Of the many parody films brought to the screen by comedy duo Franco and Ciccio, I figli del leopardo is without doubt the greatest. This time our two heroes, with the fantastic Sergio Corbucci at the helm, take on no less a work than Luchino Visconti’s Il Gattopardo, which is not only an indisputable masterpiece of world cinema, but was also an epic production that left Titanus in serious financial difficulties. Therefore, this film is of significant historical importance: the enormous success of I figli del leopardo greatly contributed to reviving the fortunes of the troubled production company. What’s more, it is also a very rich film that succeeds in being both original and intelligent. Without doubt, to be listed amongst the greatest ever Italian comedies. Both lead actors expertly play double roles, those of the sons and the parents: Ciccio takes Burt Lancaster’s stuffy countenance from the “original” Viscount film and makes it his own, while Franco has never been more convincing than in the role of the dastardly lover. Raimondo Vianello is the Garibaldian general. When he enters the scene, Franco exclaims: “Look who it is… Ugo Tognazzi!”
Garibaldi and his men are on their way to conquer the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, to hand it over to the King of Savoy. Two tramps, the illegitimate sons of Maria Rosa and the penniless Baron Tulicò, as known as “The Leopard”, try to track down their father who has flown the coup, to force him to make an honest woman out of their mother.
Of the many parody films brought to the screen by comedy duo Franco and Ciccio, I figli del leopardo is without doubt the greatest. This time our two heroes, with the fantastic Sergio Corbucci at the helm, take on no less a work than Luchino Visconti’s Il Gattopardo, which is not only an indisputable masterpiece of world cinema, but was also an epic production that left Titanus in serious financial difficulties. Therefore, this film is of significant historical importance: the enormous success of I figli del leopardo greatly contributed to reviving the fortunes of the troubled production company. What’s more, it is also a very rich film that succeeds in being both original and intelligent. Without doubt, to be listed amongst the greatest ever Italian comedies. Both lead actors expertly play double roles, those of the sons and the parents: Ciccio takes Burt Lancaster’s stuffy countenance from the “original” Viscount film and makes it his own, while Franco has never been more convincing than in the role of the dastardly lover. Raimondo Vianello is the Garibaldian general. When he enters the scene, Franco exclaims: “Look who it is… Ugo Tognazzi!”
Garibaldi and his men are on their way to conquer the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, to hand it over to the King of Savoy. Two tramps, the illegitimate sons of Maria Rosa and the penniless Baron Tulicò, as known as “The Leopard”, try to track down their father who has flown the coup, to force him to make an honest woman out of their mother.
