Ten good old comedies of European cinema to start 2023 optimistically

With the arrival of the New Year, which it seems will be another difficult year, cinema remains a way out of problems.

Cinema may have changed form over time, moving from the big screen to television, video, platforms and the internet, but the big screen remains the original cinematic delight.

The return to the good cinema of the distant past is a sure solution, for authentic entertainment and at the same time, an opportunity to discover cinematic creations, directors, actors, screenwriters, that will make us revise our views on cinema, maybe even love more

After all, cinema, like all arts, has no expiration date, a really good film never loses its value – on the contrary, several times over time they gain the respect they deserve. There are many examples, with the most typical being that of Frank Capra’s classic masterpiece film “It’s a Wonderful Life”.

For the coming festive days, it is an opportunity to discover or re-watch ten wonderful comedies, ten golden – not very well known – pieces of European cinema, which can cheer us up, look more optimistically at 2023 and remind us of great creators, great actors and stories that even in their time made people laugh, take a breather, from their problems.

The Monsters (“I mostri”)

Spartan Italian spin-off comedy, made by Dino Rizzi in 1963, starring the inimitable Vittorio Gusman and Hugo Toniazzi, as well as a host of comedians in supporting roles. Rizzi satirizes the bad texts and creates wonderful portraits of key representatives of Italian society, at a time when, on the one hand, the “Italian economic miracle” flourishes, and on the other, the reality of “porca miseria”. Cops worse than the murderer, a wife cheats on her happy husband, an honest man is ridiculed by a lawyer, a priest makes up like a star and so on. The film also had an equally enjoyable sequel in 1977 (“Modern Monsters”), directed by, in addition to Rizzi, the greatest of “Italian Comedy” Mario Monicelli and Ettore Scola.

Nudist Scandals (“I’m All Right Jack”)

From the unknown comedies (1959) by Peter Sellers, who, although he does not star, steals all the glory and proves what it means to be a source of talent, long before he became famous. Directed by John Boulding, it stars Ian Carmichael and co-stars Richard Attenborough and Richard Thomas. Excellent satire, which destroys the elite of industrialists, but does not leave intact the attitude of the trade unionists, whose leader is an inimitable Sellers.

Right Honorable Masters of Cell 13 (“Two-Way Stretch”)

And since we are in the huge Peter Sellers chapter, let’s remember one more of his strongest comedies, made by Robert Day in 1960. Three crooks, who are imprisoned and having a rough time, plan to escape, rob the diamonds of a maharajah and return back, securing the valuable alibi. Excellent humor, with an incredible Peter Sellers again, who has important characters alongside him.

Inconceivable Escape (“La Grande Vadrouille”)

Emblematic comedy, about the German occupation of France and Nazism, made in 1966 by Gérard Uri and enjoyed huge commercial success, holding the record for decades, with 17 million tickets! The film is laugh-out-loud, scathingly critical, but most of all, it features Louis De Fines, who, especially at the beginning, proves within minutes that a great comedian needs nothing more than an idea to make you laugh. laugh to tears and at the same time make you think about the conceit of artists.

The Little World of Don Camillo (“Le Petit Monde de don Camillo”)

A huge success of French cinema, this is an excellent comedy made in 1951 by Julien Divivier and he took off in the role of Don Camillo, a provincial priest, who opposes the communist mayor Pepone and converses with… God, the wonderful and beloved Fernandel. The scathing text is by the Italian writer Giovanni Guareschi, while the audience’s love led to four more films, the last one sending Don Camillo to… “satanic” Moscow.

The Gentleman from Epsom

Excellent spoof comedy with the huge Jean Gabin showing he could excel in comedic roles too. In the 1962 film, directed by Gilles Granger, Gabin plays a former cavalry officer who is considered an authority on horse racing and manages to extort money from wealthy gamblers. In a characteristic role, that of the traditional restaurateur again the incredible Louis De Fines.

Bread, love and fantasy (“Pane, Amore e Fantasia” – main photo)

Sweet, dreamy Italian romantic comedy, but also subtly poignant about the poverty and abandonment of the Italian countryside, made by Luigi Comencini in 1953, starring the adored Vittorio De Sica and the hot Gina Lollobridgeta. In a southern village, the middle-aged and amorously unsophisticated policeman will fall in love with the local doll, but everything will be confused when third parties get in the way. However, the scene with the villager eating a sandwich, with nothing in it and when asked by the policeman “what is he eating” he replies “bread and imagination” will remain unforgettable.

Fire… Firemen (“Hori, ma Panenko”)

Mad Czech comedy from 1967, but more of a satire about the regime, by Milos Forman, which was banned in his country. It is the last film of the important director, who the following year immigrated to the USA. The story revolves around the mischief that happens at a firemen’s festival in a town.

Mimì the Blacksmith (“Mimì metallurgico ferito nell’onore”)

Proof that women could make terrible comedies too. Here, the famous Lina Werdmüller, the “naughty” girl of Italian cinema, will make a hilarious comedy (1972), to talk about the working class, politicians, the anchors of Italian society, the mafia, love, men of the south and women. It will star the brilliant Giancarlo Giannini, with whom he will collaborate in five films, and the ethereal Mariangela Melato. A flawless sample of political comedy, in which, apart from the protagonists, a series of incredible faces parades in secondary roles.

The Lavender Hill Mob

Apotheosis of British humour, in this sly comedy by the great Charles Crichton (“A Fish Called Wanda”) and starring the versatile Alec Guinness, Alfie Bass, Stanley Holloway and the brilliant Audrey Hepburn. The Oscar-winning screenplay has a quiet bank employee hatch a plan to rob the bank, with the help of unsuspecting associates. A timeless 70-year-old comedy, proving that diamonds are forever.

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