THE 1962 MOB SCENES STILL PACK A LAUGH IN `MAFIOSO'.Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic The good folks at Rialto Rialto, city (1990 pop. 72,388), San Bernardino co., S Calif., a residential suburb of San Bernardino; inc. 1911. The city has greatly expanded as a result of the economic and demographic growth of the southern California area. Pictures have got to be feeling pretty fantastic right now. The crowning jewel of their 2006 release slate, Jean-Pierre Melville's 1969 masterpiece ``Army of Shadows,'' landed on scores of Top 10 lists. Many critics hailed it as the best film of the year, getting away with the designation since Melville's movie never played in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. back in the day. A still-shining classic Rialto's latest restoration effort, Alberto Lattuada's 1962 black-and-white mob movie ``Mafioso,'' did find its way to American theaters
The American Theater , though just barely. It's another bygone by·gone adj. Gone by; past: bygone days. n. One, especially a grievance, that is past: Let bygones be bygones. classic that's as fresh today as it was 45 years ago, a triumphant black comedy that must have caught Francis Ford Coppola's eye as he was preparing ``The Godfather'' a decade later. ``Mafioso'' stars the great Alberto Sordi playing Nino, a Fiat factory foreman in Milan, a man as regular as a stopwatch, who takes his wife and young daughters home to Sicily to meet his family. Nino's blond wife (sexy Norma Bengell) pouts as she's subjected to judgmental judg·men·tal adj. 1. Of, relating to, or dependent on judgment: a judgmental error. 2. Inclined to make judgments, especially moral or personal ones: in-laws and huge spreads of food which, when offered, she can't refuse. Another offer impossible to spurn is extended by Don Vincenzo (Ugo Attanasio), the head of the local Mafia. The glad-handing Nino worked for the don when he was a teen. (What he did isn't specified, but, given Nino's naivete na·ive·té or na·ïve·té n. 1. The state or quality of being inexperienced or unsophisticated, especially in being artless, credulous, or uncritical. 2. An artless, credulous, or uncritical statement or act. , it couldn't have been all that nasty.) After Don Vincenzo settles a land dispute in favor of Nino's father, an underling tells Nino that maybe someday he will be called to help the mobster. Charming to a fault When that day comes -- and you wait for it with a combination of giddiness and fear -- ``Mafioso'' turns on a dime, mirth giving way to menace. Sordi, one of cinema's unsung leading men, possessed a commanding charisma and a physical grace along with impeccable comic timing. He lays it all on the line in ``Mafioso,'' his quick-study Nino getting in way over his head but never losing his cool. Michael Corleone would be proud. Glenn Whipp, (818) 713-3672. glenn.whipp@dailynews.com MAFIOSO - Three and one half stars (Not rated: sexuality, violence) Starring: Alberto Sordi, Norma Bengell, Ugo Attanasio. Director: Alberto Lattuada. Running time: 1 hr. 39 min. Playing: Laemmle's Royal in West Los Angeles
In a nutshell nut·shell n. The shell enclosing the meat of a nut. Idiom: in a nutshell In a few words; concisely: Just give me the facts in a nutshell. Adv. 1. : Mob masterpiece about a reluctant gangster who has been given an offer he can't refuse. In Italian with English subtitles sub·ti·tle n. 1. A secondary, usually explanatory title, as of a literary work. 2. A printed translation of the dialogue of a foreign-language film shown at the bottom of the screen. tr.v. . CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Norma Bengell and Alberto Sordi star in the re-released 1962 black-and-white mob movie ``Mafioso,'' about a reluctant gangster who has been given an offer he can't refuse. The film is in Italian, with English subtitles. |
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