For all my love for Marcello Mastroianni, I can’t help but note that in independent cinema, he is always a little “detached” from this world, as if he is not at his plate. How amazing it was to see him in a comedy detective, and even in the role of a mustache restaurant mandolinist! And immediately this role became for me the most favorite of the rich baggage of Marcello – so emotional, energetic and “stitched” with his character.
Don Rafaele is not young, rich, and lives with his gambling father. He is constantly lost to dust and dust, and the son pays off debts, agreeing to any part-time work. One day, his father’s lender offers the musician a strange but simple way to pay off the debt: drive up to one high-rise and play a mandolin serenade under the window. The notes are attached. The reaction to this action turns out to be surprisingly unromantic: from the balcony it is accepted to fire a gun from an African-American, and after a couple of moments it falls almost on the head of Don Rafaela. Was it the magic of the mandolin? The intrigued musician rushes back to the creditor, and keeps up just in time: he no less enchantingly falls out the window, and this time it is obvious that he was pushed in the back by something more weighty than a combination of notes.
This is the kind of ball a poor mandolinist would have to unravel. On his side is only a pretty nurse from a madhouse, and against him is a clingy policeman, who finds it strange that every time Rafaela sees people fall out of windows; a ruthless mafia; a maestro intrigan and (this is the most terrible) a terrible black dog! And there is nothing to say about his father: this old stump enjoys filial piety and lives on a broad foot, preventing don Raphaela from making acquaintance with a good girl. A daughter-in-law will come and kick the old man out of the house. At the same time, he also manages to accuse his son of inability to lead friendship with women!
Every time you're gonna win someone's heart, the lady runs away. Tell me, am I lying?
- How can they not run away if you tell them that I have contagious polio?
- I never said that! I was only talking about progressive paralysis, which comes from the feet, rises and rises and we do not know where it will stop!
In "Neapolitan Detective" has everything the soul desires: a tight action that does not sag for a minute, cunningly twisted intrigue, witty dialogue, infectious emotions, predatory-beautiful Ornela Muti, arrogant-beauti Zeudy Araya Cristaldi, a lot of jokes, fun, drive and music. A great cocktail for those who are not indifferent to Italian cinema, and in general to good old comedy-adventure-detective films with an unobtrusive romantic line.