''Even Angels Eat Beans'' () is a 1973

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

written and directed by

Enzo Barboni Enzo Barboni (7 July 1922 – 23 March 2002), sometimes credited by his pseudonym E.B. Clucher; the surname of his grandmother,p. 115 Wong, Alzia S. ''Spaghetti Westerns: A Viewer's Guide (National Cinemas)'' Rowman & Littlefield Publishers ( ...

with

Giuliano Gemma Giuliano Gemma (; 2 September 1938 – 1 October 2013) was an Italian actor. He is best known internationally for his work in Spaghetti Westerns, particularly for his performances as the title character in Duccio Tessari's '' A Pistol for Ringo'' ...

and

Bud Spencer Bud Spencer (born Carlo Pedersoli; 31 October 1929 – 27 June 2016) was an Italian actor, professional swimmer and water polo player. He was known for action-comedy and spaghetti Western roles with his long-time film partner and friend Ter ...

. It was awarded with the Golden Screen Award in 1974. The film produced a sequel in 1974, ''Charleston'' (''

Anche gli angeli tirano di destro ''Charleston'' (original title: ''Anche gli angeli tirano di destro'') is a 1974 Italy, Italian Buddy film, buddy comedy film written and directed by Enzo Barboni. The film is the sequel of ''Even Angels Eat Beans'', with Ricky Bruch (at his film ...

''), still directed by Enzo Barboni. Spencer refused to reprise his role, and was replaced with

Ricky Bruch Björn Rickard "Ricky" Bruch (; 2 July 1946 – 30 May 2011) was a Swedish discus thrower, poet and actor. Career Bruch was born in Örgryte, Gothenburg, grew up in Skåne, and was later a long-time resident of Malmö. His main discipline was t ...

Plot

New York, 1930s. Sonny is a former ice cream man who fell on hard luck. While working as a cleaner in a gym, he meets Charlie Smith, a wrestler. The two become fast friends, although they have very different characters, Charlie being blunt and aloof, and Sonny being narcissistic and too prone to womanizing. One day they get hired by a mobster, Angelo, to hit a gambler but they erroneously beat up a US Senator instead, who in turns declares a war towards the underworld. To save them from the heat, Angelo sends Charlie and Sonny to

little Italy Little Italy is the catch-all name for an ethnic enclave populated primarily by Italians or people of Italian ancestry, usually in an Urban area, urban neighborhood. The concept of "Little Italy" holds many different aspects of the Italian cul ...

to work as debt collectors. Here, however, they befriend the Geraces, a poor family, and decide to help them by beating up two other collectors sent by a rival of Angelo, Mr. Colosimo. The event triggers a bitter conflict between Angelo and Colosimo. Eventually the police, led by Captain Mackintosh, intervenes to stop the bloodshed. Mackintosh is initially determined to jail Charlie and Sonny for their involvement. However, when Charlie and Sonny discovers that Mackintosh is somehow implicated with Angelo and Colosimo in their business, he is forced to let them go. Following their acquittal, Charlie returns to wrestling, and Sonny agrees on being his trainer.

Production

The film was originally intended to star the film duo of

and

Terence Hill Terence Hill (born Mario Girotti; 29 March 1939) is an Italian actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He began his career as a child actor and gained international fame for starring roles in action and comedy films, many with hi ...

, but Hill dropped out of the project as he was concerned about overexposure. Principal photography took place in New York and Rome. The soundtrack was composed by Guido and Maurizio De Angelis, and produced a minor hit with the single ''Angel and Beans'' performed by the American-Italian pop duo Kathy & Gulliver.

Cast

: Sonny *

: Charlie Smith *

Robert Middleton Robert Middleton (born Samuel Abraham Messer; May 13, 1911 – June 14, 1977) was an American film and television actor known for his large size, beetle-like brows, and deep, booming voice (for which he was known as "Big Bob Middleton"), usua ...

: Angelo *

Víctor Israel José María Soler Vilanova, better known as Víctor Israel (13 June 1929 – 19 September 2009), was a Spanish ( Catalan) film actor. He appeared in more than 140 films, beginning in 1961. Selected filmography * '' Savage Guns'' (1961) - (un ...

: Judah *Bill Vanders: Captain Mackintosh * Steffen Zacharias: Mr. Gerace *Margherita Horowitz: Ms. Gerace *Lara Sender: Mr & Ms Gerace's Daughter *

Luigi Bonos Luigi Bonos (1910–2000) was an Italian comedian and stage, television and film actor. He appeared in more than 70 films between 1945 and 1992. Born in Berlin, Germany, the son of two Hungarian circus artists, along with his brothers Vitto ...

: Italian Merchant * George Rigaud: Senator O'Riordan * Gérard Landry: Spectator at the Wrestling contest * Riccardo Pizzuti: "The Cobra" * Mario Brega: Angelo's Weapon Master *

Alvaro Vitali Alvaro Vitali (; born 3 February 1950) is an Italian actor. He was an electrician until he was discovered by Federico Fellini and played a small part in ''Satyricon'' (1969), which led to other roles, notably in the movie '' Amarcord'' (1973 ...

: Tailor Assistant

References

External links

* 1973 films 1970s crime comedy films Italian crime comedy films 1970s Italian-language films English-language Italian films Films scored by Guido & Maurizio De Angelis Mafia comedy films Films set in the 1930s Foreign films set in the United States Italian buddy comedy films 1970s buddy comedy films 1973 comedy films 1970s Italian films {{comedy-crime-film-stub