Viva Italia

I saw "Viva Italia" not long after its release, and still remember it. It felt, then, as a revival of the wonderful short-story format used by the French and the Italians to provide concentrated value at smaller expense than a full feature, thus raising the chances of the film being made. They were wonderful showcases, too, for the immense talent resident in those countries. Ugo Tognazzi's brilliant performance as impulsive chef of a small restaurant will stick in my memory forever; the whole movie is well worth watching if it were only for this particular episode. Pity it was not a revival, but a farewell to a fantastic era of wit, skill, hearty performance, and sophisticated direction.