Big Deal on Madonna Street (1958)

Review by All Movie Guide
Like the similarly themed British film The Ladykillers, Mario Monicelli's caper comedy Big Deal on Madonna Street takes a hapless group of misfits on a heist during which everything that can go wrong does. The cast is led by such skilled performers as Vittorio Gassman as Peppe, Renato Salvatori as Mario, and Marcello Mastroianni as Tiberio, and backed by a terrific assortment of Italian character actors. Monicelli's laid-back approach ideally suits the story, as the would-be thieves are continually distracted and delayed in their quest for a seemingly easy-to-snatch safe. Despite being somewhat buffoonish, the leads are also very believable and likable; Monicelli is interested as much in the characters as he is in the story. Among the highlights are when Peppe tricks rival thief Cosimo into giving him the location of a safe; Mario's encounters with Carmela (played by a very young Claudia Cardinale); Cosimo's failed attempt to rob the pawn shop; and the final heist sequence, which is filled with inspired touches. The script gives each cast member a chance to shine, with Carlo Pisacane especially endearing as the old thief Capannelle, and Toto stealing several scenes as the "retired" safecracker who shows them the ropes. The cinematography and production design capture life in the slums of Italy (filmed on striking locations), and there is a whimsical, jazzy score by Piero Umiliani. The influence of Big Deal on Madonna Street can be seen in such films as Woody Allen's Small Time Crooks (2000), and to this day the film remains both charming and very funny. ~ Bob Mastrangelo, All Movie Guide