''An American in Rome'' (originally ''Un americano a Roma'') is a 1954

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 the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by Steno. The film consists in a satire of

Americanization Americanization or Americanisation (see spelling differences) is the influence of American culture and business on other countries outside the United States of America, including their media, cuisine, business practices, popular culture, te ...

, and it was referred as "a milestone in the evolution of Italian

self-identification In the psychology of self, one's self-concept (also called self-construction, self-identity, self-perspective or self-structure) is a collection of beliefs about oneself. Generally, self-concept embodies the answer to the question ''"Who am I? ...

". It starred

Alberto Sordi Alberto Sordi (15 June 1920 – 24 February 2003) was an Italian actor, voice actor, singer, comedian, director and screenwriter. Early life Born in Rome to a schoolteacher and a musician and the last of five children, Sordi was named in hon ...

, with a young

Ursula Andress Ursula Andress (born 19 March 1936) is a Swiss-German actress, former model and sex symbol who has appeared in American, British and Italian films. Her breakthrough role was as Bond girl Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, '' Dr. No'' (1962 ...

in a minor role.

Overview

Sordi reprises the character of Nando Mericoni he played a few months before in an episode of comedy film ''

Un giorno in pretura ''A Day in Court'' (Italian: ''Un giorno in pretura'') is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Steno and starring Peppino De Filippo, Silvana Pampanini, Sophia Loren, and Alberto Sordi. The film is an anthology, consisting of a day's cases ...

''. The character eventually returned in

Sergio Corbucci Sergio Corbucci (; 6 December 1926 – 1 December 1990) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and producer. He directed both very violent Spaghetti Westerns and bloodless Bud Spencer and Terence Hill action comedies. He is the older bro ...

's ''

Di che segno sei? ''Di che segno sei?'' (translation: ''What's Your Sign?'') is a 1975 Italian comedy film directed by Sergio Corbucci, starring Alberto Sordi. Plot The film is divided into four episodes. In the first Paolo Villaggio plays the role of a sailor fr ...

'' (1975). Due to the continuous references of ''Nando'' to Kansas City, Alberto Sordi received in 1955 its honorary citizenship.Alberto Sordi on ''Roma Virtuale'' website
/ref> ''Nando'' would really refer to the state of

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to th ...

and not to the city (he spoke about the life in ''the'' Kansas City and referred to him as a sort of highway policeman of ''the'' K.C.).

Plot summary

Italy in the Fifties. The image of grandeur and opulence, brought by the arrival of American troops in 1944, still has its effect on many young Italians. One of them is Ferdinando "Nando" Mericoni (

), a connoisseur of the American world as represented in

American cinema The cinema of the United States, consisting mainly of major film studios (also known as Hollywood) along with some independent film, has had a large effect on the global film industry since the early 20th century. The dominant style of Ame ...

of which he is fervent devotee. Believing his future lies beyond the Atlantic, Nando who is born and raised in Rome, ''americanizes'' his life by imitating the sounds of American language and trying to recreate a Hollywood setting in his room, in his antics which leave a trail of victims, especially his now desperate parents, and his girlfriend Elvira ( Maria Pia Casilio), who, probably allured by his manner, loves him despite everything. Nando wears a studded leather bracelet, a cowboy belt, a tight white t-shirt, jeans and baseball cap, refers to his loved ones in what he considers American terms (''Elvy'', ''papi'', ''mami'') but also lives out everyday situations as though they were scenes in an American film in which he is the main actor. After several misadventures, he finds his only recourse suggested by a famous film of the time, ''

Fourteen Hours ''Fourteen Hours'' is a 1951 American drama directed by Henry Hathaway, which tells the story of a New York City police officer trying to stop a despondent man from jumping to his death from the 15th floor of a hotel. The film won critical accla ...

'' by

Henry Hathaway Henry Hathaway (March 13, 1898 – February 11, 1985) was an American film director and producer. He is best known as a director of Westerns, especially starring Randolph Scott and John Wayne. He directed Gary Cooper in seven films. Backgrou ...

, then he climbs the

Colosseum The Colosseum ( ; it, Colosseo ) is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world t ...

and threatens to kill himself if someone will not help him get to the United States. After endless hours on top of the monument, Nando's dream seems to materialize with the arrival of the American ambassador. The ambassador promises him a journey to the United States and a job there to persuade him to come down, but once Nando comes down the ambassador attacks him furiously. Nando, hospitalized, recognizes the hopelessness of his dreams and desires, but in his heart he will still remain an irreducible American in Rome.

Cast

: Nando Mericoni (''Santy Bailor'') * Maria Pia Casilio: Elvira (''Elvy'') *

Giulio Calì Giulio Calì (26 March 1895 – 20 January 1967) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1927 and 1966. Life and career Born in Rome, Calì started his career on stage, being mainly active in Roman dialect thea ...

: Father of Nando *

Anita Durante Anita Durante (28 September 1897 – 2 May 1994) was an Italian actress. Born Anita Bianchi in Rome into a humble family, after attending a dramatic society for several years Durante made her official debut on stage in 1919, in Ettore Petro ...

: Mother of Nando *

Ilse Petersen Ilse is a common female name, technically a German diminutive of Elisabeth, functioning as a given name in its own right chiefly in Austria, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and all of the Scandinavian countries including Finland. ...

: Molly, the American painter *

Vincenzo Talarico Vincenzo Talarico (28 April 1909 – 16 August 1972), was an Italian screenwriter and film actor. He wrote for 27 films between 1940 and 1966. He also appeared in 15 films between 1946 and 1964. He was born in Acri, Italy and died in Fiugg ...

: On. Borgiani *

Carlo Mazzarella Carlo Mazzarella (30 July 1919 – 7 March 1993) was an Italian actor and journalist. Life and career Born in Genoa, Mazzarella enrolled in the Silvio d’Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating in 1942. Almost immediately he debuted on s ...

: Secretary of the Embassy *

Rocco D'Assunta Rocco D'Assunta (7 February 1904 – 27 January 1970) was an Italian actor, comedian and playwright. Life and career Born in Palermo, D'Assunta started acting at very young age with several Sicilian stage companies, including the ones led by ...

: italian Commissioner *

: Astrid * Carlo Delle Piane: Romolo Pellacchioni aka "Cicalone" *

Galeazzo Benti Galeazzo Benti (6 August 1923 – 21 April 1993) was an Italian actor. He appeared in more than 70 films between 1942 and 1991. Life and career Born Galeazzo Bentivoglio in Florence, Italy, a descendant of the Bentivoglio family, which ru ...

: Fred Buonanotte * Amalia Pellegrini: television spectator * Leopoldo Trieste: television spectator *

Venantino Venantini Venantino Venantini (17 April 1930 – 9 October 2018) was an Italian film actor.Military Police Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. In wartime operations, the military police may support the main fighting force with force protection, convoy security, screening, rear rec ...

* Gianna Dauro: Borgiani's wife *

Carlo Loffredo Carlo Loffredo, Theatines, C.R. (31 March 1635 – January 1701) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Capua (1698–1701), Archbishop of Bari-Canosa (1691–1698), and Bishop of Molfetta (1670–1691). ''(in Latin)'' Biography ...

: member Jazz band

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:American in Rome 1954 films 1954 comedy films 1950s satirical films Films directed by Stefano Vanzina Italian comedy films Films set in Rome Titanus films Films produced by Carlo Ponti Films produced by Dino De Laurentiis Films scored by Angelo Francesco Lavagnino Minerva Film films Italian black-and-white films 1950s Italian films