Il medico e lo stregone

The young Dr. Fausto Marchetti (Marcello Mastroianni) takes on the position of community doctor, which has been vacant for some time, in a remote mountain village. He soon realizes that the superstitious locals trust the methods of local quack Antonio Locoratolo (Vittorio De Sica) more than modern medicine. A competition to find the most up-to-the-minute and appropriate treatment for the villagers develops between Marchetti and the "miracle doctor". IL MEDICO E LO STREGONE, a rarely screened precursor to Commedia all'italiana that was shot a year before Monicelli's groundbreaking I SOLITI IGNOTI, and also written by the outstanding screenwriters Age and Scarpelli, features Vittorio De Sica, Mastroianni, and also Alberto Sordi in great acting form in a supporting role. (hjf)