Commedia all'italiana: Three Films by Dino Risi Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Commedia all'italiana: Three Films by Dino Risi Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman March 18, 2024

Any film fan worth his or her salt would probably respond with a near instant "Neorealism!" if asked to name a post-World War II genre in Italian cinema. What came next is the focus of a really appealing three film set from Radiance, which further serves as a trio of examples of the wide ranging if kind of weirdly lesser remembered work of Dino Risi. Supplements on the three discs in this set offer a primer of sorts for those unacquainted with either/both neorealismo rosa (i.e., "Pink Neorealism") or/and commedia all'italiana (i.e., "Italian style comedy"), and provide some really interesting context of what Italy was going through both overtly and perhaps on a subliminal level as it dug itself out from the horrors of Fascism and the devastating effects of a global conflict where it initially at least played a central part in hostilities. The "transition" from neorealismo rosa to commedia all'italiana was perhaps not "cut and dried", and so the three Risi films may at various times reflect different aspects of both of these perceived genres, but all three stories offer some trenchant observations about Italian culture and its basic socioeconomic framework in the late fifties to early sixties, and two of the three films offer showcases for Vittorio Gassman, who was, as one supplement included in this set gets into, suddenly an "overnight sensation" as a frequently buffoonish comedy performer after having earned plaudits for much more serious stage and film work, including celebrated performances in plays by Shakespeare.

For reviews of the three films in this set, please click on the following links:

Il Vedovo Blu-ray review

Il Mattatore Blu-ray review

Il Sorpasso Blu-ray review

Commedia all'italiana: Three Films by Dino Risi Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Commedia all'italiana: Three Films by Dino Risi Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Commedia all'italiana: Three Films by Dino Risi Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Supplements on each disc are detailed in the above linked reviews. Radiance has packaged this set quite handsomely, with matching reversible insert sleeves, and with all three keepcases housed in a slipbox. A really nicely designed and well appointed insert booklet is included.

Commedia all'italiana: Three Films by Dino Risi Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The late, great American radio commentator Paul Harvey made a trademark phrase of sorts out of, "And now. . .for the rest of the story," and in a similar way this appealing set from Radiance offers fans of Italian cinema some insight into what came after Neorealism. All three films have interesting aspects, and all three are offered with generally secure technical merits and some really enjoyable supplements. Highly recommended.