The Last Judgement

A 1961 French-Italian co-production directed by Vittorio De Sica, Il giudizio universale is a commedia all'italiana blending drama and satire, with a screenplay by Cesare Zavattini. Shot in Italian, the film unfolds in Naples, where a mysterious voice from the sky announces that the day of judgment has arrived. The news throws the city's inhabitants into turmoil, and the film follows their varied reactions through a string of satirical episodes mixing panic, resignation and cynical humour.

The production assembled an all-star international cast: alongside Alberto Sordi and Silvana Mangano appear Vittorio Gassman, Nino Manfredi, Anouk Aimée, Melina Mercouri, Fernandel and Lino Ventura, plus American stars Jack Palance and Ernest Borgnine. Although filmed almost entirely in black and white, the closing sequence, a dance in a theatre, is presented in color. On its release the film was a major flop, harshly received by both critics and audiences, despite the prestige of its director and ensemble.