Her Favourite Husband (also known as The Taming of Dorothy and Quel bandito sono io) is a 1950 British-Italian comedy film directed by Mario Soldati and starring Jean Kent, Robert Beatty and Margaret Rutherford. The screenplay was by Noel Langley, based on an adaptation by Stefano Vanzina (as Steno), Mario Monicelli and Soldati of the 1947 play Quel bandito sono io! by Peppino De Filippo. The film's art direction was by Piero Gherardi.
Contents
Plot
Mild mannered Italian bank clerk Antonio, dominated by his English wife Dorothy, is the double of Leo L'Americano, a local gangster. The gangster kidnaps Antonio and takes his place as husband in the family, to give him cover for a big bank robbery, which he plans to pin on Antonio. Farcical confusions ensue.
Cast
Jean Kent as Dorothy Pellegrini
Robert Beatty as Antonio Pellegrini
Gordon Harker as Godfrey Dotherington
Margaret Rutherford as Mrs. Dotherington
Rona Anderson as Stellina
Walter Crisham as Caradiotto
Max Adrian as Catoni
Tamara Lees as Rosana
Michael Balfour as Pete
Jack McNaughton as El Greco
Norman Shelley as Mr. Dobson
Danny Green as Angel Face
Joss Ambler as Mr. Wilson
Mary Hinton as Mrs. Wilson
Peter Illing as Commissario Scaletti
Jimmy Ventola as Ciocio Pellegrini
Andreas Malandrinos as customs officer
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Gangster comedy which suffers from a profusion of English actors posing unsuccessfully as comic Italians, and from direction based on the principle that noise and muddle on the screen amounts to comedy. The whole effect is that of a charade which has got completely out of hand."
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Film mistakes noise and muddle for comedy."
Leslie Halliwell said: "Rather tiresome Italian-set comedy with funny moments."
TV Guide wrote, "corny dialog bogs this film down much of the time."
Allmovie described it as "a genial romp distinguished by a sizeable supporting cast of familiar British players."