''L'arbitro'' (internationally released as ''Playing the Field'', ''Football Crazy'' and ''The Referee'') is a 1974

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by Luigi Filippo D'Amico. The main character, Carmelo Lo Cascio, is inspired on the referee

Concetto Lo Bello Concetto Lo Bello (13 May 1924 – 9 September 1991) was an Italian association football international referee. He holds the record for refereeing the most games in Serie A (328). His career spanned from 1944 to 1974, refereeing his first inte ...

. The theme song, "Football Crazy", is sung by the football player

Giorgio Chinaglia Giorgio Chinaglia (; 24 January 1947 – 1 April 2012) was an Italian association football, footballer who played as a striker (association football), striker. He grew up and played his early football in Cardiff, Wales, and began his career with ...

Cast

Lando Buzzanca Gerlando "Lando" Buzzanca (24 August 1935 – 18 December 2022) was an Italian stage, film, and television actor whose career spanned 65 years. Life and career Early years Born in Palermo the son of a cinema projectionist, at 16 years old Buzz ...

as Carmelo Lo Cascio *

Joan Collins Dame Joan Henrietta Collins (born 23 May 1933) is an English actress, author and columnist. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Golden Globe Awards, a People's Choice Award, two Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Primetime Emm ...

as Elena Sperani *

Gabriella Pallotta Gabriella Pallotta (born 6 October 1938) is an Italian film actress. She appeared in 22 films between 1956 and 1974. For the film '' The Pigeon That Took Rome'' (1962) she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – ...

as Laura, wife of Lo Cascio *

Ignazio Leone Ignazio Leone (19 April 1923 – 30 December 1976) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 105 films between 1952 and 1976. Selected filmography * '' The Walk'' (1953) * '' I Chose Love'' (1953) * '' Amici per la pelle'' (1955) * '' A Wo ...

as Fichera * Marisa Solinas as Luisella, wife of Fichera *

Massimo Mollica Massimo Mollica (19 March 1929 – 1 May 2013) was an Italian actor and stage director. Born in Pace del Mela, Messina, the son of an elementary school teacher, Mollica started acting at the university.Giancarlo Colombo. ''Who's Who in Ital ...

as La Forgia *

Daniele Vargas Daniele Vargas, stage name of Daniele Pitani (20 April 1922 – 26 April 1981) was an Italian film actor. Life and career Born in Imola, a small town in the district of Bologna, after attending high school with Pier Paolo Pasolini, Daniele ...

as the president * as himself * as himself * Bruno Pizzul as himself *

Nicolò Carosio Nicolò Carosio (15 March 1907 – 27 September 1984) was an Italian sport journalist and commentator. Born in Palermo, the son of a customs inspector and a Maltese pianist, Carosio graduated in law, then he decided to participate in a contest ...

as himself * as *

Gianfranco Barra Gianfranco Barra (5 April 1940 – 23 March 2025) was an Italian actor. He appeared in more than 80 films, mainly as a character actor. Born in Rome, Barra studied at the Silvio d’Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts in his hometown. First active on ...

as policeman in Terni * as * as * Umberto D'Orsi as the doctor * as *

Renato Terra Renato Terra (26 July 1922 – 28 November 2010), also known by the alias Ryan Earthpick, was an Italian actor and later a poet. Biography Terra had a career working in film as an actor, and appeared in over 80 Film, movies. In 1977 he retired ...

as * as * as *

Carla Mancini Carla Mancini (born 21 April 1950) is an Italian film and television actress.Cox p.295 A graduate of the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia she made numerous appearances in films of the early 1970s. Selected filmography * '' Rough Justice'' (1 ...

as *

Alvaro Vitali Alvaro Vitali (; born 3 February 1950) is an Italian actor. He was an electrician until he was discovered by Federico Fellini and played a small part in ''Satyricon'' (1969), which led to other roles, notably in the movie '' Amarcord'' (1973 ...

as the postman

References

External links

* 1974 films Italian sports comedy films Italian association football films Films directed by Luigi Filippo D'Amico 1970s sports comedy films Films scored by Guido & Maurizio De Angelis 1970s Italian-language films Films with screenplays by Giulio Scarnicci 1970s Italian films Films shot in Sicily Films shot in Kenya Italian-language sports comedy films {{1970s-Italy-comedy-film-stub

Cast

See also

References

External links