Evening star., 1953-07-10
The First 3-V

democratic against communism
never looked funnier nor had
more charm than in "The Little
World of Don Camille" It would
never do to underestimate the
enemy, but as long as there are
some Don Camillos left. we are
not lost. The film account of Don
Camillo's adventure in his little
world opened here yesterday in
three versions-Italian at the
Little Theater, French at the
Plaza and dubbed English at the
Silver Spring.
Few movies ever have been so
deserving Of translation into all
languages including the Scan
dinavian.
AS played by Fernandez, the
superb French clown, the fight
ing priest of a little Italian town,
is a truly memorable figure. Fer
nandel is one of the finest actors
at large anywhere and he has a
rare talent for combining the
poignant and the comic. IN 'The
Little World of Don Camille" he
will leave you with a warm glow
which will last for some time,
This Don Camille is no priest
who puts his entire trust in
prayer alone. He is aware, as
Ben Franklin was, that God
helps them that help themselves.
His hatred of communism is
fervent and he believes it should
be fought with any available
weapon, including bribery, his
fists, arson, football or an auto
matte rifle.
The priest also is given to
having arguments with the Lord
when alone in his chapel. The
fact that the Lord often dis
agrees with him temporarily
chagrins but never subdues him.
Don Camillo's chief adversary
in the film superbly directed by
Julien Duvivier is a man named
Peppone. Peppone. brou ght
roundly to life by Gino Cervi, is
the towns newly-elected Mayor
and head of the local Communist
Party. Don Camille and Peppone
have been failing to see things
eye-to-eye for years.
Their first encounter in "The
Little World of Don Camille"
occurs when Peppone tries to ad-
dress his constituency in the town
square. The priest does not have
a steeple full of church bells
for nothing and the clangor
soon puts the Mayors forces to
rout.
Peppone, formidable foe that
he is, has a difficult time trying
to be an Italian Communist; he
was an Italian Catholic first and
it keeps cropping out. Communist
or no, his new son must be
chriStened in the church and
there is a fair-sized crisis when
Don Camille refuses fatty to
christen the baby Lenin.
Peppone tries to call a strike
Of farm workers and it is a
success until the plaintive cries
Of untended cattle rouse Don
Camille to action. He forces Pep
pone through his own picket line
and the two spend the night
milking and feeding COWS and
cleaning up the barn.
At one point Peppone even
enlists the aid of higher circles
Of the church in his battle with
Don Camille. He leads a delega-
tion to the bishop after the
priest heaves large table into
the ranks of some imported
Communist demonstrators and
puts them to rout. He takes one
look at the young priest the
bishop suggests as a replace
ment, however. and decides his
home town is better off with
Don Camille.
X n II
A most affecting passage in
the film adapted from Giovanni
Guareschi's novel is the account
Of the annual blessing, of the
river. Peppone has ordered the
shooting of any of the local cit
izenry who join the procession.
Don Camille sets out alone bear
ing the large figure of Christ on
the cross.
A stray dog wanders up and
he starts to chase it, then hears
ADJUSTMENTS.