After the Fox Film Review

I saw this as a callow youth when it was released and I recall finding it quite funny. Seeing it all these years later, I realized how much I didn't understand. For one thing I would have had no idea who director Vittorio De Sica was and how vital he was to Italian cinema - or that was him making a cameo as a director. And certainly, I had no clue that the film was poking fun at Italian cinema, neo-realism, the static films of Antonioni and the pretensions of film critics. And I probably had no idea who Victor Mature was and what a wonderful job he does of making fun of himself in this. All that must have gone over my head as I munched on popcorn and laughed. So, what did I laugh at I wonder - probably the Captain of police and his "good mornings" or Sellers and his many disguises or covering his genitals with pigeons or escaping from jail. I am sure that cracked me up at 13-years old and I have to confess it still did. This is a mishmash of comedy styles from the physical to the clever. Very 1960s humor from the pen of Neil Simon and an Italian collaborator - neither of who could speak to each other and had to use translators.

Just that this film was made is a bit of a pinball happenstance. Neil Simon wrote the script – his first film script though he was a famous playwright already – and Peter Sellers heard about it and convinced Simon to let him have it. For some out of body reason, De Sica was interested in directing this film and brought in his scriptwriter to work with Simon. With films like Bicycle Thieves, Shoeshine, Umberto D., De Sica was considered one of Italy’s greatest directors. This film is no classic and had no chance to be one but apparently, he wanted to poke fun at Italian cinema. He and Sellers of course did not get along and at one point Sellers tried to get him fired. Did Sellers ever get along with a director? – certainly not Blake Edwards. Sellers convinced the retired Mature to come back to play a parody of himself and he is terrific. Britt Ekland was an easy get since she was Seller’s wife at the time.

Sellers plays Aldo Vanucci aka The Fox, one of Europe’s most famous criminals – presently residing in prison. He is content enough in jail where he is treated as a celebrity, but when he hears that his sister Gina (Ekland) might be getting a little wild, he escapes to act like the older brother and get her back in line. While constantly eluding the police in various disguises, he agrees to take on a job. The Cairo Gold Robbery by Akim Tamiroff and his very sexy film sister Maria Grazia Buccella, Miss Italy 1959. The Fox has to figure out how to smuggle the vast amount of gold on shore and he comes up with a brilliant plan. Make a movie. He and his crew steal the equipment from De Sica during a movie made sandstorm and in a lovely scene he convinces slightly past his prime Tony Powell (Mature) that he is perfect for the role. Powell like many Hollywood actors past their better years is over in Europe looking for work with his agent played by Martin Balsam. Vanucci also convinces the starstruck town including the police captain (Lando Buzzanca) that they are all in the movie and to work as volunteer extras to help move the gold ashore. Sellers is a force of nature in this – slightly manic but always charming. The film bombed apparently but has gone on to gain a much better reputation.