Rating: 
Summary: So much better than "Welcome to Collinwood"
Review: This film is sadly one of the few opportunities most Americans will have to see the great Italian comedian named Toto. Toto is to Italy what Bob Hope is to America. He starred in over 100 films, most of which are still played regularly on Italian television today. I discovered him myself only three years ago when I moved to Naples. His old B&W films always have me smiling and laughing at his comic genius. I've wanted to share these films with family in the states, but to my surprise "Big Deal on Madonna Street" seems the only subtitled one available! I've seen this particular film on late night TV and it is quite good as other reviews have already stated. It's a wonderful addition to any film buff's collection. Yet, perhaps someday Toto's other films will make it across the Atlantic. Then you can laugh too as Toto sells the famous Trevi fountain in Rome to an unsuspecting American tourist! NOTE: In this film Toto plays Dante the retired burglar.
Rating:
Summary: There is so much more!
Review: This film is sadly one of the few opportunities most Americans will have to see the great Italian comedian named Toto. Toto is to Italy what Bob Hope is to America. He starred in over 100 films, most of which are still played regularly on Italian television today. I discovered him myself only three years ago when I moved to Naples. His old B&W films always have me smiling and laughing at his comic genius. I've wanted to share these films with family in the states, but to my surprise "Big Deal on Madonna Street" seems the only subtitled one available! I've seen this particular film on late night TV and it is quite good as other reviews have already stated. It's a wonderful addition to any film buff's collection. Yet, perhaps someday Toto's other films will make it across the Atlantic. Then you can laugh too as Toto sells the famous Trevi fountain in Rome to an unsuspecting American tourist! NOTE: In this film Toto plays Dante the retired burglar.
Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious
Review: This is a hilarious movie that has many of Italy's most famous actors in it (including the Italian comedian Toto) It manages to be funny even with subtitles. The scene where all of the "thieves" are pretending to do laundry to cover up their nefarious acts is wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: Very big deal.
Review: This Italian parody of Jules Dassin's *Rififi* turns out to be, after all is said and done, a better movie. Interestingly, it finally seems more original than Dassin's crime movie, despite its obvious mocking of Italian Neo-Realist pretensions AND the hard-bitten *Rififi* (itself a derivation of 1940's American film noirs). *Big Deal on Madonna Street* basically justifies director Mario Monicelli's career . . . at least in my eyes, for I've never much cared for most of his movies. His films have a very narrow interest, meaning, you really have to be Italian to "get" them. In *Big Deal*, Monicelli goes for something more universal with this spoof of the massively infuential French noir, and attains sundry brilliancies. Firstly, the characters are unforgettably individualized, with tics and situations that often turn the gangster archetype on its head. Marcello Mastroianni, for instance, is babysitting his infant while his WIFE serves a short term in jail for smuggling! And somehow the director manages to mock the post-War Italian cinema's unblinking view (a view which was monotonously repeated, starting with Rosselini's *Open City*) of the desperate plight of the country's working-class while AT THE SAME TIME carrying on most poignantly that tradition. For a comedy, there's a heck of a lot of dirty jails, dirty streets, and dirty people. The notion of a grand robbery -- a one-time "big score" -- is natural on these streets. The overall tone is light, but the grim realities are not hidden. This is not a "hilarious" comedy . . . at least until we get to the Big Caper, which is a smorgasbord of comic ineptness. I won't ruin it by describing it; see it for yourself. By the way, this movie was itself re-made (more or less) twice: Louis Malle tried to Americanize it in his *Crackers* (don't bother), and Woody Allen lightly essayed it just recently with his *Small-time Crooks*. Having praised *Big Deal on Madonna Street*, I will add the caveat that a prior knowledge of *Rififi* and Italian Neo-Realist cinema will enhance your enjoyment of the film. [I'm sorry to report that Criterion's DVD is, simply put, substandard. No features but a trailer, and the subtitles are poorly done, flashing on and off the screen like subliminal messages. As this is a later release (#113, I think), there are no excuses for the shoddiness. It's fair to expect excellence from Criterion, particularly because their products are so expensive. Oh well.]
Rating:
Summary: Genuinely funny movie
Review: This movie is a classic comedy burglar caper. A collection of small time hoods gather to rob a pawn shop. Along the way, everything that could go wrong does in pretty hilarious fashion. As other reviewers have mentioned, Woody Allen's "Small Time Crooks" was clearly inspired by this film, so if you liked that one, you'll probably enjoy Madonna Street. I also agree with the problem with the subtitles flashing too quickly. All the more reason to try to get it on DVD - I found myself having to pause the frame just to read the subtitles. Despite this problem, this movie really is funny and enjoyable. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Genuinely funny movie
Review: This movie is a classic comedy burglar caper. A collection of small time hoods gather to rob a pawn shop. Along the way, everything that could go wrong does in pretty hilarious fashion. As other reviewers have mentioned, Woody Allen's "Small Time Crooks" was clearly inspired by this film, so if you liked that one, you'll probably enjoy Madonna Street. I also agree with the problem with the subtitles flashing too quickly. All the more reason to try to get it on DVD - I found myself having to pause the frame just to read the subtitles. Despite this problem, this movie really is funny and enjoyable. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: I adore Marcello!
Review: This movie is hysterical! Besides having a colurful cast,the dialogue really plays up to the action. My Favourite part is "Sportivo!".....and any scene with Marcello and the baby,also when the old man steals a nibble of the baby's food! :) I love Marcello Mastroianni, He's the greatest! An even better comedy is Divorce Italian Style ! Check that out!
Rating:
Summary: I adore Marcello!
Review: This movie is hysterical! Besides having a colurful cast,the dialogue really plays up to the action. My Favourite part is "Sportivo!".....and any scene with Marcello and the baby,also when the old man steals a nibble of the baby's food! :) I love Marcello Mastroianni, He's the greatest! An even better comedy is Divorce Italian Style ! Check that out!
Rating:
Summary: A great Italian "dumb crook" Comedy
Review: This Review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.
The original Italian title is "I Soliti Ignoti" which roughly translates to "The usual unidentified thieves"
Mario Monicelli has made a great film here. In this film, A band of inept and clumsy thieves attempt to break into a safe. Instead, they manage to drill through the wrong wall, and create various acts of mayhem. The film has many scenes in it which are very funny.
The DVD has a US theatrical trailer as a special feature.
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