Directing

Mario Maffei

Born January 1, 1918 · Viareggio, Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

Died March 10, 2001 · aged 83

Mario Maffei was an Italian film director, screenwriter, and actor whose career spanned over five decades. He began his career as an assistant director in 1936, working on the film Pioggia d'estate directed by Mario Monicelli. During World War II, Maffei focused on documentary filmmaking, returning to fiction films post-war. He made his acting debut in 1947 with roles in Tombolo, paradiso nero and…

Known For

Big Deal on Madonna Street

Big Deal on Madonna Street · 1958

Big Deal on Madonna Street

MovieComedyCrime

Best friends Peppe and Mario are thieves, but they're not very good at it. Still, Peppe thinks that he's finally devised a master heist that will make them rich. With the help of some fellow criminals, he plans to dig a tunnel from a rented apartment to the pawnshop next door, where they can rob the safe. But his plan is far from foolproof, and the fact that no one in the group has any experience digging tunnels proves to be the least of their problems.

The Spy with Ten Faces

The Spy with Ten Faces · 1966

The Spy with Ten Faces

MovieActionCrime

Paul Hubsschmid is Paul Finney aka Upperseven, master of disguise. He's out to stop a diamond smuggling operation which fronts for a missile building project.

Boccaccio '70

Boccaccio '70 · 1962

MovieComedyRomance

An anthology of four comic moral tales about the hypocrisies surrounding sex in 1960s Italy: frothy young love and office politics in the big city; milk advertisements that begin to haunt an aging prude; a trophy wife enduring her husband's very public affairs; a lucky ticket-holder at a small town fair.

...And Suddenly It's Murder!

...And Suddenly It's Murder! · 1960

...And Suddenly It's Murder!

Three couples are involved in a murder at Montecarlo.

The Great War

The Great War · 1959

Italy, 1916. Oreste Jacovacci and Giovanni Busacca are called, as all the Italian youths, to serve the army in the WWI. They both try in every way to avoid serving the army.

The Inglorious Bastards

The Inglorious Bastards · 1978

The Inglorious Bastards

Set in Europe during WWII, a group of American soldiers on their way to military prison are beset upon by a German artillery attack, escaping with Switzerland in their sights. Before making it any farther, they volunteer to steal a V2 warhead for the French Underground - taking them deep into the heart of German territory.

Ciao ma'...

Ciao ma'... · 1988

In a hot Roman summer, the eternal city awaits an invasion of young people for the Vasco Rossi concert. In those days the stories of very young fans of the singer intertwine, two shop assistants and two boys from the township.

The Professor

The Professor · 1986

MovieCrimeDrama

Young Franco is imprisoned for murder and rises to become the feared and powerful 'Professor', taking control of Naples' underworld from behind bars.

Filmography

Sort

Big Deal on Madonna Street

Big Deal on Madonna Street · 1958

Big Deal on Madonna Street

MovieComedyCrime

Best friends Peppe and Mario are thieves, but they're not very good at it. Still, Peppe thinks that he's finally devised a master heist that will make them rich. With the help of some fellow criminals, he plans to dig a tunnel from a rented apartment to the pawnshop next door, where they can rob the safe. But his plan is far from foolproof, and the fact that no one in the group has any experience digging tunnels proves to be the least of their problems.

First Assistant Director

The Spy with Ten Faces

The Spy with Ten Faces · 1966

The Spy with Ten Faces

MovieActionCrime

Paul Hubsschmid is Paul Finney aka Upperseven, master of disguise. He's out to stop a diamond smuggling operation which fronts for a missile building project.

Duke Robin

Boccaccio '70

Boccaccio '70 · 1962

MovieComedyRomance

An anthology of four comic moral tales about the hypocrisies surrounding sex in 1960s Italy: frothy young love and office politics in the big city; milk advertisements that begin to haunt an aging prude; a trophy wife enduring her husband's very public affairs; a lucky ticket-holder at a small town fair.

Assistant Director

...And Suddenly It's Murder!

...And Suddenly It's Murder! · 1960

...And Suddenly It's Murder!

Three couples are involved in a murder at Montecarlo.

First Assistant Director

The Great War

The Great War · 1959

Italy, 1916. Oreste Jacovacci and Giovanni Busacca are called, as all the Italian youths, to serve the army in the WWI. They both try in every way to avoid serving the army.

First Assistant Director

The Inglorious Bastards

The Inglorious Bastards · 1978

The Inglorious Bastards

Set in Europe during WWII, a group of American soldiers on their way to military prison are beset upon by a German artillery attack, escaping with Switzerland in their sights. Before making it any farther, they volunteer to steal a V2 warhead for the French Underground - taking them deep into the heart of German territory.

First Assistant Director

Ciao ma'...

Ciao ma'... · 1988

In a hot Roman summer, the eternal city awaits an invasion of young people for the Vasco Rossi concert. In those days the stories of very young fans of the singer intertwine, two shop assistants and two boys from the township.

First Assistant Director

The Professor

The Professor · 1986

MovieCrimeDrama

Young Franco is imprisoned for murder and rises to become the feared and powerful 'Professor', taking control of Naples' underworld from behind bars.

First Assistant Director

Girl with a Suitcase

Girl with a Suitcase · 1961

Girl with a Suitcase

MovieDramaRomance

Lorenzo, who's 16 and born to a wealthy family in Parma, tries to make things right toward a showgirl, Aida, whom his older brother has mistreated. In extending kindness and standing up for her, he comes of age. But, is there anything he can do that will alter Aida's situation or her prospects?

Assistant Director

The Assassination of Matteotti

The Assassination of Matteotti · 1973

The Assassination of Matteotti

MovieHistoryDrama

How the Italian Fascist Party managed to turn the physical elimination of a political enemy into a test of strength fundamental for the ascent into the totalitarian regime.

Co-Director

And Agnes Chose to Die

And Agnes Chose to Die · 1976

And Agnes Chose to Die

After the Nazis take her husband away, an illiterate old washerwoman joins the Resistance as a bike courier in the Central Italian countryside.

Assistant Director

The Passionate Thief

The Passionate Thief · 1960

The Passionate Thief

On New Year's Eve, a young woman and an out-of-work actor complicate a pickpocket's plans to ply his trade.

First Assistant Director

Fathers and Sons

Fathers and Sons · 1957

Fathers and Sons

The adventures of a young couple of high school students: her father is not opposed to their love, but the other, a doctor of prestige, is not at all happy about it.

First Assistant Director

Cry, Onion!

Cry, Onion! · 1975

MovieWesternComedy

Onion Jack has bought a piece of land on which to settle, but the property is still in possession of the orphans of the original owner and is coveted by the local oil baron.

Second Unit Director

Tutto suo padre

Tutto suo padre · 1978

Tutto suo padre

A young Roman receives from his mother, who is dying, a shocking news: he is the natural son of Adolf Hitler, conceived during a fling between the Führer and the lady during the visit that the German dictator made to Italy in 1938.

First Assistant Director

How to Kill a Judge

How to Kill a Judge · 1975

How to Kill a Judge

MovieThrillerCrime

A filmmaker's popular movie about a corrupt judge who is killed by the Mafia seemingly foretells the murder of a magistrate who orders the film's seizure.

Assistant Director

Rossini! Rossini!

Rossini! Rossini! · 1991

Rossini! Rossini!

MovieDramaMusic

A funny, witty and bright biopic by the master of italian comedy Mario Monicelli about the famed italian composer Gioacchino Rossini, here portrayed in a wonderful way by famed actor and later director Sergio Castellitto.

Morandi

Big Deal on Madonna Street 20 Years Later

Big Deal on Madonna Street 20 Years Later · 1985

Big Deal on Madonna Street 20 Years Later

Fresh out prison, Tiberio reconnects with his old partners in crime, Michele Ferribote and Peppe the Panther, only to realise that a lot has changed--including crime--after twenty years. Can he cope with this new reality?

Meccanico

My Wife's Enemy

My Wife's Enemy · 1959

My Wife's Enemy

Marco and Luciana are married and in love, but the passion of Marco for football distract him, and make him impossible to keep a job for a long time: that's why the young couple keeps arguing.

First Assistant Director

An Average Little Man

An Average Little Man · 1977

An Average Little Man

MovieDramaComedy

A middle-aged government accountant is determined to secure a stable job for his son before retiring, willing to go to great lengths to achieve his goal.

The Best of Enemies

The Best of Enemies · 1961

The Best of Enemies

During World War II, a plane full of RAF fighter crashes in the Ethiopian desert and they are met upon by an enemy Italian patrol that allows them to go free. But, when the Brits are given orders to attack the Italians, lots of problems ensue.

First Assistant Director

Non perdiamo la testa

Non perdiamo la testa · 1959

Non perdiamo la testa

A mad scientist pursues a man hoping to study his brain.

First Assistant Director

Kean: Genius or Scoundrel

Kean: Genius or Scoundrel · 1957

Kean: Genius or Scoundrel

England, first half of the 19th century. Edmund Kean is a celebrated theatre actor, notorious for his tumultuous private life. He is in love with the beautiful countess Koefeld, wife of the Danish ambassador, to the consternation of his friend, the Prince of Wales. He is also hounded by Anna Damby, who wants to become an actress to escape a marriage to Lord Mewill.

First Assistant Director

A Hero of Our Times

A Hero of Our Times · 1955

A Hero of Our Times

Alberto Menichetti lives with an aunt and an old housekeeper, Clotilde; he has a job in a firm and his boss is Mrs. De Ritis, a widow whose husband was killed during a wild boar hunt. She likes him but Alberto likes Marcella; she is under age and he is awaiting her birthday to declare his love. His greater traits are to be fearful of everything and to be selfish. This nature will get him into trouble..

First Assistant Director