''While There's War There's Hope'' () is a 1974 satirical

Commedia all'italiana ''Commedia all'italiana'' () or Italian-style comedy is an Italian film genre born in Italy in the 1950s and developed in the 1960s and 1970s. It is widely considered to have started with Mario Monicelli's ''Big Deal on Madonna Street'' in 1958 ...

film written, directed and starring

Alberto Sordi Alberto Sordi (15 June 1920 – 24 February 2003) was an Italian actor, comedian, voice dubber, director, singer, composer and screenwriter. Sordi is considered one of the most important actors in the history of Italian cinema and one of the b ...

. The film's success in Italy led to its title becoming a proverb.

Plot

Pietro Chiocca (Alberto Sordi) is an Italian retailer, who sells hydraulic pumps. He realizes he will make money only if he starts selling weapons to poor Third World countries. The business is very successful although tiring and not exempt from risks. Pietro goes about it with dedication, enjoying the challenge of outsmarting his rivals and resorting to any tactics, no matter how immoral, to secure his dealings. This forces him to travel continuously, without playing much of a part to the life of his family. He loves them dearly and avoids sharing with them how their wealth is generated. On their side, they appear to take it for granted, always asking for more and squandering it in blissful ignorance. During a business deal, Pietro is exposed more directly to the consequences of his weapons sales. A journalist also publishes a scoop which identifies him openly, and which raises public indignation among the general public. Pietro is shamed by his neighbors, his wife and children. However, when he explains them that he's ready to abandon the arms dealing business and go back to a less questionable but also less remunerative job, which will leave them poorer, none of them is willing to return to a more modest lifestyle. He is solicited instead to continue and to anticipate preparations for the next deal.

Cast

as Pietro Chiocca * Silvia Monti as Silvia, Pietro's wife *

Alessandro Cutolo Aldo Alessandro Cutolo (28 March 1899 – 14 March 1995) was an Italian academic, television presenter, actor and historian. Born in Naples, after studying under Benedetto Croce and teaching medieval history at the University of Rome, in 1928 Cuto ...

as Pietro's Uncle * Matilde Costa Giuffrida as Pietro's Mother-in-law * Edoardo Faieta as Gutierrez * Mauro Firmani as Dicky * Eliana De Santis as Giada * Sergio Puppo as Balcazar * Roy Bosier as Rabal *

Samuel Cummings Samuel Cummings, (February 7, 1927 – April 29, 1998) was an American small arms dealer. He founded the International Armament Corporation (also known as Interarms or Interarmco) in 1953, a company which came to dominate the free world market ...

as Himself

References

External links

* Italian comedy films Italian satirical films Commedia all'italiana 1973 comedy films 1973 films Films directed by Alberto Sordi Films scored by Piero Piccioni Films about arms trafficking Films set in France Films set in Milan Films shot in Senegal 1970s Italian films {{1970s-Italy-comedy-film-stub