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Le Retour de Don Camillo
1953 Comedy / Drama
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Credits
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Director: Julien Duvivier
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Script: Julien Duvivier, René Barjavel, Giuseppe Amato, based on the stories by histoires de Giovanni Guareschi
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Photo: Anchise Brizzi
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Music: Alessandro Cicognini
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Cast: Fernandel (Don Camillo),
Gino Cervi (Peppone),
Edouard Delmont (Dr Spiletti),
Paolo Stoppa (Marchetti),
Alexandre Rignault (Néro),
Thomy Bourdelle (Cagnola),
Tony Jacquot (Don Pietro),
Charles Vissière (l'évêque),
Claudy Chapeland (Beppo Bottazzi),
Leda Gloria (Signora Botazzi),
Jean Debucourt (la voix du Seigneur)
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Country: France
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Language: French
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Runtime: 115 min; B&W
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Aka: The Return of Don Camillo
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Summary
When he hears about Don Camillio’s on-going battles with the communist mayor Peppone,
the bishop decides to exile the Catholic priest to a small mountain parish.
With his arch-enemy out of the way, Peppone’s life is far more peaceful – at least at
first. When he fails to persuade a rich landowner to allow a dam to be built on
his land to stop an impending flood, the mayor realises he needs Don Camillo’s help.
The situation becomes even more desperate when the parishioners fall out with Don Camillio’s
replacement, Don Pietro, refusing to die, marry or be born. Peppone has no choice
but to hasten Don Camillo’s return. But how can he stop the priest from turning
his return into a victory celebration?
Review
After the international success of Le
Petit monde de Don Camillo in 1951, a sequel - with comic star Fernandel in the
role of the pugnacious priest - was inevitable. Julien Duvivier’s direction and
Fernandel’s larger-than-life performance prevents Le Retour de Don Camillo from
being an inferior sequel to the first film. The script and cinematography capture
the charm and humour of Giovanni Guareschi’s original novels on which the Don Camillo
film series was based. The success of this film guaranteed a further three cinematic
outings for the redoubtable Don Camillo.
© James Travers 2003
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