Johnny Stecchino *** (1991, Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Paolo Bonacelli) – Classic Movie Review 11,406

Director Roberto Benigni’s popular 1991 Italian comedy Johnny Stecchino stars Roberto Benigni in dual roles and is one of his many collaborations with co-star and wife, Nicoletta Braschi.

It was then the highest grossing film of all time in Italy, with a gross of 39 billion lira.

Fans of Oscar-winner Benigni will want to see this earlier Italian comedy drama in similar vein to his career-highspot 1997 Life Is Beautiful.

This time, he plays twin roles: Dante, a humble Sicilian school bus driver for Down’s Syndrome children, and Johnny Stecchino, the lookalike gangster of the title, whose wife Maria (Braschi) stages a road accident to meet Dante and sets him up as a patsy to be killed in Stecchino’s stead. Stecchino is wanted by the Sicilian Mafia for killing the wife of mobster Cozzamara (Ignazio Pappalardo).

Maria makes Dante look even more like Stecchino by dressing him in a similar suit and tie, putting a mole on his face and making him always have a toothpick in his mouth (‘stecchino’ is toothpick in Italian). Dante’s best friend is Lillo (Alessandro De Santis), a student with Down syndrome and diabetes.

Johnny Stecchino is a simple comedy with many genuine laughs, a pair of adroit turns by Benigni, and an added attraction in the charming portrayal by Braschi.

The original Italian version was released on 24 October 1991 and runs 122 minutes but the US version, released on 9 October 1992, is about 20 minutes shorter.

Blake Edwards cast Benigni as Clouseau Jr in Son of the Pink Panther (1993) after viewing him in Down by Law and Johnny Stecchino.

Also in the cast are Paolo Bonacelli as D’Agata, the lawyer / the uncle, Franco Volpi as minister, Ivano Marescotti as Dr Randazzo, Turi Scalia as Judge Bernardino Cataratta, Ignazio Pappalardo as Cozzamara, Loredana Romito as Gianna, Tony Sperandeo as mafioso, Salvatore Borghese as Ignazio, and Alessandro De Santis as Lillo.

It is written by Roberto Benigni and Vincenzo Cerami.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,406

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