mark.waltz Dubbing Bette Davis in Italian with another woman is like watching "The Wizard of Oz" in Spanish and hearing somebody else's voice other than Judy Garland singing "Over the Rainbow". (Fortunately, the Spanish version of the MGM classic did not dub the songs.) But for Bette, that clipped speech which accentuated her mannerisms, that missing voice is like missing half of her performance. She's a wealthy American industrialist who, now wheelchair bound, travels the world, and when visiting Italy has regularly night card games with two local experts, poor natives learning everything they can in order to win all they can from her (whom they continuously refer to as "the old one") to improve their situation.Other than Davis, this is interesting only for a look at the lives of peasants in Italy as well as many location shoots. A great deal of the time deals with their family situation, showing the children making flowers for funerals and all the struggles the parents must go through. Joseph Cotten, appearing with Davis for the third time, plays her partner, yet is greatly wasted. The art direction of Davis's estate is lavish and colorful, and Davis seems to have intentionally made herself look like the old Mrs. Skeffington, in color and with garish blue eye shadow.This is an interesting footnote in Davis's career, coming around the time when her theatrical films were either outrageous camp ("The Anniversary"), barely released ("Bunny O'Hare"), not released in main U.S. markets ("Connecting Rooms") or not seen in the U.S. at all (this one). No wonder she turned to TV guest appearances, talk shows and movies of the week to keep herself active. Yet she's hardly a shell of herself, and her drive would keep her going for nearly another two decades. If you are interested in the subject matter of cards, this will interest you, otherwise it is pretty difficult to get into.

albertoveronese A masterpiece from Luigi Comencini. Another masterpiece of an unrestrained cinema that was (for a very long time) inspired and remarkable; Full, alike life... alike a work of art. Luigi Comencini's 'Lo Scopone Scientifico' is entertaining, funny, touching but also sharp, intelligent and intensely sad; it reflects the conditions of many of us: defeat, ignorance and inequality. It's a radiography on how persistent poverty creates a self-perpetuating cycle within the impoverished classes. It speaks of today's democratic societies! Check it out! You'll be amazed how much (today!) you can read out of this movie...Do you know what happens at this very exact time in our history? I'll say it again, check it out, watch this film, you'll know it. Wake up Folks!

kristen Skullerud Another of those Alberto Sordi black comedy's which reveals his acting excellence ! As usual it always the poor,humble and(too) honest Italian trying to get rich the easy way,(to satisfy more his wife's ambitions than his own) but his efforts has disastrous consequences !! As the previous commentator wrote, it is the usual fable of the little Italian who 'dares' to challenge the high and mighty, but ultimately fails miserably.....the moral being everyone must remain to their stations, if you're born poor don't reckon you can fight the rich and get away with it !A typical Italian way thinking especially in the 1950's and 60's. The quality of this film is only further confirmed by the presence of such high calibre Anglo-American artists as Bette Davis and Joseph Cotton.Surely they would never play in a rubbish European film ! European films (as all U.S. actors know) pay poorly , bur often offer great roles....surely good for their future careers ! A great film....but best appreciated if you are familiar with South European more's and culture.A 8 vote from me.

dbdumonteil The cast for this fable is fabulous:two great American actors ,Joseph Cotten and Bette Davis,two great Italian ones:Alberto Sordi and Silvana Mangano. Pepino and Antonia ,two Italian proles are waiting,every summer,for "the old lady",a wealthy and disabled American in order to fleece her.How? By playing cards with her in a game called "lo scopino scientifico= the scientific broom sweep" We 'll never know the name of "the old lady".They always refer to her like that.In fact ,she epitomizes capitalism.Bette Davis is wonderful and sadistically smiling all the way.Always with him,an old beau(her former lover?)whom she enjoys humiliating(brilliant Cotten). Against the Money Goddess,two miserable wops,(pitiful Sordi and authoritarian Mangano) always short of the readies,to whom the old one is always compelled to lend some dough to begin a game. And a game that will be the funniest ever filmed:the Italians begin to win,they win more,more and more and they want to call it a day?But the old woman is not prepared to accept it.She wants to play more,even after a heart attack!There's the rub:the money game is allowed to these who can go on and on indefinitely.That's Pepino and Antonia's downfall.They lose everything. As always in Luigi Comencini's movies,children are wiser than their parents.Cleopatra ,Pépino's elder daughter realizes that it's a foolish game,what can do two proles against the most powerful bank ?You've got to refuse such a game and start a realist fight.As far the Old Lady is concerned,Cleopatra will opt for the final solution,and,maybe ,her parents will come back to solidarity with their fellows. This is a must-see.This is a comedy of the first order,sometimes verging on tragedy ,Luigi Comencini equals Billy Wilder here,that means a lot!