- The Scientific Cardplayer
.
ynopsis
An aging American
millionaire ss journeys toRome each year with herchauffer George to play the card gamescopa with destitute Peppino and his wife Antonia. The annualscenario remains unchanged - she donates the initial stakes so they can play, then ultimately wins the game, shattering the couple's dream of scoring a victory and improving their lot in life. Eventually their daughter Cleopatra seeksrevenge on her parents' behalf.Production notes
The film's Italian title is "Lo scopone scientifico".
Bette Davis was in the midst of a three-week vacation at thehealth spa La Costa inCarlsbad, California when she received the script. On twenty-four-hour notice she flew to Rome for filming. It wasn't until the first day of shooting she learned the dialogue was to be recorded in Italian. Of her co-star she said, "My name for Albert Sordi was Albert Sordid. It was unforgivable of him to refuse to speak English with me, especially as he spoke very good English." ["Mother Goddam" by Whitney Stine, with a running commentary by Bette Davis, Hawthorn Books, 1974, pp. 333-34 (ISBN 0-8015-5184-6)]This was the third on-screen pairing for Davis and
Joseph Cotten . They previously co-starred in "Beyond the Forest " (1949) and "Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte " (1964).Principal cast
*Bette Davis ..... The Millionairess
*Joseph Cotten ..... George
*Alberto Sordi ..... Peppino
*Silvana Mangano ..... Antonia
*Antonella Demaggi ..... Cleopatra
*Mario Carotenuto ..... The ProfessorPrincipal production credits
*Producer .....
Dino De Laurentiis
*Original Music .....Piero Piccioni
*Cinematography ..... Giuseppe Ruzzolini
*Art Direction .....Luigi Scaccianoce
*Costume Design ..... Bruna ParmesanCritical reception
"
TV Guide " says, "One's enjoyment of this picture is correlated with one's understanding of "scopa"." [ [http://www.tvguide.com/movies/scientific-cardplayer/review/116967 "TV Guide" review] ]Awards
*1973 David di Donatello Award for Best Actor (Alberto Sordi, winner)
*1973 David di Donatello Award for Best Actress (Silvana Mangano, winner)
*1973 Italian National Syndicate of Film JournalistsNastro d'Argento for Best Supporting Actor (Mario Carotenuto, winner)References
ee also
[http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lo_scopone_scientifico "Lo Scopone Scientifico" at Italian Wikipedia]
External links
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069235/ "Lo Scopone Scientifico" at the Internet Movie Database]
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