In "Operazione San Gennaro", a pair of American gangsters enlist the aid of some Neapolitan locals. The target of their most ambitious heist is the wondrous treasure of patron saint San Gennaro (Saint Januarius), which overflows with antique jewellery...
It's a funny comedy set against a truly interesting background. Much of the ribbing is aimed not at the saint but at the way in which some of the faithful try to make the saint do their bidding. In the movie (and, I get the impression, also in real life) there are a lot of people who treat the saint like a star footballer : he gets cheered on, he gets an enormous fee, but he's supposed to perform, and perform magnificently. And if he fails to carry the team towards the World Cup, he gets the verbal equivalent of rotten tomatoes and toilet rolls thrown at his head... Neapolitans too are in for a ribbing. For instance, it turns out that local criminals can't hold a top-secret preparatory meeting without curious relatives or acquaintances turning up. There's always someone new joining the crowd : a nephew, a cousin's neighbour, a cousin's nephew's brother-in-law.
To me the teasing seemed good-natured, but I would not be wholly surprised to learn that there are Neapolitans who spit upon hearing the title of this movie...
The tone is pretty much set from the beginning, when it turns out that a beautiful young nun is not only wearing artful make-up, but carrying a revolver too. Some of the highlights : the non-secret secret meeting, the escape from the dread catacombs, and the man who looks like a genuine prince of the Church.
Fashionista's can do worse than watch this jolly romp for tips on how to look attractive and elegant in a warm climate. The costumes are gorgeous and Senta Berger, for instance, looks a million dollars.
Naples actually boasts a real-life museum where the treasure of San Gennaro is kept. It is a stunning collection which drips with gold, pearls and gems. (It is beyond my poor power to comprehend why anyone should want to give an emerald necklace worth a fortune to a Catholic saint, as he is most unlikely to want or need it - but that's life.) The museum has a most enticing website, so you know where to go if you want to do some virtual drooling...
It's a funny comedy set against a truly interesting background. Much of the ribbing is aimed not at the saint but at the way in which some of the faithful try to make the saint do their bidding. In the movie (and, I get the impression, also in real life) there are a lot of people who treat the saint like a star footballer : he gets cheered on, he gets an enormous fee, but he's supposed to perform, and perform magnificently. And if he fails to carry the team towards the World Cup, he gets the verbal equivalent of rotten tomatoes and toilet rolls thrown at his head... Neapolitans too are in for a ribbing. For instance, it turns out that local criminals can't hold a top-secret preparatory meeting without curious relatives or acquaintances turning up. There's always someone new joining the crowd : a nephew, a cousin's neighbour, a cousin's nephew's brother-in-law.
To me the teasing seemed good-natured, but I would not be wholly surprised to learn that there are Neapolitans who spit upon hearing the title of this movie...
The tone is pretty much set from the beginning, when it turns out that a beautiful young nun is not only wearing artful make-up, but carrying a revolver too. Some of the highlights : the non-secret secret meeting, the escape from the dread catacombs, and the man who looks like a genuine prince of the Church.
Fashionista's can do worse than watch this jolly romp for tips on how to look attractive and elegant in a warm climate. The costumes are gorgeous and Senta Berger, for instance, looks a million dollars.
Naples actually boasts a real-life museum where the treasure of San Gennaro is kept. It is a stunning collection which drips with gold, pearls and gems. (It is beyond my poor power to comprehend why anyone should want to give an emerald necklace worth a fortune to a Catholic saint, as he is most unlikely to want or need it - but that's life.) The museum has a most enticing website, so you know where to go if you want to do some virtual drooling...