Dino Risi, the master of Italian comedy, was born 100 years ago

Dino Risi, the master of Italian comedy, was born 100 years ago

On December 23, 1916 was born Dino Risi, the great director and screenwriter. A master of Italian comedy, one of its greatest exponents with Mario Monicelli and Luigi Comencini.

The Risi's films masterfully played the character of the country. His films, especially those of his most intense phase of creation, from the mid-50s to mid-80s, are sweet and bitter representations of changes in the country, of its thrusts to liberty and all its backwardness and its hypocritical contradictions.

The production list of Dino Risi is really long.

We remember him with five films running through twenty years of His artistic production.

Poor but Beautiful (1956)

Salvatore and Romolo are two young men that are neighbours and friends.They are poor but handsome, and both fall in love with Giovanna.

Actors: Marisa Allasio, Maurizio Arena, Renato Salvatori.

Locations: Fiano Romano (RM), Rome (RM)      

The Easy Life (1962)

A forty year old braggart and a shy law student in a crazy ride two days driving through The Roman and Tuscany countries. A succession of tragicomic events until the final tragedy. A symbolic film of the Italian boom years.

Actors: Vittorio Gassman, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Catherine Spaak.

Locations: Rome and its province: Fiumicino (RM), Cerveteri (RM), Ladispoli (RM), Tuscany: Capalbio (GR), Rosignano Marittimo (LI).

I mostri (1963)

The myths of the sixties are satirized in 20 episodes.

Actors Vittorio Gassman and Ugo Tognazzi.

Locations: Roma e Ostia (RM)

Kill Me with Kisses (1968)

Vicissitudes of a young couple of lovers between many difficulties: her marriage with a deaf-mute and their attempt to kill him with the explosion of a gas stove.

Actors Nino Manfredi, Pamela Tiffin, Ugo Tognazzi.  

Locations: Abruzzo: L'Aquila (AQ), Pescocostanzo (AQ), Rivisondoli (AQ); Lazio: Roma (RM), Ronciglione (VT), Tivoli (RM) and Umbria: Todi (PG).    

Scent of a woman (1974)

After being blinded by an accident, Captain Fausto Consolo, despite the strong and cynical personality, he decides to kill himself. Will depart from Turin to Naples, the city chosen where to make the ultimate gesture.

For his performance Vittorio Gassman was awarded as best male actor at the Cannes Film Festival. He also won the David di Donatello, the Italian Golden Globe and the Silver Ribbon for Best Actor.

Actors: Vittorio Gassman, Agostina Belli, Alessandro Momo.

Locations: Torino (TO), Genova (GE), Roma (RM), Ercolano (NA), Napoli (NA).