Tempo massimo (1934) Online

"Tempo Massimo" was the first film by director Mario Mattoli. It is a romantic comedy about a forlorn young professor Giacomo (Vittorio De Sica) who lives with his tyrannical Aunt Agata. His affections are aroused by a woman who literally falls from the sky one day...in the form of Dora (Milly), who parachutes down to the edges of Lake Como. She captures the Professor's heart. But she is engaged to marry a gentleman named Bob...amusingly pronounced "Bawb."

It's hard to keep up with all the frenetic goings-on. Blink, Giacomo develops a passion for sports in order to get closer to Dora. Blink, there is a bicycle race. Blink, the professor is in jail. Blink, and he is hijacking a cab, then a Germans' tour bus in the streets of Milan to snatch Dora away from her groom-to-be. It is a finale that Mike Nichols would later give us in "The Graduate" with Dustin Hoffman snatching Katharine Ross at the last crucial moment in church.

Some of the songs Mr. De Sica croons are very pleasing. The movie has a very frivolous yet very ingratiating air. A young Anna Magnani has a tiny role as a maid. Director Mattoli would later incorporate some of this material into his 1948 Totò film "Totò al giro del mondo."

The movie opened in New York in 1936 at the World Theatre on West 49th Street. It was also shown in the 1978 series of films from the Fascist era, "Before Neo-realism," at the Museum of Modern Art.

With having enjoyed director Vittorio De Sica's After The Fox & The Journey,I was pleased to find that a DVD seller had recently tracked down a forgotten title starring De Sica,which led to me entering the viewing at full speed.

The plot:

Getting away from his family,Professor Giacomo Banti is interrupted,when Dora Sandri parachutes into the river.Pulling her out of the river,Banti discovers that Sandri did the jump as part of a series of bets with her fiancé.Despite his family being less than happy with Sandri's adventurous attitude,Banti finds himself falling in love for Sandri.As New Year's Day arrives,Sandri announces that she is leaving Banti & his family behind,so that she can meet her fiancé again,and celebrate the day with him.Fearing that he is about to lose her,Banti sets off to get Sandri at full speed.

View on the film:

Keeping the first half of the filmed locked in the Banti household,debuting writer/director Mario Mattoli gives the movie an extremely dry atmosphere,with Banti's winding shoots of the Banti mansion failing to develop any warmth between Banti & Sandri.Leaving the mansion behind in the second half,Mattoli finally cooks up a light,fluffy atmosphere,thanks to Mattoli using frantic camera moves to show Banti's rush to stop Sandri's walk up the aisle,which features a hilarious,outrageous bicycle race.

Parachuting into the movie,the very pretty Milly gives a tantalising performance as Dora Sandri,with Milly giving Sandri an adventurous sweetness,that is matched by an energy which leads to Sandri running rings around all of the men in the movie.Stuck in his family mansion, (something which I'm sure we can all identify with!) Vittorio De Sica gives an excellent performance as Banti,thanks to De Sica showing a real sense of being uncomfortable over being around someone so outgoing.

Final view on the film:

A fun film,which sadly never reaches its top speed.

This film is the story of young man, coddled by his butler and rich, but overbearing mother, who finally wakes up to life and love when a beautiful young lady falls (literally) into his life. The film, set in Milan Italy features light hearted action, a rather funny bicycle race and a keystone cops style car chase near the end through downtown Milan. It is a love story in the style of Topper and Topper Returns. The film is Italian language and has recently been transferred from nitrate stock on a Rank Cintel wet gate telecine system. The quality of the print is near mint. This is another victory of film preservation from the dust of time.