Italian Movie Night @Gallery 40 - May 6, 2024

Lo Scopone Scientifico (The Scientific Cardplayer) is a bitter-sweet Italian comedy-drama about an aging American millionairess who journeys to Rome each year with her chauffeur George to play the card game scopone with destitute Peppino and his wife Antonia.

Directed by Luigi Comencini, starring Alberto Sordi, Silvana Mangano, and Bette Davis.

In Italian with English subtitles. Suggested donation $5.

A few words about the Italian cast:

• Alberto Sordi was a comic actor born in Rome. He was famous for his Roman accent, in fact he was kicked out of the dramatic arts academy in Milan because of his thick accent. He was in over 160 movies, was nominated for a Golden Globe and won numerous Italian and European movie awards. He was also famous for giving the Italian voice to Oliver Hardy in all the “Laurel & Hardy” movies.
• Silvana Mangano became famous during the Italian neorealist movement, and was considered a sex symbol during the 50’s and 60’s. She was also born in Rome, and won a “David” award for her role in the movie we’ll see tonight. She was married to the famous movie producer Dino De Laurentiis, and she was the grandmother of chef Giada De Laurentiis known for her shows on the “Food Network” channel. 
• International singer Domenico Modugno, known by everybody for his song “Volare”, has a cameo in this movie.