Review of The Swindle (1955) by Benoît R — 02 Jun 2010

The Swindle (Il Bidone) 1955 I have lately been watching Fellini's older films some of which were not available even on vhs. My first Fellini film (1973) at the ripe age of 19 was Satryicon at the Texas Tech Student Center Movie Theater.

I was shocked to say the least and understand the film more now than then. Though about a swindle the film is more about the swindler's (plural). This film introduces us to Felliniâ??s excesses and long interest in flamboyance and grotesque no matter if you are rich or poor.

Also the film delves into his interests in the Rich their costumes and material possessions and how they flaunt themselves in public arenas. It was between "La Strada" (1954), and "Nights of Cabiria," (1957), "Il Bidone" (1955) is less known but powerful, humorous, heartbreaking, and poignant film.

Broderick Crawford gives a compelling performance as Augusto, an aging con man, a leader of a trio of small time crooks who take advantage of poor and uneducated Italians in both country side and poor quarters of Rome.

Augusto realizes at the age of 48 that his life of selfishness, greed, and wrongdoings only made his existence meaningless. Once in his life, he decided to con the con men in order to help his daughter whom he rarely sees but deeply loves with fulfilling her dreams of better life but a swindle gone wrong leads Augusto to the final scene of pain, both physical and mental, to loneliness and desperation.

It is similar to Nights of Cabriria which is an even more powerful film. Here the movie is very spare, the cons not particularly interesting as cons, but very weighty in symbolism. Augustoâ??s meeting with his estranged daughter his working his way back towards humanity costs him dearly.

Shows us the awakening and demise of Augusto - not as a lesson in morals, but as one in storytelling. Guilietta Masina (Mrs. Fellini) as Iris, appears as a devoted wife of Carlos. This DVD from a complete restoration Criterion DVD release a few years back.

Very interesting and powerful neo-realistic film. . Really I have grown to prefer his earlier films.