Alberto Lattuada’s ‘The Overcoat’ still produces laughs … and introspection

Alberto Lattuada, the great Italian director, created a masterpiece with his adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s The Overcoat (known as Il Cappotto). The original short story has been expanded and transferred to 1950s Italy. Renato Rascel turns in a hilarious performance as Carmine De Carmine, a city hall clerk who can’t earn the respect of his colleagues or boss. He stumbles around in the mayor’s presence, not thinking about his actions, but always trying to keep a smile across his mustachioed, welcoming face.

The plot is simple: The mayor (Giulio Stival) is holding a prestigious New Year’s Eve party and Carmine wants to impress. The problem is that his overcoat is old and tattered. So, after pooling all of his available savings, the “everyman” hires a tailor to make a beautiful new coat.

Although the story is seemingly simple, the impact of the comedic tale is substantial. Carmine stands for the public and its ongoing struggle for recognition. The citizens of his small town constantly bend his ear, trying to get him to act as a conduit to the mayor. “If only you could pass on our objections,” they tell him. Their hope resides in a man who the elite consider a buffoon, but the throngs of people on the street treat him like a last-resort savior.

The look of Lattuada’s film is gorgeous. Its black-and-white imagery makes for some beautiful scenes and interesting perspectives. On more than one occasion, a character will walk silently into the background, fading away with every continuing step. Many of the techniques are similar to the American film noir movement, where setting and atmosphere were as important as character and storyline.

Rascel’s performance is two parts The Three Stooges and two parts Ivan Denisovich. The Overcoat is not a tale about fascism, but there are underlying tones that speak to an individual’s impossible crusade against the powerful state. Here’s a story where the rich are devilish and the poor are unanswered. Social stigma pervades, and change never seems to be on the horizon.

The Overcoat is never meant to be taken too seriously (the final segment involves Carmine’s ghost coming back to haunt the elitist class), but yet it covers a very serious subject matter. Not only does this adaptation give new life to Gogol’s short story, but it also adds a new modern-day perspective, showing the timelessness of the thematic material.

Raro Video’s DVD release features audio commentary by an Italian film professor, plus an interview with Angelo Pasquini. There are a couple of deleted scenes and an illustrated booklet that provides a helpful critical analysis. The extras are fitting complements to Lattuada’s stellar direction, Rascel’s fine performance and Mario Montuori’s dream-like cinematography.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• The Overcoat aka Il Cappotto

• In Italian with English subtitles

• 1952

• Directed by Alberto Lattuada

• Written by Lattuada, Giorgio Prosperi and Giordano Corsi; based on the short story by Nikolai Gogol

• Staring Renato Rascel, Yvonne Sanson, Giulio Stival, Ettore Mattia and Giulio Cali

• Running time: 107 minutes

• Rating: