and has inherited from her a beautiful apartment. She now works in a cafe`, but struggles to keep up with the expenses of the luxurious housing complex. She is alone in the world and apart from her loving fiance Carlo, only the wise caretaker of the building Augusto shows her some fatherly affection. The greedy and tyrannical administrator of the building, the dentist Talloni, would like to exploit the financial difficulties of Anna to buy her out, offering through a figurehead to acquire the apartment much below its real value. Augusto and the lawyer Sassi figure out the scheme, and decide to defend Anna's interests. They first manage to delay for few days the official decision to force repayment of her debts, they try to secure her a loan through the bank or through the richer acquaintance of a well-off neighbor, they come up with the idea for Anna to rent out the apartment to an older couple while remaining in service and caretaker of the property as housemaid. None of this represents a complete solution for the young girl's problems, and everybody must manage at the same time some other difficulties - Sassi is afraid of irritating his jealous wife in case of excessive involvement, Augusto must defend his job from both Talloni's intention to fire him and from a poorer friend who would like to take over his job as a caretaker, the other tenants seem generally well-disposed but they are also very self-centered. Thanks to Augusto selfless efforts and even his cheating to gather all neighbors at the crucial meeting where the course of action for Anna's debt should be decided, the administrator's plans are eventually exposed and a compromise arrangement is reached.

Cast

* Aldo Fabrizi as Augusto, the caretaker * Anna Maria Ferrero as Anna Perrini, heiress of a luxurious apartment where she had been serving as housemaid *

Enrico Viarisio Enrico Viarisio (3 December 1897 – 1 November 1967) was an Italian theatre and cinema actor. Biography Equipped of a fine and elegant humour, Viarisio was discovered by actress Paola Pezzaglia, who cast him at 19 as "brillante" in her own theat ...

as the lawyer Sassi *

Tania Weber Tania Weber (real name Tanja Sarsgardeer; born 18 August 1926) is a Finnish retired actress, best known for her many roles in 1950s Italian films. Filmography *''Heroic Charge'' (1952) — as Kalina Ifienov *''Roman Holiday'' (1953) — as Fr ...

as Lulù *

Nino Pavese Nino Pavese (10 April 1904 – 21 December 1979) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Biography Born in Asti and the younger brother of actor and voice actor Luigi Pavese, he began his career on stage with a theatrical troupe in the early ...

as the denstist Talloni, administrator of the housing complex *

Maria-Pia Casilio Maria-Pia Casilio (5 May 1935 – 10 April 2012) was an Italian film actress, best known for major roles in ''Umberto D.'' and ''Un americano a Roma''. Born in San Pio delle Camere, L'Aquila, Casilio was quite active between 1952 and 1960, ...

as Una cameriera *

Alberto Talegalli Alberto Talegalli (2 October 1913 – 10 July 1961) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 37 films between 1952 and 1961. He was born in Pincano (Spoleto), Italy and died in Gualdo Tadino, in the province of Perugia, Italy. Life and c ...

as Il venditore di uova * Giuseppe Porelli * Bice Valori as Una cameriera *

Maurizio Arena Maurizio Arena (26 December 1933 – 21 November 1979) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 70 films between 1952 and 1978. Life and career Born in Rome as Maurizio Di Lorenzo, Arena made his film debut at nineteen years old, ...

as Carlo, boyfriend of Anna *

Gemma Bolognesi Gemma Bolognesi (4 November 1894 – 26 March 1983) was an Italian actress. She appeared in more than thirty films from 1916 to 1954. Biography Bolognesi began acting at an early age and made her debut with the ensemble of the Teatro Manzoni in ...

* Turi Pandolfini * Peppino De Filippo as Antonio Scognamiglio, idler friend of Augusto who would like to take his place as caretaker

References

External links

* 1953 films 1953 comedy films 1950s Italian-language films Italian black-and-white films Films set in Rome Films directed by Mario Mattoli Films with screenplays by Ruggero Maccari Italian comedy films 1950s Italian films {{1950s-Italy-comedy-film-stub