Product Description

Internationally beloved actor Fernandel is Don Camillo, a Catholic priest trying to protect his poor village from the desires of its Communist mayor Peppone (Gino Cervi) in these two beloved comedy classics based on stories by Giovanni Guareschi.

Don Camillo (1952, directed by Julien Duvivier)
Humor and humanity flow as the explosive Don Camillo and the hard-headed mayor Peppone clash over what’s best for the people.

The Return of Don Camillo (1953, directed by Julien Duvivier)
After his battles with Peppone, Don Camillo is exiled to a remote village where war is about to break out. Can the strong hand of the priest persuade the two sides to make peace?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49211 in DVD
• Brand: Koch International
• Released on: 2008-07-22
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Black & White, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: Italian
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 207 minutes

Customer Reviews

Great job! But where's the Orson Welles version too??
This is a Great job done restoring and delivering these two fine films.
I am so sad that these brilliant versions on the 2 disc set didn't include
the Orson Welles English dub selection as an option select on the menu. Very surprised actually because that famous version is so well done too.
It is quite well done and is sorely missed on the DVD set. If you have seen the fine film, "The Miracle of Marcelino" ,which is also famous for the english dub version, done very well, offers both versions on it's DVD. Anyway, this DVD set is great to have and generally you would need nothing more, but anyone who knows the classic Orson Welles narrated version/dub will calmly sigh when they're happy to have this DVD, but so sad not to find it there with them there too like a perfect family. But, Enjoy! And somebody, Please, make the other one for the people too. Thank You.

Charm, character, and wit.
These are almost perfect adaptations of the beautiful books by Guareschi. There is a sly wit and a timeless humanity in these movies that will make you feel better about the world and your fellow man. Funny and touching and full of faith.

Comical but loving portrait of post-war provincial Italy
I grew up watching "Don Camillo". I remember pretty much every dialogue in these movies but I can't help being moved every time I watch them. Guareschi's stories tell of a provincial post-WWII Northern Italy (that unfortunately never existed in such charming fashion) where friendship, decency and love always overcome the most extreme politically-driven divisions, where a good and forgiving God literally speaks to you and where the catholic town priest is a good man with a violent temper but an immense heart.

These are feel-good movies at their best and Fernandel is just perfect in his role. You will want to jump on the screen to lend him and his "flock" a hand.

I also think these stories are remarkably successful at depicting with humor and wit an Italy where political passion, even among the "comunisti" was often mixed with solid infusions of family and church. Italy may still have one of the largest "communist" parties in the western world, but just try to see how many of those folks have not been baptized (especially among the oldest generations).

Anyway, I just love Don Camillo and I highly recommend these movies to anyone who feel like watching a feel-good film with some interesting if caricatured political background.