What Am I Doing in the Middle of a Revolution? explained

What Am I Doing in the Middle of a Revolution?
Screenplay:Massimo Franciosa
Sabatino Ciuffini
Sergio Corbucci
Story:Sergio Corbucci
Cinematography:Alejandro Ullola
Editing:Eugenio Alabisio
Studio:Fair Film
Midega Films
Distributor:Dear Film
Runtime:103 minutes
Language:Italian

What Am I Doing in the Middle of a Revolution? (Italian: Che c'entriamo noi con la rivoluzione?, also known as ¡Qué nos importa la revolución!) is a 1972 Spaghetti Western comedy film.

The title should be understood, according to the director Sergio Corbucci, as "What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Western Cinema?".[1] It is the final chapter of the Corbucci's trilogy about the Mexican revolution, after The Mercenary and Compañeros.[1] [2] The film mixes comedy and political apologue.[3]

Plot

Padre Don Albino Moncalieri and his nemesis Guido Guidi are, by a series of accidents involved in the Mexican revolution. The theatre company of Guido Guidi is hired by a certain Peppino Garibaldi, who seems to be a relative of famous Giuseppe Garibaldi. On tour throughout Mexico they get by accident entangled in revolutionary activities and experience the fog of war.

Cast

Reception

A quite negative retrospective review states: "Sergio Corbucci directed some of the best serious Spaghetti Westerns ever made and some of the best focused on the Mexican revolution (Compañeros and The Mercenary).But when he tried his hand at Spaghetti comedy, the result was often an overlong bore. That was the case with Sonny and Jed and that’s the case here.Gassman overacts badly as the star of the show. Villaggio is a bit more loveable, but not loveable enough to build a film around."[4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Franca Faldini, Goffredo Fofi. L'Avventurosa storia del cinema italiano raccontata dai suoi protagonisti, 1960-1969. Feltrinelli, 1981. 310–313.
  2. Web site: Che c'entriamo noi con la rivoluzione. spaghetti-western.net. 21 November 2011.
  3. Book: Antonio Bruschini. Western all'italiana: The specialists. 1998. Glittering images. 88-8275-034-5. 62.
  4. Web site: What Am I Doing in the Middle of a Revolution? (1972) - Once Upon a Time in a Western . 2023-04-24 . en-US.