Allegro Non Troppo

Allegro Non Troppo is a 1976 Italian animated film directed by Bruno Bozzetto. Featuring six pieces of classical music, the film is a parody of Walt Disney's Fantasia, two of its episodes being derived from the earlier film. The classical pieces are set to color animation, ranging from comedy to deep tragedy.

At the beginning, in between the animation, and at the end, there are black and white live-action sequences, displaying the fictional animator, orchestra, conductor and filmmaker, with many humorous scenes about the fictional production of the film. Some of these sections mix animation and live action.

The film was released in two versions. The first includes live action sequences in between the classical pieces; the second version of the film omits these, replacing them with animated plasticine letters spelling out the title of the next piece of music.

Directed and produced by Bruno Bozzetto. Written by Bruno Bozzetto and Guido Manuli.

The Presenter

• [first lines] Ladies and gentlemen, you are about to see an unforgettable show, a film destined to become immortal, as immortal as the music which will follow, and which will be interpreted through animation. Beginning with his childhood fantasies, the greatest ambition that burns and swells in the soul of every creative animator is to illustrate music, to give visual form and color to its notes. With this film, we have finally succeeded in achieving this union of animation and classical music, a union we are sure is destined to live on throughout the history of film. A new and original film that has even astonished us, the men responsible, the men who, quite modestly speaking, can be called its creators. A film in which – in which – [consults a cue card] A film in which you will see the music and listen to the drawings. You might call it a film of magic, a fantasia. [phone rings. The Presenter answers; the caller is not heard] Hello. Yes. Who's speaking? Who is this? What do you mean, who am I? Who is it you wish to speak to? Eh? California? [to camera] It's Hollywood. [to phone] Hello! Yes! What? You've already – [to phone] Hello! Yes! What? You've already – Look, if this is some joke, I'm in no mood – No, but – No, but – there must be some misunderstanding. You're very ill-mannered... That's right, ill-mannered and a liar! Yes, I said you're a liar! A liar from California [hangs up and speaks to camera] It's nothing. They're mad. Mad as hatters. They insist that our film – this is all so ridiculous –was already made by a certain fellow years ago. A certain someone by the name of Prisney or Grisney. Some American. [picks up phone again] In any case, before you go around opening your big mouth, see the film first!

Dialogue

[last lines]

The Orchestra Master: We're unemployed, then.

The Presenter: Unemployed... until the next movie. I've already got an idea. A brand-new idea. We could do a love story.

The Orchestra Master: A love story?

The Presenter: But not the usual kind about men and women. Lots of men and lots of women.

The Orchestra Master: Wife-swapping?

The Presenter: No, not that same old stuff. Something different. I like asymmetry. Seven men and one woman.

The Orchestra Master: That'll cost a lot.

The Presenter: No, not at all. We'll get little tiny men and make the woman real tall. It'll be fantastic!

The Orchestra Master: Sounds scary.

The Presenter: What do you mean scary? Seven little workers, so you get the social context, too. A mine! They'll work in a min! I can see them now, singing happily.

The Orchestra Master: Have you thought of a title?

The Presenter: That'll be easy. Let's see... Sleeping Beauty. Now keep it under your hat or some screenwriter hack might steal the idea. You can't trust anyone these days. He'll change the title, play up the sex. And give it some crazy name like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. And then we'll be screwed.

Cast

• Maurizio Micheli as The Presenter / The Animator
• Néstor Garay as The Orchestra Master
• Maurialuisa Giovannini as The Cleaning Girl
• Osvaldo Salvi as Man in Gorilla costume