The White Sheik

The White Sheik

25/4/1956 1h 23m 7.2/10

Overview

In Italy, small-town newlyweds Wanda and Ivan Cavalli embark on their honeymoon in the big city of Rome. Ivan dutifully wants to keep appointments with family and church, but Wanda is only interested in meeting her favorite photo-strip star known as "The White Sheik". While Wanda impetuously sneaks away to locate the object of her affections, disconsolate Ivan tries his hardest to keep up appearances with the couple's relatives.

Director

Federico Fellini

Top Billed Cast

Alberto Sordi

Alberto Sordi

Fernando Rivoli, the White Sheik

Leopoldo Trieste

Leopoldo Trieste

Ivan Cavalli

Lilia Landi

Felga, the Photonovel's Gipsy

Giulietta Masina

Giulietta Masina

Cabiria, the Prostitute

Brunella Bovo

Brunella Bovo

Wanda Giardino Cavalli

Ernesto Almirante

Ernesto Almirante

Dottore Fortuna, the Photonovel's Director

Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

12/31/2023

7/10

I wonder if Peter Sellers ever based any of his characters on the charmingly hapless "Fernando" (Alberto Soldi) from this really quite engaging comedy? He arrives in Rome with new new bride "Wanda" (Brunella Bovo) with a full schedule ahead of them. He's more of a traditionalist and on this trip he wants to meet with family and do the courteous rounds introducing his new bride. She, on the other hand, is obsessed with the eponymous film star, and manages to arrange a meeting. She doesn't tell her husband, of course, and sets off for what she assumes will be the briefest of hand-shakes. Not quite - she is soon carried away with the crew to a filming location on the coast. No phone, no train and "Fernando" many miles away doing the dutiful relative thing - without his "Wanda"! What now ensues sees both characters try to reunite whilst having some fun escapades en route. I can only hope it's a silent film they are making for the noise on set, the strangers wandering through shot and "Wanda" ending up dressed as a harem girl makes for a chaotic process that I suspect Fellini is not suggesting is based on his own. Meantime, "Fernando" is getting more and more perplexed, fed up, disorientated - and even tempted. His uncle also reminds them that tomorrow at 11am, they have an appointment - at the Vatican - with the Pope! Can they get back together in time? The scenario is naturally fun, Soldi has a little of the Chaplin to his persona and a strong supporting cast help keep this quickly paced and genuinely amusing for just shy of ninety minutes.

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