"The so-called Comedy Italian Style has been, in a certain way, affiliated with neorealism, and is therefore considered as realistic comedy. But it is also a fusion of bitterness and charm, a genre of entertaining films that at the same time told something, in a particular moment, about an Italian society in rapid transformation. It was able to reveal on the big screen the common denominator among Italians: their gift for improvisation--a gift to look at reality with a smile."-- Dino Risi, Director of The Monsters

Rémi Fournier Lanzoni's Comedy Italian Style is the first book to cover the genre "officially" known as commedia all'italiana comprehensively in English. For some, commedia all'italiana serves as a national cinematographic patrimony, and for others, it provides a satirical outlook on the economic boom years. In truth, it functioned as the principal economic engine of the Italian film industry. For in many ways, Italy and the Italians are best known through these works of biting humor and incredible grace. The landmark comedies are those of the 1960s and 1970s, when the political soil helped germinate a new society. But this radiant tradition is not contained within two decades; it started in the days before neorealism and continues well into the 21st century.

This book explores the work of Dino Risi (The Monsters), Mario Monicelli (The Great War), and Pietro Germi (Divorce--Italian Style), as well as filmmakers as disparate as Federico Fellini (8 ½, Amarcord), Ettore Scola (The Terrace), Lina Wertmueller (Swept Away), Roberto Benigni (Johnny Stecchino), and many others. Comedy Italian Style is an essential guide to the glorious works and filmmakers who make the world laugh with them.