The Boom

1963 1h 29m IT

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 67

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Sweet-sour comedy on Italy's 1950s rage to get rich as fast as possible! The businessman wants to satisfy his wife's craving for luxury and a "respectable life" so he becomes heavily indebted. In desperation he agrees to sell a precious part of his body for a large sum of money. But just before the crucial operation he panics...

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Alberto Sordi
Giovanni Alberti
Gianna Maria Canale
Silvia Alberti
Ettore Geri
Mr. Bausetti
Elena Nicolai
Mrs. Bausetti
Mariolina Bovo
Mrs. Faravalli
Gloria Cervi
Mrs. Baratti
Sandra Verani
Mrs. Dronazzi
Sandro Merli
Dronazzi

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Vittorio De Sica
Writers: Cesare Zavattini, Cesare Zavattini
Languages: Italian
Countries: Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

89 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

63 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Vittorio De Sica, shot by Armando Nannuzzi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Piero Piccioni. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Adriana Novelli shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Alberto Sordi and Gianna Maria Canale and Ettore Geri carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0056883 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 67 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Vittorio De Sica directs. Armando Nannuzzi behind the camera. Piero Piccioni scores. Adriana Novelli cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

189 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
263 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Directed by Vittorio De Sica, shot by Armando Nannuzzi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Piero Piccioni. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Adriana Novelli shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Alberto Sordi and Gianna Maria Canale and Ettore Geri carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0056883 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 67 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.