Bruno (Gassman) is bored beyond his considerable wits revving about in sports car around a deserted suburb of Rome when he comes across law student Roberto (Trintignant), a nerd if ever there was one, and promptly decides to bring Roberto out of his shell.
Clearly, Bruno is moved by good intentions but they are far surpassed by his selfishness. Life really centers around Bruno and what he wants. He invites Roberto for a spin and to a meal at a smart restaurant, but poor Roberto has to foot the bill, and from that moment on you realize that Roberto has been ensnared in the spider's web of Bruno's charm-laden selfishness.
Bruno is a dedicated womanizer, to the point of trying to pick up his own daughter, who he has not recognized, and who has to remind him of her status - but he is certainly not embarrassed by that, or by any of his many self-centered blunders, and disrespect for anything legal, speed restrictions and traffic cops included.
And so the trip in the sports car becomes a road trip, taking Roberto ever further away from the safety of his studies paid by his parents, and into a revolving society that merges post-war Italy with the 1960s, all to glorious soundtrack that includes songs like "Guarda come dondolo" and "Cuando Cuando Cuando," among others.
Photography is effective and economic, never getting in the way of the development of the story.
The acting is uniformly outstanding, even minor characters grab one's interest. Gassman is brilliant as he gate-crashes parties and breezes in and out of everyone's life. Trintignant is the reserved counterweight, mesmerized and sapped of will by Gassman's magical personality and sleight of hand. In between, one has a glimpse of Italy's fast-changing society and inevitable shortcomings.
Direction is superb. The great Dino Risi was certainly at his best in this celebration of life, a timeless masterpiece that not even the B&W photography or the 1960s time capsule can hold down.
Enjoy the wonderful ride - but keep your eyes peeled and learn from it!
