It's an anthology film, based on four stories by Luigi Pirandello. In the first, an obnoxious landowner fights with a man who seals himself in a jar he is repairing; the second has Myriam Bru as the penniless single mother of a baby; the third, directed and written by Zampi, features Totò as a man trying to make a living as a professional jinx; the fourth stars Aldo Fabrizi as a teacher in a too tight suit whose student, Lucia Bosès marriage seems to be doomed when her mother drops dead on seeing her in her wedding gown.
Anthology movies often suffer because of repetition of themes. Here, all four shorts stand out, in part because each is directed and written by a different team. All except the second have a lot of earthy humor. Totò, as always, is a delight, and with a role that is more than mugging shows himself to be a fine actor, too. It is Fabrizi who gives the standout performance, a bear of a man, simultaneously ridiculous, compassionate, wise and commanding.
Anthology movies often suffer because of repetition of themes. Here, all four shorts stand out, in part because each is directed and written by a different team. All except the second have a lot of earthy humor. Totò, as always, is a delight, and with a role that is more than mugging shows himself to be a fine actor, too. It is Fabrizi who gives the standout performance, a bear of a man, simultaneously ridiculous, compassionate, wise and commanding.