A stellar cast distinguishes the so-so seriocomedy Cinque Poveri in Automobile (Five Paupers in an Automobile). The story is set in motion by a winning raffle ticket, jointly held by four people. The first prize is an automobile, which the foursome intend to drive for a day of pleasure before selling the vehicle for cash. Complicating matters is a fifth party, a tramp who inveigles a piece of the action. Aldo Fabrizi heads the cast as a man who is inherently unfond of automobiles; Eduardo de Felippo plays a bricklayer who wants to show off the car to settle an old score; de Felippo's sister Titina portrays an elderly has-been actress who hopes to use the car to keep up a false front; and Walter Chiari is a busboy whose girlfriend won't have anything to do with him unless he wins the car. The screenplay was co-written by star Eduardo de Felippo and neorealism pioneer Cesare Zavattini, among others.
by Hal Erickson
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