Augusto (Broderick Crawford) and his pals mimicking religoius make a living conning peasants out of life savings. His younger associates dream of a future away from this racket with unrealistic aspirations while Gus knowing he has reached a dead end party's on. One day he runs into his daughter in Place de Popolo and faces the realization he's been a dreadful old man. Determined to make it up to her he fields a new team and then double crosses them.
Il Bidone is Fellini's worst film of his B&W era. The tin eared casting of brooding Irish American Crawford is totally unconvincing as he mopes about through most of the film arms at his side. Lacking both the passion and nuance of Quinn's Zampano in La Strada, Brod looks conspicuously out of place. Road holdovers Giuletta Massina and Richard Basehart also contribute inferior parts as well with Messina mugging and Basehart a cringing sychophant.
Fellini's direction is rather erratic with banal imagery and some heavy handed symbolism along the way. A semi-debauched New Year's party fails to even hint at similar scenes constructed and edited with aplomb in La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2. Il Bidone is forgettable Fellini.
Il Bidone is Fellini's worst film of his B&W era. The tin eared casting of brooding Irish American Crawford is totally unconvincing as he mopes about through most of the film arms at his side. Lacking both the passion and nuance of Quinn's Zampano in La Strada, Brod looks conspicuously out of place. Road holdovers Giuletta Massina and Richard Basehart also contribute inferior parts as well with Messina mugging and Basehart a cringing sychophant.
Fellini's direction is rather erratic with banal imagery and some heavy handed symbolism along the way. A semi-debauched New Year's party fails to even hint at similar scenes constructed and edited with aplomb in La Dolce Vita and 8 1/2. Il Bidone is forgettable Fellini.