bensonmum2 A group of American thieves arrives in Napoli with intentions of stealing the famed treasure of San Gennaro. Once they get the blessing of the local boss, Don Vincenzo (Toto), they approach local talent for assistance with the job - starting with a thief named Dudu (Nino Manfredi). Planning hits a snag, however, when Dudu learns of the intended target. He cannot possibly steal from the Cathedral of San Gennaro. In the end, Dudu relents, but that's only the beginning of the problems for the group. Can they overcome the many obstacles in their way and who will try to cheat who out of the treasure?Overall, The Treasure of San Gennaro is a very enjoyable comedy/heist film that could have been even better. To begin, a lot of the comedy actually works. The scenes at the unexpected wedding, scenes with Don Vincenzo, and the explosive rat are just a few of the moments that were funny to me. The actual plan to steal the treasure is of course overly complicated and fraught with possible things that could go wrong. You just know it's all going to fall apart. I love these kinds of intricate plans. The final scene is also quite good and appropriate as the treasure comes full circle and ends where it should. Finally, the cast was enjoyable - particularly Toto, Manfredi, Mario Adorf, and Senta Berger. It's a nice cast.Even though I've rated The Treasure of San Gennaro a 7/10, it's not without a couple of big faults. Chief among them is what I thought was an overly long script. A few judicious edits could have made this movie so much better. I would have preferred a 90 minute runtime to the 104 minute runtime.Finally, as much as I enjoyed this movie, it's not the best Italian comedy/heist film I've seen. If you're into this kind of movie, be sure to check out Big Deal on Madonna Street. It's one remarkable movie!

Leofwine_draca TREASURE OF SAN GENNARO is a wacky Italian heist comedy in which an all-star team of crooks attempt to pull off a large-scale heist only to find themselves thwarted at every turn by the ill fortunes of fate. As such this is largely a comedy of terrors with all kinds of situational comedy and just plain bad luck thrown into the mix.The film is very stylish as you'd expect from a light and breezy Italian comedy made in the 1960s. It reminded me something of the Eurospy films being pumped out during the decade although of course there isn't much in the way of a Bond influence; this is more like a take on RIFIFI or something similar.The cast is a lot of fun, featuring Nino Manfredi in a hard-working turn as the ringleader of the gang and Mario Adorf as a thuggish/stupid ally. Italian comedian Toto plays an old timer. Harry Guardino is the imported American star while Claudine Auger and in particular Senta Berger (whom the camera loves) add Euro glamour.

clanciai This appears like a superficial farce full of slapstick and comedy situations of increasingly ridiculous complications, but it is much more than that. Also, not only is it an extensive and warm exposure of the Napolitan style of life and its very original mentality with great variations, but above all a very human approach to this kind of life. Of course, it's a triumphant comedy but with dark undertones. The one who spoils the entertainment is Harry Guardian as Jack, who doesn't fit in at all, can't understand the Napolitan mentality and style of life and seems to deliberately make a bad actor, but the story turns logic, and he gets his just reward. Senta Berger is something similar, but she is closer and more familiar with the Italian style, she fits in even as the rather cheap slut she is under all her elegance, but also she gets her just reward. They all do, and that's the wonder and point of this sparkling film, which gets better all the time as the plot thickens in constantly wrong directions. In brief, it's classical hilarious entertainment with some very wise indications by the finger of both fortune and fate. You get disgusted by the torpid enterprise, but you learn something on the way and end up the wiser from this awesome experience of not only laughters on the way.Of course, if you are Italian or understand Italian and even the Napolitan dialect, the film will be doubly entertaining, because if you don't you will not understand everything, since much is untranslatable.

Carlos One of the funniest films I've seen, it's, at its essence, the classic story of a perfect robbery plan gone wrong in the Italian way, a bit like "I Soliti ignoti" ("Rufufú" for the Spaniards). Indeed it's an impressive meeting of Italian artists: Dino Risi was known for his optimistic realistic films, and the cast includes the great comedian Totó. And it delivers even better than it appears.A pair of Americans want to do the greatest robbery: the treasure of San Genaro, in Napoli. But, Christ, these are the jewels of a saint, and they must convince religious and a bit superstitious "professionals" to do the job. The fun are spread everywhere: the characters and their acts are the classic Risi people, but there are very good slapstick gags, action parts, and an absurd but somewhat restrained sense of humor that carries the film pretty well. Believe me: with some parts in the theft I bursted out laughing as very few times I've had (some Hawks, some Wilder, some Sturges), and I can recall lively many twists and still laugh at them.If you come across this movie, please don't miss it. One overlooked one to discover.