Crónica dos Bons Malandros

Cronica dos Bons Malandros (CBM) was the first novel from Portuguese journalist/writer Mario Zambujal. Few years after it was published, and due the success of the book, a movie was made. Not that usual in Portugal during the 80's. The movie tells the story of a gang leaded by "Renato, o pacífico" (Renato, the peaceful), and their attempt to steal precious jewels from Gulbenlian Museum, in Lisbon. The weapon of the crime? Bees! CBM was filmed in Lisbon and shows the "golden age" of Portuguese leftish movimakers, freed by the 1974 revolution, in action. Dark language, slang, powerful colors, car chases and lots of humor in this picture. It is now available in DVD, in Portugal. If you liked this one, try "Kilas, o mau da fita", another experiment from those years.

At least two Portuguese movies made a furor at the time: the thrilling drama "O lugar do morto" (that caused controversy at the time) and the comedy "A crónica dos bons malandros"

Based on the novel of the same name as the movie, "A crónica dos bons malandros" (subtitled as "Chornicle of the good rascals" or "Thick as thieves"), by the journalist Mário Zambujal, it's a defined story about a peaceful gang that will make their biggest robbery yet, commissioned by an Italian: stealing jewels at the Gulbenkian Museum, using bees... no guns, no shots, nothing dangerous...

With the story beginning to fold on, we can see the reason why the 7 members of that gang (Marlene, Renato's fiancée (Lia Gama), Renato, the peaceful (João Perry), Adelaide, the Slim-Lide (Maria do Céu Guerra), Pedro, the rightful (Nicolau Breyner), Flávio, the doctor (Pedro Bandeira Freire), Arnaldo, the stunt (Paulo de Carvalho, on one of his very rare acting scenes, as he is a real singer) and Silvino, the steak brat (Nuno Duarte) had come together

Problems will start to happen with the gang, but it's better to see it for yourselves, if you didn't read the novel or saw the film before

All these seven actors were perfect for the roles in the movie, and have a highly impressive charisma to them. Also a great mention to Zita Duarte, on her role of Lina, the quick-stubborn woman that helped Adelaide in tough times, and to her full-mouthed words, another stir at the time, but funny at the same time

This Portuguese movie is really a must see. It doesn't have the 40's/50's skeptic comedy movie's style, but it has a very modern style for the time being

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED