When in the 1976 "Febbre da cavallo" exit in cinema not so much people went to see it. The status of "cult" movie starts from the various nocturnal passages in the private tv, during the '80. That's why people loves "Febbre" in this way (a little bit exaggerated). It's a personal people discover. This is not the "pinnacle" of italian comedy. It's only a little movie but funny and memorable in some of its parts. There is one thing over others: the actors are really good, better then some late italian comedies, in a time when comedy leaves for sexy italian comedy, the "commediaccia". So, no Alberto Sordi, not Tognazzi but Gigi Proietti (an excellent, hystrionic theathre actor), and Enrico Montesano, in one of his few good performance on cinema. Enjoy this movie and..."vai cor tango!"
8 Reviews
At the races.
morrison-dylan-fan15 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Watching the great Giallo All the Colours of the Dark last night,I started to look for another Italian flick to see as a double bill. Knowing her for teen Comedy-Drama and Gialli,I was intrigued to find a Comedy co-starring Catherine Spaak,which led to me going to the races.
The plot:
Putting their last handfuls of cash on a horse race," Mandrake' and 'Er Pomata', find their bet to come dead last,and for their last bit of money to be lost. Along with Mandrake now being unable to satisfy his girlfriend Gabriella,the guys find gangsters wanting them to re- pay all the cash they have borrowed. Only knowing gambling at horse racing, the duo decide to cover their debts,by doing more gambling at the races.
View on the film:
Whilst the boys get to have most of the fun in the movie, Catherine Spaak is still able to sparkle as Gabriella,thanks to Spaak giving Gabriella a feisty edge which strikes at the mishaps of the trio. Causing each other to fail at the races, Gigi Proietti and Enrico Montesano each give very funny performances as 'Mandrake' and 'Er Pomata',with Montesano giving Pomata a fake humble earthiness,and Proietti covering the money losing Mandrake with a rich layer of arrogance.
Losing all their money at the races,the screenplay by co- writer/(with Alfredo Giannetti/Massimo Patrizi and Enrico Vanzina) director "Steno" sends Pomata and Mandrake on the tracks of loose- linked Comedy set-pieces based in them finding ways to fund their habit,from Pomata uses his grandmother to get the gangsters off his back for debt,and Mandrake using his fake businessman swagger to get cash in hand. Whilst the set-pieces are stretched a bit too long,the writers do well at keeping the comedy antics rolling by increasingly pushing the duo in a corner. Backed by a chirpy music score by Franco Bixio/Fabio Frizzi and Vince Tempera, director Steno and cinematographer Emilio Loffredo keep the atmosphere fast-paced with whip-pans following Mandrake and Pomata's money making tricks at the races.
The plot:
Putting their last handfuls of cash on a horse race," Mandrake' and 'Er Pomata', find their bet to come dead last,and for their last bit of money to be lost. Along with Mandrake now being unable to satisfy his girlfriend Gabriella,the guys find gangsters wanting them to re- pay all the cash they have borrowed. Only knowing gambling at horse racing, the duo decide to cover their debts,by doing more gambling at the races.
View on the film:
Whilst the boys get to have most of the fun in the movie, Catherine Spaak is still able to sparkle as Gabriella,thanks to Spaak giving Gabriella a feisty edge which strikes at the mishaps of the trio. Causing each other to fail at the races, Gigi Proietti and Enrico Montesano each give very funny performances as 'Mandrake' and 'Er Pomata',with Montesano giving Pomata a fake humble earthiness,and Proietti covering the money losing Mandrake with a rich layer of arrogance.
Losing all their money at the races,the screenplay by co- writer/(with Alfredo Giannetti/Massimo Patrizi and Enrico Vanzina) director "Steno" sends Pomata and Mandrake on the tracks of loose- linked Comedy set-pieces based in them finding ways to fund their habit,from Pomata uses his grandmother to get the gangsters off his back for debt,and Mandrake using his fake businessman swagger to get cash in hand. Whilst the set-pieces are stretched a bit too long,the writers do well at keeping the comedy antics rolling by increasingly pushing the duo in a corner. Backed by a chirpy music score by Franco Bixio/Fabio Frizzi and Vince Tempera, director Steno and cinematographer Emilio Loffredo keep the atmosphere fast-paced with whip-pans following Mandrake and Pomata's money making tricks at the races.
the "King" of the italian B-movie
carnazza28 June 2001
Among all the Italian B-movie of 70's and 80's, "Febbre da Cavallo" differs from the ability of the actors (a very young Proietti, who can be considered one of the best living italian actor and showman and Montesano) and the particular soundtrack, echoing the styles of the latin and the fusion.
The italian cult movie, underlined
pao-520 April 1999
Few other Italian movies have as many enthusiastic fans as this low-budget movie of the 70's, displaying two of the best Italian comedians (Gigi Proietti and Enrico Montesano)in the characterization of two horse races-ill who try to earn money as they can, only to lose them at horse races the same day. Until they decide to make a big deal...frauding an important horse race. Great performances (also we remember Adolfo Celi, the judge of the trial of our heroes)of the actors, great Characters(Er Pomata and the mythical Mandrake) for a very funny movie.
the pinnacle of Italian comedy
folgore735 January 2001
Febbre da cavallo is THE pinnacle of Italian comedy. Never before, nor after, there was a movie of such power . The casting, the storyboard, the masterful direction of that genius that was Steno, all make the movie a true milestone in the history of Italian comedies. A must-see for all the self respecting fan of Italian cinema.
A good example of italian '70s comedy
GTFM26 December 1998
This movie is an example of italian comedy at its best. It is based on the characters of two of the best italian comedy actors of the last 30 years, Enrico Montesano and Luigi "Gigi" Proietti, and is an example of the "roman" way of life too.
best italian movie,ever/il meglio der mejio
miroslav1325 May 2001
having viewed this movie is a requsite for the entrance visa for italy.once at the border you will be asked to identify characters such as "Mandrake" and "er Pomata",to predict horse race results with the ability of a "horse-computer",and to explain how easy it is,today,to go from an "egg to an atomic war"....the ultimate romanaccio classic,higher than Spartacus!
Italian cult movie on the horse-races world
giulio.caro19 March 2000
You can watch "Febbre da cavallo" 100 times and you will still be looking forward to watching it again. You will immediately feel part of the horse-races world. You will start talking with a Roman accent. Probably you will even look for an hippodrome, go there and bet on a horse for the first time in your life. But, most important, you won't stop laughing thinking of the dialogues in the movie. You will never forget Proietti/Mandrake and Montesano/Er Pomata, and you will soon realize you're not the only one (just have a look on the web)...
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