Il generale dorme in piedi (1972) User Reviews

Underrated - An interesting satire with a surprising finale

[Cicerchia_severino · 7/10 · 22 May 2023]

Ugo Tognazzi and Mariangela Melato have great chemistry and give a solid performance in what appears to be a boring film only to the superficial (re)viewer. Basically Tognazzi is a Vet who, after becoming an officer, has served as doctor in the Italian Army since WW2 and is obsessed by the idea of being promoted to become a general. There are some truly memorable scenes, like the 'fanfara' platoon doing 183 laps because of the absent minded commander (Mario Scaccia), and the moment Tognazzi presents his memoirs to a panel of generals is simply pure genius. This is the director's debut feature so it is not perfect in terms of pace: but it is well crafted and well acted. Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed.

Very Boring!

[RodrigAndrisan · 3/10 · 27 November 2017]

The Great Ugo Tognazzi in an extremely boring film. Not even the very pleasant presence of a young and sexy Mariangela Melato does not save the movie. The first film directed by Francesco Massaro, a totally unknown name even after another 13 credits as a director. Only for the faithful and loyal fans of Ugo and for those who want to see Mariangela in black panties and even one of her breasts. Two huge talents (Melato & Tognazzi) in a script full of dust and mold. In two secondary roles, Franco Fabrizi and Georges Wilson.