SCANDAL IN SORRENTO
Italy, 1955, 92 minutes, Colour.
Vittorio de Sica, Sophia Loren, Lea Padovani, Antonio Cifarielloshe, Tina Pica, Mario Coretenuto,.
Directed by Dino Risi.
This film was popular in its day, part of a trilogy starring Vittorio de Sica as a Marshal, debonair character, his duties in the town, and his relationship with the women, in the first two films, Bread, Love and Dreams, Frisky, with Gina Lollobrigida, directed by Luigi Commencini. This time, however, the lead is the very young Sophia Loren (who had appeared in many supporting roles since the late 1940s, including Quo Vadis, but now appearing in feature films, soon to go to Hollywood, winning an Oscar six years later under Vittorio De Sica’s direction for Two Women, and a successful career including a film directed by her son, Eduardo Ponti, the Life Ahead, released in 2020).
The main reason for seeing the film now part for its entertainment value, De Sica, the former matinee idol, then very serious director with Bicycle Thieves and Shoeshine, and seeing Sophia Loren aged 20. The film was directed by Dino Risi, director of many light Italian films including The Priest’s Wife, with Sophia Loren.
Netflix revived the film in 2020 and it is a beautiful print, drawing on the Cinemascope style as well as the bright colours of southern Italy.
1. A popular romantic comedy from Italy in the 1950s? The third in a trilogy?
2. The film seen in the retrospect of Vittorio De Sica’s acting and directing career, Sofia Loren’s career?
3. The colourful settings, the town and marketplace, trains, boats, the water, Sorrento, the jetty, the streets, the markets, homes and interiors, the nightclub? The musical score?
4. The title, expectations?
5. The focus on Antonio, his career, retiring, leaving the town, the priest and his advising him to reform, his relationship with Caramella, her bringing him up, housekeeper, taking her with him? The discussion on the train? On the boat?
6. Antonio, Vittorio de Sica, screen presence, manner, aplomb, cheerful? Conscious of his official dignity? His new position, municipal guards? His relationship with his brother, the priest, the discussions, his brother’s advice?
7. The introduction to Sofia, at the market, selling the fish, calling out, tough, her rivals, the little boy, the message for Antonio, her plan, the house, her relationship with Nico? Bringing the tray, meeting Antonio, some defiance, his liking her?
8. The plan to the house, Antonio and accommodation, Violante and her place in the house, her attraction towards Antonio, looking wistful?
9. Nico, postman, interactions with Sofia, her getting in the job, love, her slapping him, his wanting to move, to go to Venezuela?
10. Sofia, her relationship with Antonio, his infatuation, her plan? The outings together, her clothes and manner, walking the town, people’s response, the mayor and his counsel?
The engagement, going to the nightclub, persuading Antonio to dance, the encounter with Nico, the spilling the ice cream, leaving?
11. Antonio and his response to severe, Caramella and her advice? The comic touches of his behaviour in the town, the group coming to inspect the water, his hiding in the water?
12. Antonio realising the truth, meeting with Nico, the writing of the romantic letter, at the wharf, talking with Sofia about Antonio, her spurning him, his leaving, Antonio and his teasing Sofia, the boy bringing the letter, the reading it, her going to reconcile with Nico?
13. And Violante, still watching, playing the piano, Antonio and his brother and the advice, going to see Violante?
