Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    EmmysSuperheroes GuideSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideBest Of 2025 So FarDisability Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Playing the Field

Original title: L'arbitro
  • 1974
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
5.1/10
195
YOUR RATING
Playing the Field (1974)
Comedy

A small-time soccer referee gets the chance of a lifetime when he gets to referee a major-league game. He becomes a celebrity and suddenly finds himself having to choose between his future a... Read allA small-time soccer referee gets the chance of a lifetime when he gets to referee a major-league game. He becomes a celebrity and suddenly finds himself having to choose between his future as a referee and the temptations that come his way, especially the women, now.A small-time soccer referee gets the chance of a lifetime when he gets to referee a major-league game. He becomes a celebrity and suddenly finds himself having to choose between his future as a referee and the temptations that come his way, especially the women, now.

  • Director
    • Luigi Filippo D'Amico
  • Writers
    • Sandro Continenza
    • Luigi Filippo D'Amico
    • Giulio Scarnicci
  • Stars
    • Lando Buzzanca
    • Joan Collins
    • Gabriella Pallotta
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.1/10
    195
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Luigi Filippo D'Amico
    • Writers
      • Sandro Continenza
      • Luigi Filippo D'Amico
      • Giulio Scarnicci
    • Stars
      • Lando Buzzanca
      • Joan Collins
      • Gabriella Pallotta
    • 2User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos10

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 5
    View Poster

    Top cast31

    Edit
    Lando Buzzanca
    Lando Buzzanca
    • Carmelo Lo Cascio
    Joan Collins
    Joan Collins
    • Elena Sperani
    Gabriella Pallotta
    Gabriella Pallotta
    • Laura
    Ignazio Leone
    Ignazio Leone
    • Vito Fichera
    Daniele Vargas
    Daniele Vargas
    • Presidente
    Marisa Solinas
    Marisa Solinas
    • Luisella
    Massimo Mollica
    • La Forgia
    Antonio La Raina
    Gianfranco Barra
    Gianfranco Barra
    • Policeman
    Dino Curcio
    • Mayor
    Giovanni Rosselli
    • Saro Lo Cascio
    Umberto D'Orsi
    • Doctor
    Elizabeth Turner
    Elizabeth Turner
    • Evelyn
    • (as Elisabeth Turner)
    Dante Cleri
    • Patanè
    Sergio Doria
    Sergio Doria
    Leopoldo Carbone
    Renato Terra
    Renato Terra
      Pasquale Vitiello
      • Director
        • Luigi Filippo D'Amico
      • Writers
        • Sandro Continenza
        • Luigi Filippo D'Amico
        • Giulio Scarnicci
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews2

      5.1195
      1
      2
      3
      4
      5
      6
      7
      8
      9
      10

      Featured reviews

      6stefanozucchelli

      A hard work but someone has to do it

      Simple but nice movie. A strict and moralistic football referee does everything to reach the highest levels, but to keep up with the pace he will end up resorting to drugs. Destroyed by remorse, he decides to confess his blows and will have a consequent breakdown of nerves.

      More like this

      Il colonnello Buttiglione diventa generale
      5.6
      Il colonnello Buttiglione diventa generale
      La compagna di banco
      4.5
      La compagna di banco
      School Days
      4.5
      School Days
      Classe mista
      4.6
      Classe mista
      Dirty Weekend
      6.3
      Dirty Weekend
      4 Crazy Draftees at the Army
      3.6
      4 Crazy Draftees at the Army
      How to Seduce Your Teacher
      4.6
      How to Seduce Your Teacher
      The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones
      4.4
      The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones
      La soldatessa alla visita militare
      4.8
      La soldatessa alla visita militare
      The Soldier with Great Maneuvers
      4.8
      The Soldier with Great Maneuvers
      La segretaria privata di mio padre
      5.1
      La segretaria privata di mio padre
      The Career of a Chambermaid
      6.6
      The Career of a Chambermaid

      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Inspired by the life of the international Italian referee Concetto Lo Bello.
      • Connections
        Referenced in Bar Sport (2011)
      • Soundtracks
        (I'm) Football Crazy
        Written by Dandylion and Guido De Angelis and Maurizio De Angelis

        Sung by Giorgio Chinaglia

        Records on RCA s.p.a. (TBBO 1017)

      Top picks

      Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
      Sign in

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • February 21, 1974 (Italy)
      • Country of origin
        • Italy
      • Language
        • Italian
      • Also known as
        • Football Crazy
      • Filming locations
        • Dear Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy(Studio, as Dear Centro Cinematografico e Televisivo)
      • Production company
        • Documento Film
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 48 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.85 : 1

      Contribute to this page

      Suggest an edit or add missing content
      Playing the Field (1974)
      Top Gap
      What is the English language plot outline for Playing the Field (1974)?
      Answer
      • See more gaps
      • Learn more about contributing
      Edit page

      More to explore

      Recently viewed

      Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
      Get the IMDb App
      Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
      Follow IMDb on social
      Get the IMDb App
      For Android and iOS
      Get the IMDb App
      • Help
      • Site Index
      • IMDbPro
      • Box Office Mojo
      • License IMDb Data
      • Press Room
      • Advertising
      • Jobs
      • Conditions of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Your Ads Privacy Choices
      IMDb, an Amazon company

      © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.