Un americano a Roma
| An American in Rome | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | Steno |
| Produced by |
Dino De Laurentiis Carlo Ponti |
| Written by |
Sandro Continenza Ettore Scola Alberto Sordi Lucio Fulci Steno |
| Starring | Alberto Sordi |
| Music by | Angelo Francesco Lavagnino |
| Cinematography | Carlo Montuori |
| Distributed by | Titanus, Minerva Film |
|
Release date
|
1954 |
|
Running time
|
84 min |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Italian |
An American in Rome (originally Un americano a Roma) is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Steno. The film consists in a satire of americanization, and it was referred as "a milestone in the evolution of Italian self-identification". It co-starred Alberto Sordi and Ursula Andress.
Sordi reprises the character of Nando Mericoni he played a few months before in an episode of comedy film Un giorno in pretura. The character eventually returned in Sergio Corbucci's Di che segno sei? (1975).
Due to the continuous references of Nando to Kansas City, Alberto Sordi received in 1955 its honorary citizenship.Nando would really refer to the state of Kansas and not to the city (he spoke about the life in the Kansas City and referred to him as a sort of highway policeman of the K.C.).
Italy in the Fifties. The image of grandeur and opulence, brought by the arrival of American troops in 1944, still has its effect on many young Italians. One of them is Ferdinand "Nando" Mericoni (Alberto Sordi), a connoisseur of the American world as represented in American cinema of which he is fervent devotee. Believing his future lies beyond the Atlantic, Nando moves to Rome, americanizing his life by imitating the sounds of American language and trying to recreate a Hollywood setting in his room, in his antics which leave a trail of victims, especially his now desperate parents, and his girlfriend Elvira (Maria Pia Casilio), who, probably allured by his manner, loves him despite everything.
Nando wears a studded leather bracelet, belt from herdsman, tight white t-shirt, jeans and baseball cap tube, refers to his loved ones in what he considers American terms (Elvy,papi, mami ) but also lives out everyday situations as though they were scenes in an American film in which he is the main actor.
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Wikipedia