Author: Anile, Alberto (edited by)

Year: 2025

Pages: 140

Publisher: Minimum fax; Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia

ISBN: 9788833895987

Description

On July 13, 1970, in Brescello, filming began for Don Camillo, Peppone e i giovani d’oggi. Directed by French filmmaker Christian-Jaque, the movie was based on Giovannino Guareschi’s final novel about the two eternal rivals of the Po Valley. It was intended to be the sixth film starring Fernandel and Cervi, as well as the first in color. Despite the sweltering heat, the initial weeks of production proceeded without significant issues, accompanied by media attention—not only from Italy—and the anticipation of the saga’s many fans.

On July 31, however, an unexpected illness forced Fernandel to leave the set; a few months later, the actor’s death brought production to a permanent halt. The footage also mysteriously disappeared; searched for across Europe in vain, the film seemed to have dissolved, evaporating into legend.

Years later, hundreds of photographic stills were fortuitously rediscovered. Recovered and organized by the Cineteca Nazionale, these images provided a detailed documentation of the scenes shot by Christian-Jaque. Using these precious, previously unseen images and the original screenplay, also preserved at the Centro Sperimentale, Alberto Anile presents a passionate reconstruction of the film. This work is enriched by essays from Roberto Chiesi, Steve Della Casa, Luca Pallanch, Marco Vanelli, Dario E. Viganò, and Anile himself, along with interviews with cast members, including Giancarlo Giannini and Graziella Granata.

Thus, The Last Don Camillo brings back to life the final, lost, and long-mourned chapter of the beloved series, gifting us the magic of a film that should have been but never was.