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Miracle in Milan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Miracle in Milan | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical Poster |
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| Directed by | Vittorio De Sica |
| Produced by | Vittorio De Sica |
| Written by | Cesare Zavattini Vittorio De Sica Suso Cecchi d'Amico Mario Chiari Adolfo Franci Story: Cesare Zavattini |
| Starring | Emma Gramatica Francesco Golisano |
| Music by | Alessandro Cicognini |
| Cinematography | Aldo Graziati |
| Editing by | Eraldo Da Roma |
| Distributed by | Criterion Collection |
| Release date(s) | Feb. 8, 1951 |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country |  Italy |
| Language | Italian |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Miracle in Milan (Italian: Miracolo a Milano) is an Italian film directed by Vittorio de Sica and released in 1951.[1]
The screenplay was co-written by Cesare Zavattini, based on his novel Totò il Buono.
The picture stars Francesco Golisano, Emma Gramatica, Francesco Golisano, Paolo Stoppa, and Guglielmo Barnabò.
The film, told as a neo-realist fable, explains the lives of a poverty-stricken motley group in post-war Milan, Italy.
Contents |
This fantasy tale tells of Totò, born in a cabbage patch, who later lives in orphanage because his mother passes away.
The film moves forward to when he's eighteen years of age and Totò (Francesco Golisano) leaves the orphanage and begins to live with a cluster of the homeless in Milan.
Totò's organizational skills, learned at the orphanage and from his mother, brings structure to the colony and brings a sense of small happiness and well being among the depressed folk.
When Totò is given a magic dove by the ghost of his adoptive mother, he uses its powers to grant wishes to those who ask. The dove, however, is taken back by two angels who object to a mortal having possession of it.
The land where Totò's and his friends live is taken over by capitalists after oil is found there and they're all taken away to prison in horse-drawn paddy wagons. On the way to prison, however, a dove is returned to Totò and his wish for the freedom of his friends is granted. In a historical cinematic scene they escape into the sky, arguably to heaven, on brooms pinched from street sweepers in a town square.
The film premiered in Italy on February 8, 1951. Later it was presented at the Cannes Film Festival in April, 1951.
In the United States it opened wide on December 17, 1951.
American special effects specialist Ned Mann was hired to create the special effects for the film. The picture would be Mann's final project.[2]
Vittorio De Sica, in neo-realist fashion, used both professional and non-professional actors.[3]
The film was well received by the film critics.
Bosley Crowther, writing for The New York Times, liked the film. He wrote, "The rich vein of sly, compassionate humor that Charlie Chaplin and Rene Clair used to mine with unparalleled genius when they were turning out their best satiric films, has been tapped by Vittorio De Sica in his Miracle in Milan, the widely proclaimed Italian picture that arrived at the World yesterday. And although this uncommon vein of fancy is a way from De Sica's previous line, the great director has brought up from his digging a liberal return of purest gold."[4]
| Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Australia: | G |
| Finland: | S |
| Sweden: | Btl |
| United States: | Not Rated |
- Emma Gramatica as La vecchia Lolotta
- Francesco Golisano as Totò
- Paolo Stoppa as Rappi
- Guglielmo Barnabò as Mobbi
- Brunella Bovo as Edvige
- Anna Carena as Marta, la signora altezzosa
- Alba Arnova as La statua che prende vita
- Flora Cambi as L'innamorata infelice
- Virgilio Riento as Il sergente delle guardie
- Arturo Bragaglia as Alfredo
- Erminio Spalla as Gaetano
- Riccardo Bertazzolo as L'atleta
- Checco Rissone as Il comandante in secondo
- Angelo Prioli as Il comandante in primo
- Gianni Branduani as Totò at eleven years
 Lobby card. |
 DVD cover. |
 Francesco Golisano as Totò, always with a smile. |
Wins
- Cannes Film Festival: Grand Prize of the Festival, Vittorio De Sica; 1951.
- Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists: Silver Ribbon; Best Production Design, Guido Fiorini; 1951.
- New York Film Critics Circle Awards: NYFCC Award; Best Foreign Language Film, Italy; 1951.
- National Board of Review: National Board of Review Awards 1951, Best Foreign Films; 1951.
Nominations
- BAFTA Awards: BAFTA Film Award, Best Film from any Source, Italy; Best Foreign Actor, Francesco Golisano, Italy; 1952.
- ^ Miracle in Milan at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Ned Mann at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Miracle in Milan at in black and white.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley. The New York Times, film review, December 18, 1951.
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Rose scarlatte • Maddalena, zero in condotta • Teresa Venerdì • Un Garibaldino al convento • I bambini ci guardano • La Porta del cielo • Sciuscià • Cuore • Ladri di biciclette • Miracolo a Milano • Umberto D. • Villa Borghese • Stazione Termini • L'oro di Napoli • Il Tetto • Anna di Brooklyn • La Ciociara • Il Giudizio universale • I Sequestrati di Altona • Il Boom • Ieri, oggi e domani • Matrimonio all'italiana • Un monde nouveau • Caccia alla volpe • Woman Times Seven • Amanti • I Girasoli • Il Giardino dei Finzi-Contini • Lo chiameremo Andrea • Una Breve vacanza • Il Viaggio |