Written and directed by Italian film-maker, Roberto Rossellini, 1954's Where Is Freedom? (aka. Dov'e La Liberta?) quite clearly proved to me that, when it came to comedy, this dude was a downright clueless buffoon.
Where Is Freedom? was such a limp-wristed, humourless production, all round, that it didn't have the ability to encourage even one single laugh, or snicker, or giggle from this viewer who's always game for a chuckle, or two, to brighten up his day.
One of this film's major deficits was the miscasting of actor 'Toto' as Salvatore Lojacono, the story's main character. To say that 'Toto' was really terrible in his part would truly be an understatement.
The best way to describe 'Toto' would be to say that he was, in all appearances, a bargain-basement Buster Keaton. But, unlike, Keaton, 'Toto' had absolutely no charm or comic-timing, whatsoever.
In 'Where Is Freedom?', Salvatore is a repeated offender who has been in prison for 22 years. Due to such good behaviour, he is released on parole 3 years early.
Salvatore immediately heads to Rome and, before long, finds his experiences (all unpleasant) in the "free world" cause him to crave his life of relative leisure and security back in prison.
And so, Salvatore makes deliberate efforts to land himself back in jail, asap, which he views as his real home.
If you ask me, I think that this picture sent out a really screwy message in regards to the overall attraction of prison life.
Where Is Freedom? also lost itself some significant points for its blatant product placement of the Coca Cola logo?
One would honestly think that director Roberto Rossellini would have chosen to plug an Italian product in his movie, rather than cater to the Americans.
Where Is Freedom? was such a limp-wristed, humourless production, all round, that it didn't have the ability to encourage even one single laugh, or snicker, or giggle from this viewer who's always game for a chuckle, or two, to brighten up his day.
One of this film's major deficits was the miscasting of actor 'Toto' as Salvatore Lojacono, the story's main character. To say that 'Toto' was really terrible in his part would truly be an understatement.
The best way to describe 'Toto' would be to say that he was, in all appearances, a bargain-basement Buster Keaton. But, unlike, Keaton, 'Toto' had absolutely no charm or comic-timing, whatsoever.
In 'Where Is Freedom?', Salvatore is a repeated offender who has been in prison for 22 years. Due to such good behaviour, he is released on parole 3 years early.
Salvatore immediately heads to Rome and, before long, finds his experiences (all unpleasant) in the "free world" cause him to crave his life of relative leisure and security back in prison.
And so, Salvatore makes deliberate efforts to land himself back in jail, asap, which he views as his real home.
If you ask me, I think that this picture sent out a really screwy message in regards to the overall attraction of prison life.
Where Is Freedom? also lost itself some significant points for its blatant product placement of the Coca Cola logo?
One would honestly think that director Roberto Rossellini would have chosen to plug an Italian product in his movie, rather than cater to the Americans.