''The Man Who Wagged His Tail'' ( es, Un ángel pasó por Brooklyn, it, Un angelo è sceso a Brooklyn, also known as ''An Angel Over Brooklyn'' and ''An Angel Passed Over Brooklyn'') is a 1957 Spanish-Italian fantasy-comedy film directed by

Ladislao Vajda Ladislao Vajda (born Weisz László; 18 August 1906, Budapest – 25 March 1965, Barcelona) was a Hungarian-Spanish film director who made films in Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Italy and West Germany. Biography He was born in Budapest, ...

Plot

Mr. Bozzi is the owner and lessor of many apartments and houses in Brooklyn's immigrant communities. He is a stubborn upstart who is only interested in his own profit and has no compassion for his tenants, who are often poor and in need. To prevent beggars from knocking or ringing his bell, he has trained himself to make dog noises. When one day a fairy tale seller appears to him, she curses him into a dog that only human love can transform back. Bozzi, pushed around, hungry, unwanted, experiences life as merciless and cold. Pursued by other dogs, chased away by people with whom he can no longer communicate, he roams the streets until he meets the boy Tonino, who takes care of him. The two become friends, and when some thugs beat up little Tonino, he jumps on the thugs to protect Tonino. Through this act of selflessness, Bozzi transforms back into human form. The inner transformation endures: from now on, Bozzi is understanding and friendly.

Cast

Peter Ustinov Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov (born Peter Alexander Freiherr von Ustinov ; 16 April 192128 March 2004) was a British actor, filmmaker and writer. An internationally known raconteur, he was a fixture on television talk shows and lecture circuits ...

: Lawyer Pozzi *

Pablito Calvo Pablo Calvo Hidalgo (16 March 1948 – 1 February 2000), better known as Pablito Calvo, was a Spanish child actor. Biography After the international success of '' Marcelino, pan y vino'', where he won a Cannes Film Festival award (1955), he b ...

: Tonino *

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, son of the journalist and playwright Vincenzo Tieri, Aroldo Tieri ...

: Bruno Lo Banco *

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, ...

: Alfonso *

Franca Tamantini Franca Tamantini (24 August 1931 – 11 August 2014) was an Italian film, television and stage actress. Life and career Born in Rome, since young age Tamantini studied piano, singing and classical dance at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. In 1948 ...

: Alfonso's girlfriend *

Silvia Marco Silvia () is a female given name of Latin origin, with a male equivalent Silvio and English-language cognate Sylvia (given name), Sylvia. The name originates from the Latin word for forest, ''Silva'', and its meaning is "spirit of the wood"; the m ...

: Giulia *

Isabel de Pomés Isabel de Pomés (10 April 1924 – 31 May 2007) was a classic Spanish film actress and one of the leading ladies in Spanish cinema of the 1940s and 1950s. She appeared in over 30 films between 1941 and 1965. Her father was the actor and sport ...

: Paolina *

Carlos Casaravilla Carlos Casaravilla (12 October 1900 – 17 February 1981) was an Uruguayan actor. He appeared in 85 films between 1934 and 1978. He starred in the film '' El Lazarillo de Tormes'', which won the Golden Bear at the 10th Berlin International F ...

: Hobo *

José Marco Davó José Marco Davó (1895–1974) was a Spanish film actor.Pitts p.307 Selected filmography * ''Es mi hombre'' (1934) * ''Don Quintín el amargao'' (1935) - Nicasio * ''La última falla'' (1940) * ''Whirlwind'' (1941) - Portero * '' Dawn of Americ ...

: Judge *

Renato Chiantoni Renato Chiantoni (19 April 1906 – 24 December 1979) was an Italian actor. He appeared in 100 films between 1937 and 1978. Born in Brescia, the son of the stage actor Amedeo, Chiantoni debuted on stage entering several drama and revue comp ...

: Judge's usher *

Dolores Bremón Dolores, Spanish for "pain; grief", most commonly refers to: * Our Lady of Sorrows or La Virgen María de los Dolores * Dolores (given name) Dolores may also refer to: Film * Dolores (2017 film), ''Dolores'' (2017 film), an American documentary ...

: Old lady *

Juan de Landa Juan de Landa (1894–1968) was a Spanish film actor, who was born in the Basque Country. de Landa entered the film industry in 1930 following the arrival of sound film. He initially acted in Spanish-language versions of Hollywood films, but lat ...

:Butcher *

José Isbert José Enrique Benito y Emeterio Ysbert Alvarruiz (3 March 1886 in Madrid – 28 November 1966 in Madrid), also known as José Isbert and/or Pepe Isbert, was a Spanish actor. Biography Early life In 1903 he worked at the Court of Accounts (Trib ...

: Pietrino *

Julia Caba Alba Julia Caba Alba (31 July 1902 – 14 November 1988) was a Spanish actress who appeared in more than a hundred films and television series during her career. She was a noted character actress.Mira p.83 Her sister was the actress Irene Caba Alba. ...

: Owner of the restaurant *

Enrique Diosdado Enrique Diosdado (May 6, 1910 – December 1, 1983) was a Spanish actor. He is sometimes credited as Enrique Alvarez Diosdado. Diosdado was a leading man of Argentine and Spanish films of the 1940s and 1950s. His daughter, Ana Diosdado, was a lead ...

: Cop *

Carlo Pisacane Carlo Pisacane, Duke of San Giovanni (22 August 1818 – 2 July 1857) was an Italian patriot and one of the first Italian socialist thinkers. He argued that violence was necessary not only to draw attention to, or generate publicity for, a c ...

: Tramp

References

External links

* 1957 films Films directed by Ladislao Vajda 1950s fantasy comedy films Spanish fantasy comedy films Italian fantasy comedy films Films set in Brooklyn 1957 comedy films 1950s Italian films 1950s Spanish films {{1950s-Italy-film-stub