Renato Rascel
Biography: Renato Rascel (stage name of Renato Ranucci; 27 April 1912 – 2 January 1991), was an Italian film actor and singer. He appeared in 50 films between 1942 and 1972. He represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1960 with the song "Romantica" which was placed equal eighth out of thirteen entries. He was born to Cesare and Paola Ranucci in Turin. It was in Turin where his parents, who were opera singers, were performing a show at the time Renato could really say that he was born in the back stage of the theater and that's where he spent all of his life. His father tried to make it up to him by having him baptized at Saint Peter's in Rome and apparently it worked because growing up in that neighborhood he ended up singing for the "white voices choir" of Saint Peter with the leadership of composer-conductor Lorenzo Perosi. At the age of 14 Renato started to play drums in ballrooms around Rome. Soon after, he joined the Di Fiorenza Sisters as an actor, dancer and clown and in 1934 he was hired for his first big role by the Schwarts Brothers in the operetta "Al Cavallino bianco". In 1935, he joined Elena Gray for his first foreign tour in Africa. In 1941 he created his own theater company and he began to develop his distinctive kind of humor that in the following years will crown him as the inventor of the "non-sense" with phrases like "two friends that didn't know each other". He decided to make his small size work for him, being only 5'2" tall, one of his major assets becoming known as the "Tiny Italian" (il piccoletto nazionale) and in his show he accentuated his stature by wearing huge extravagant coats, his most famous one had a large pocket on the back. In this time he created some of his most famous characters such as "Napoleon" and "Il Corazziere" (a parody on his size since the Corazziere is a military division that employs only soldiers over 6 feet tall) that brought him to an extraordinary popularity in Italy. In 1942 he shot the first of a long series of films, Pazzo d'amore (Crazy For Love) developing and establishing his very peculiar kind of humor. Among the sixty plus films he worked in, one of the most relevant was Il Cappotto (The Overcoat) by Gogol, winner of the Golden Palm in Cannes. He also had a leading role in The Secret of Santa Vittoria with Anthony Quinn and Anna Magnani, Seven Hills of Rome with Mario Lanza, Questi fantasmi with Eduardo De Filippo and Figaro qua Figaro là with Totò. In 1977, he appeared in the Zeffirelli film Jesus of Nazareth as the blind man. His post second World War success is due mainly to his leading roles in the musicals by Pietro Garinei and Sandro Giovannini. The artistic trio is responsible for the existence of the "musical" in Italy with Attanasio cavallo vanesio in 1952 (featuring the American trio Peters Sisters, Alvaro piuttosto corsaro (1953), Tobia la candida spia (1955), Un paio d'ali (1957), Rascelinaria (1958), Enrico '61 (1961), and also performed for an entire year in London at the Piccadilly Theatre in 1962, along with Il giorno della tartaruga (1965) and Alleluja, brava gente (1970). ... Source: Article "Renato Rascel" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: April 27, 1912
Deathday: January 02, 1991
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Known For
These Phantoms
1954-11-12
These Phantoms
Overview: A young husband is persuaded to move his new bride into an old palace that is supposedly haunted.But the so called ghost is really the bride's former lover who is stalking her on the premises.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1954-11-12
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Oh! Sabella
1957-08-29
Oh! Sabella
Overview: Raffaele, a Neapolitan student, get the news that his beloved grandmother Sabella is dying. He immediately goes to Pollena to be beside her.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1957-08-29
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Policarpo, ufficiale di scrittura
1959-03-18
Policarpo, ufficiale di scrittura
Overview: Policarpo De Tappetti is a calligrapher who works under the orders of Don César Pancarano de Rondò. For many years, Policarpo has been seeking a promotion and a raise that never comes, and, it seems, will never come. One day, Jerónimo, the son of Don César, meets Celeste, the daughter of Policarpo, and falls in love with her. Policarpo sees in that relationship the solution to his aspirations at work, and does everything in his power to make this relationship fruitful. Don César, who presumes to be a count, sees with very bad eyes that his son meets a girl from such a different social position, and does just the opposite. But the efforts made by both parties will be of no use, since Celeste has fallen in love with Mario Marquetti, a "specialized mechanic" (typist) who is giving private lessons in the offices of the businessman Franquinet .
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1959-03-18
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Gran varietà
1954-03-13
Gran varietà
Overview: A musical comedy divided into five segments: Mariantonia, Cuttica, Il Fine Dicitore, Fregoli and Il Censore.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1954-03-13
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The Overcoat
1952-10-03
The Overcoat
Overview: Based on the Nikolai Gogol story but set in 1950s Italy, "The Overcoat" is the story of a poor city hall clerk whose only desire is to buy a new overcoat.
Genres: Fantasy Comedy Drama
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1952-10-03
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Ferdinand I King of Naples
1959-12-22
Ferdinand I King of Naples
Overview: The story of "King Lazzarone" Ferdinand I of Bourbon whose pastime was to neglect the government and disguise himself as a poor man and turn to the infamous city premises in search of love adventures. With the De Filippo brothers to complete.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1959-12-22
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Seven Hills of Rome
1957-11-21
Seven Hills of Rome
Overview: After having a fight with his girl friend, Marc follows her to Rome to try and win her back. On the train he meets a girl who is on her way to stay with her uncle. He gives her a lift to her uncle's, but they discover he has gone to South America. So as she has nowhere else to go, she stays with Marc and his cousin, which inevitably leads to romance.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1957-11-21
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The Last Judgment
1961-10-26
The Last Judgment
Overview: The Last Judgement (Italian: Il giudizio universale) is a 1961 commedia all'italiana film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It was coproduced with France. It has an all-star Italian and international cast, including Americans Jack Palance, Ernest Borgnine; Greek Melina Mercouri and French Fernandel, Anouk Aimée and Lino Ventura. The film was a huge flop, massacred by critics and audiences when it was released. It was filmed in black and white, but the last sequence, the dance at theatre, is in color.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1961-10-26
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The Monte Carlo Story
1956-12-19
The Monte Carlo Story
Overview: Stylish, sophisticated and absolutely broke, Dino and Maria pursue a romance until they realize neither of them has any money, which forces the gold diggers to turn their attention to a wealthy widower and his daughter. A compulsive gambler who owes several anxious investors a small fortune, Dino has trouble cutting his losses, no matter how bad the losing streak.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1956-12-19
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Figaro qua... Figaro là
1950-10-12
Figaro qua... Figaro là
Overview: In the 18th century, Figaro the Sevillian barber is likely to be arrested because he operates his shop on Sundays, which is forbidden.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1950-10-12
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Uncle Was a Vampire
1959-10-28
Uncle Was a Vampire
Overview: Baron Osvaldo Lambertenghi is forced to sell his ancestral castle, staying on as a bellboy when it's converted into a hotel. However he becomes vampirized when his mysterious uncle comes to stay.
Genres: Comedy Horror
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1959-10-28
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Un sorriso, uno schiaffo, un bacio in bocca
1975-07-14
Un sorriso, uno schiaffo, un bacio in bocca
Overview:
Genres: Romance History Comedy Music
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1975-07-14
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Piovuto dal cielo
1953-06-26
Piovuto dal cielo
Overview: A pickpoket falls in love with one of his victims.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1953-06-26
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Attanasio cavallo vanesio
1953-09-03
Attanasio cavallo vanesio
Overview: A jockey buys his favorite horse.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1953-09-03
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La passeggiata
1953-01-27
La passeggiata
Overview: A meek and simple-minded boarding school teacher falls in love with a prostitute and gets the boot from school. He tries to have her change her way of living but she is very hard to convince. When she finally realizes he really loves her it is too late.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1953-01-27
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Pazzo d'amore
1942-12-25
Pazzo d'amore
Overview:
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1942-12-25
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Alvaro piuttosto corsaro
1954-03-05
Alvaro piuttosto corsaro
Overview: Alvaro hunts for a treasure, of which he owns only half the map.
Genres: Music Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1954-03-05
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Destination Fury
1961-07-23
Destination Fury
Overview: Lemmy Caution has been assigned by Interpol to work as a double agent. Little does he know how many spies are on to this deception and how dangerous his assignment has become.
Genres: Comedy Adventure
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1961-07-23
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Questi fantasmi
1962-01-29
Questi fantasmi
Overview:
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1962-01-29
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Beauties on bicycles
1951-02-27
Beauties on bicycles
Overview: Two chorus girls leave Milan to get to the famous Totò's theatre company. Unfortunately the bus they are on breaks down and they ask for a lift, but the driver gets too fresh with them and they decide to continue the journey with any means of transport, including bicycles.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1951-02-27
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Transplant
1970-03-05
Transplant
Overview: To satisfy his wife, an elderly man has to have a penis transplant and is willing to pay a lot to do so. Three men are selected, who, for different reasons, are forced to accept; but giving up one's manhood can be more complicated than expected.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1970-03-05
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Pinocchio
1972-12-20
Pinocchio
Overview: The film was directed by Giuliano Cenci with assistance from his brother Renzo. During production, Carlo Collodis grandchildren Mario and Antonio Lorenzini were consulted. The subtle movements made by fidgeting children whilst speaking or under scrutiny were incorporated into Pinocchios movements, particularly when he lies to the Fairy with the Turquoise Hair over the fate of his gold coins. For the design of the Fairy, Italian portrayals of the Blessed Virgin Mary in art were used as starting points.
Genres: Animation Family Fantasy Drama Adventure
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1972-12-20
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Il bandolero stanco
1952-12-22
Il bandolero stanco
Overview: A comedy centered on the character of Pepito. It is an Italian western made before the Spaghetti western era and it is at the same time a parody of the western genre.
Genres: Western Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1952-12-22
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The Bear
1960-12-14
The Bear
Overview: A mild-mannered zookeeper has to contend with his tyrannical boss and a talking lovesick bear.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1960-12-14
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Io sono la Primula Rossa
1954-12-20
Io sono la Primula Rossa
Overview: Comedy with Renato Rascel
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1954-12-20
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Maracatumba... ma non è una rumba!
1949-01-14
Maracatumba... ma non è una rumba!
Overview:
Genres: Music Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1949-01-14
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I'm in the Revue
1950-02-18
I'm in the Revue
Overview: Good-natured and devout, a French house painter takes the train to Rome, where he has decided to go on a pilgrimage. There he meets a scatterbrained dresser who has been assigned by a music hall star to bring her the gown she is to wear on stage. The two men get stolen by Cleo, a charming thief. Once in Rome, the painter finds himself penniless and the dresser without the gown...
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1950-02-18
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The Orderly
1961-11-03
The Orderly
Overview: Colonels, majors, lieutenants: all of them live in the same building. Some of them have a wife or children or none, but everyone has his orderly. Major Penna is harassed by Osvaldo's mother. Lt. Martucci gets involved in the love affair between Antonio, his orderly, and Lauretta.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1961-11-03
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Il corazziere
1960-12-21
Il corazziere
Overview: In fascist Italy, Urbano Marangoni aspires to become Corazziere, like his late father, but it is a dream destined not to come true because of his short stature.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1960-12-21
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Variety carousel
1955-02-08
Variety carousel
Overview: A painter gives his daughter a television set for her 18th birthday. On the evening of the party, the family sits in the living room and watches a series of variety shows taken from the sets of theatrical performances and various films recited by the famous Totò,
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1955-02-08
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Little Girls and High Finance
1960-10-30
Little Girls and High Finance
Overview: A low level official and a prostitute both try to commit suicide and fail, afterwards he becomes a pimp and the prostitutes take over the country.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1960-10-30
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Enrico '61
1961-01-01
Enrico '61
Overview: Italian comedy teleplay.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1961-01-01
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Un militare e mezzo
1960-02-11
Un militare e mezzo
Overview: Nicola Carletti is a middle age 50-year old man who return to Italy with his family but he is drafted to go to the mandatory military service in Italy.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1960-02-11
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Il matrimonio
1954-02-25
Il matrimonio
Overview: An Italian historical comedy film consisting of three segments, based on three stage plays by Anton Chekhov.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1954-02-25
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Io sono il capataz
1951-02-28
Io sono il capataz
Overview: The young Uguccione is mistaken for Rascelito Villa called "C6", a dangerous revolutionary, and then immediately sent to Parazuela where he leads the insurrectionist troops.
Genres: Western
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1951-02-28
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The Secret of Santa Vittoria
1970-01-02
The Secret of Santa Vittoria
Overview: During World War II, Italian villagers hide their wine from the German army.
Genres: Comedy Drama War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1970-01-02
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Ho scelto l'amore
1953-03-03
Ho scelto l'amore
Overview: A satire of the Cold War, Italian style. Soviet flunkey Boris Popovitc is sent on a goodwill mission to Rome, where he is to deliver a symbolic dove of peace to a group of WW II freedom fighters. Somehow, Boris winds up in Venice minus the dove. As he searches up street and down canal for the missing bird, he meets and falls in love with luscious flower-girl Maria.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1953-03-03
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Rosso e nero
1954-10-27
Rosso e nero
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1954-10-27
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Napoleone
1951-04-17
Napoleone
Overview: A historical farce about Napoleon.
Genres: Comedy History
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1951-04-17
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Delirio a due
1967-10-28
Delirio a due
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1967-10-28
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Rascel Marine
1958-12-19
Rascel Marine
Overview: During WW2 a platoon of marines fights the Japanese on a little island in the Pacific Ocean. On the island there is a hut where old Taikiki lives with his two daughters. The two opposing armies soon forget about war and concentrate on winning the girls' hearts.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1958-12-19
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Rascel-Fifì
1957-10-09
Rascel-Fifì
Overview: Renato and Gedeon have just opened a nightclub in a disreputable area of New York, triggering the hostility of Gionata, a gang leader and owner of the nightclub across the street. Helped by the hoods of his gang, Gionata uses a couple of tricks to try and ruin his competitors. To begin with, he induces his friend Barbara, a vamp, to perform in a hot number in Renato and Gedeon's joint, so that the police intervene and close the club. The move fails, so Gionata decides to have Renatino, Renato's son, kidnapped by his men, which proves another flop. To make matters worse for Gionata, Michaela, his own daughter, has fallen in love with Renato, and sides with him and his partner...
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1957-10-09
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Move and I'll Shoot
1958-03-13
Move and I'll Shoot
Overview: Renato Tuzzi, a primary school teacher, is a shy man, unable to be respected by the turbulent kids.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1958-03-13
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L'eroe sono io
1952-02-29
L'eroe sono io
Overview:
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1952-02-29
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Love I Haven't... But... But
1951-12-07
Love I Haven't... But... But
Overview: Gina tries to commit suicide by jumping into the river but is saved by Teodoro, an innocent young man. Antonio, Teodoro's brother, tries in every way to seduce her.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1951-12-07
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Half a Century of Song
1952-01-01
Half a Century of Song
Overview: Through a series of scenes inspired by famous songs, various episodes of Italian life in the last fifty years are recalled.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1952-01-01
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I racconti di Padre Brown
1970-12-29
I racconti di Padre Brown
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1970-12-29
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I pinguini ci guardano
1956-03-08
I pinguini ci guardano
Overview:
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1956-03-08
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Follie d'estate
1963-11-27
Follie d'estate
Overview:
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: it
Release Date: 1963-11-27
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Jesus of Nazareth
1977-03-27
Jesus of Nazareth
Overview: Robert Powell stars in the epic 1977 drama chronicling the birth, life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. With Laurence Olivier, James Earl Jones and Ian McShane. This movie is derived from combining all 4 parts of the original Jesus of Nazareth mini-series from 1977 resulting in a single long feature film.
Genres: Drama History Family TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1977-03-27
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