Well, I finally obtained a copy of the 1948 film "Toto al Giro d'Italia". Here's a quick review.
Antonio de Curtis stars as "Prof. Toto Casamandrei", well to do gentleman and one of the judges for the Miss Italia beauty contest. He has romantic hopes for journalist and fellow judge Doriana (Isa Barzizza), but she sarcastically responds to his advances by saying she'll go out with him when he wins the Giro d'Italia bicycle race. Prof. Toto cannot ride a bicycle - he visits a sportsmen's club to hire a cycling instructor. While there he meets a number of famous Italian athletes of the era (including a surprisingly diminutive Tazio Nuvolari, of motorcyle and auto racing fame).
But Toto cannot ride a bicycle, and in desperation he makes a deal with the devil (Carlo Micheluzzi), signing his soul away in exchange for unbeatable cycling abilities.
Toto visits the Benotto dealership where he purchases his bicycle and clothing. While there he is observed by the two men who will go on to be his driver and mechanic. He again meets Doriana, accompanied by the real Miss Italia, Fulvia Franco, and announces his intention to ride and win the Giro.
Toto arrives to sign-onto the race. He works his way through a crowd of riders including Bartali, Ricci, Kubler, Schotte (world champion that year), Conte, Coppi, Bobet, Magni, Cottur. . . the pros laugh at him when he announces his intention to race, but he has registered and is permitted to race.
This movie is bad, really bad. Some of the acting is less than you'd expect in an American "B" movie from the era. I kept thinking how polished the Three Stooges movies were compared to this. A few of the cyclists are obviously born stars, especially Bobet and Bartali, but Coppi looks as if he'd accidently stumbled onto the set and was desperate to find his way out. He does get one of the better jokes, though, during a seen where everyone is smoking cigars.
There are times when the actors voices don't match what their mouths are saying, and sometimes characters speak without moving their mouths at all! Toto does a couple of corny lip-synch songs, but he obviously doesn't even know all the words.
The overall impression is one of cheap movie done in a hurry.
That's the bad part - now the good stuff.
Lots of Cambio Corsa derailleurs, although you never get to see anyone shift.
Real live racers walking and talking, instead of dead still images from magazines. Who'd have guessed Coppi had such a high-pitched voice?
Bartali looks every bit as tough as I'd always imagined, both on and off the bike.
Lots of scenes showing "Wilier-Triestina" jerseys, Bianchi team car, Italian buses and autos, a quick shot of the Arbos team car with heavy damage to the right front fender, etc... lots to enjoy for the minutia freaks among us (myself included).
Action scenes of the peloton racing through towns, on dirt roads, over ancient bridges. Ahhh.....
"Acted" scenes of the main cycling stars riding a moderate paceline behind the camera car. At one point Magni has to balance carefully to avoid overlapping the car's bumper. Bartali does everything but roll his eyes in these silly scenes.
The movie is bad, but I tried for over two years to get a copy, and I'm glad to own it. It would be more fun to watch with folks who 1) speak Italian. 2) are familiar with Antonio de Curtis' work. and 3) love bicycle racing from that era. I paid $15 on eBay. No captions - everything is in Italian. It's obviously a bootleg copy, but the first one I've found in USA VHS format.
Notes - Fulvia Franco was the real "Miss Italia" that year. This was her first movie, and she went on to have a career lasting 23 years (42 movies). She married boxing star Tiberio Mitri in 1950 - he also had a movie carreer. Their marriage lasted 4 years. In 2001 Mitri, homeless and unknown, committed suicide by stepping in front of a train. Fulvia Franco died in 1988 of undisclosed causes.
Toto appeared in 108 movies between 1919 and 1968.
Is that Giacinto Benotto selling bicycles at the Benotto dealership? How I'd love to rummage through THOSE store shelves!
Aldo Ross
Middletown, Ohio