Alberto Sordi plays a chaotic showman—what could possibly go wrong? Everything, gloriously.
During the period between world wars, vaudeville sketches were popular before film showings.Gastone is one of the characters played by the famous Ettore Petrolini who figures in these sketches.
Acting
Sordi's elastic face—pure commedia dell'arte genius
Production
Lavish stage recreations of 1920s variety theater
Costume
Gastone's excessive outfits match his膨胀 ego
Director
Mario Bonnard
Alberto Sordi
Gastone
Vittorio De Sica
The Prince
Anna Maria Ferrero
Nannina
Franca Marzi
Rosa
Linda Sini
Lucy
Chelo Alonso
Carmensita
Magali Noël
Sonia
Paolo Stoppa
Achille
Salvo Libassi
Commissario di Polizia
Tino Scotti
Il prestigiatore
Nanda Primavera
Flora
Lola Braccini
La signora
Mario Frera
Michele Testa
Nino Milano
ufficiale di polizia
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ettore Petrolini originated Gastone in 1910s vaudeville; this adaptation arrived 20 years after his death, making Sordi's interpretation a generational handoff in Italian comedy.
Vittorio De Sica's cameo as The Prince wasn't just casting—he and Sordi were real-life rivals, lending their scenes delicious backstage tension.
IT
