Pane, amore e...

With a uniform for just about every occasion, “Carotenuto” (Vittorio De Sica) returns to his home town of Sorrento to take over the local, if rarely busy, police force. It’s hardly a suitable job for a man of his standing (or with his many medals and feathers) and his new situation doesn’t get any more suitable when he discovers that his home is occupied by local fishmonger “Sofia” (Sophia Loren)! He likes her, indeed he becomes quite infatuated with her, so he doesn’t evict her immediately but rather moves in to lodge with the more traditional “Violante” (Lea Padovani) who quickly takes a shine to he dapper visitor. All the while, “Sofia” is having a lively relationship with “Nicolino” (Antonio Cifariello) but she’s a bit of a tease, wanting him to aspire to something more than just being a traffic cop, so she mischievously flirts with “Carotenuto” and even agrees to his proposal. What is going to come of it all? De Sica and Loren make for a pretty much perfect combination in this light-hearted comedy. It’s one that would probably really only scandalise some nuns in a monastery somewhere, or perhaps amongst even a few of the Trappists that our plumed gent considers joining as his phalanx of amorous admirers begins to accumulate! For the rest of us, it’s really just an excuse for us to watch these stars get up to some mischief; for some fine pieces of classical piano to emanate now and again and for us to sit back and enjoy a slightly more sophisticated seaside romantic romp. It is a bit long, but when it is in it’s zone, it provides for a flighty and engaging look at love amongst the aged/ages and Loren glides through it all, even when carrying fish, effortlessly.