Allegro Non Troppo (1976)

To me, this movie is perfection.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

We all remember Disney's Fantasia as a beautifully crafted visual masterpiece that presented gorgeous imagery in tuned to classical music scores. From Mickey Mouse as a sorcerer's apprentice, to the evolution of life in The Rite of Spring, to the legendary Night on Bald Mountain, Fantasia is forever regarded as one of the greatest films of all time for how technically innovative and haunting it is. As for today's film, Allegro non troppo comes from the creatively humorous mind of beloved Italian animator Bruno Bozzeto and his team of animators as a clever parody and tribute to the classic, and it delivers in flying colors.The film is a collection of six animated shorts (two of which actually feature scores that appeared in the original Fantasia), and while all different in tone and style, they all deliver the necessary emotions when needed. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry, and others will even make you think. The styles also differ between the shorts, but they work in their favor to fit in context to the musical piece, whether cartoony, or abstract or even pseudo realistic.Also, the film is tied together with black & white live-action sequences that feature a substitute orchestra of elderly women being led by a pompous and stubborn conductor while an imprisoned animator is forced to think up cartoons to match the music, whilst an annoying and often bumbling presenter tries to keep the show together and a lovely young charwoman cleans up after everyone. Although often too silly and over the top at times, the skits are very funny as they actually spoof Disney more than the animated skits. The orchestra of imprisoned women and the animator as well are brilliant albeit brutal jabs at Disney's worker unions at the time.And then there's the finale, which is a pure embodiment of the best word that describes this whole film, outrageous, as it's a series of rapid-fire "finales," which are pretty much blackout gags that are ludicrous albeit disorderly. Really, the whole film is outrageous, from abstract nudity, to unpredictable gags, to even the ending, the whole movie embraces the art of music, animation and even comedy to such an outlandish level that it's impossible not to love. So even though Allegro Non Troppo doesn't have the highly detailed animation or legendary visual techniques of the Disney masterpiece, it is in every way funny, creative and looney as it needs to be. If you're looking for a parody of a Disney film that both mocks and admires the film while also letting its hysterical imagination run wild, definitely seek this one out, just don't show your kids, it ain't for them.

I have just left the movie theater. I walked with my father along the dark road. I could have sworn that my brain exploded around the room, at the end of the movie. So big of a impact Allegro non Troppo had on me.If you talk about The film experience, this is probably the best I have ever experienced. All this experience was perfect. Atmosphere, treats (in this case, some small-Daim pieces) and the film.Allegro non Troppo is a brilliant film. So good that my small brain can't even comprehend it. This film has it all. Where should I begin?Before we start talking of the story and move on to analyze, I would like to praise the structure of the film. A bit like Disney's Fantasia that the film respects and which it makes fun at the same time, it runs in the same format. Intro, short film, live action, short film. In the beginning we see a slimy Italian host, presenting the idea, and repeating how original and brilliant idea they have in their hands. All of a sudden he gets the call, people tell him that some Pisney came up with the idea first. Not caring about that, the host gets a orchestra (a ol' group of grandmas), which are transported by a truck, a heavy-handed, cigar smoking conductor and a imprisoned,hanged-from-the-wall sketch artist, who must draw to the pace of orchestra. Soon after, the first film is shown.The reason why these otherwise normal live action items work, is because the people throw jokes all the time. You can feel the Bozzetto's saber of satire in your backside during all parts. Satire is thrown all the time and the parts are filmed with enough classy small budget. Then we go to the animation.Allegro non Troppo doesn't only hit the nail on it's animation, it hits it by a lightning strike on the other side of the world. As everybody familiar will know, the director of the film is the animation master Bruno Bozzetto that has created all kind of animations. Here, too, the film maestro's touch is in place and I can safely say that this is one of the most beautiful movies ever. In some scenes, such as Bolero and Valse Triste, my mouth was just wide-open from the beauty of the animation, especially at the Bolero sequence. I also liked how Bozzetto does all kinds of styles in the segments. Sometimes it is her usual kinda child-like and simple style (Slavian Dance nro.7) and sometimes it looks like a work of art (Valse Triste, Bolero).Allegro non Troppo is also really fun and satirizing film. The Live action sections gave me lots of laughs, and I was not the only one. People across the hall (if you're wondering, I saw this on a film festival) we're rolling with laughter. People stumble, and the grandmother's chuckle, everything is all zany and funny. The really likable and relatable animator tries to play tricks and trys to sneak Mr. Rossi to get some food. Also the animations was fun. I laughed a lot at the rebellious doodle's at the Slavian Dance nro.7 and Vivaldi's Concerto's panicking OCD-bee.One of the reasons why Allegro hitted me so hard is the surrealism od it all. All kinds of strange creatures and scenery's, at least more than a quarter of the film, and they cause a strangely hypnotic and a weird undertone to the film, in a good way, of course. In particular, the Bolero segment and the first segment are very slow and very surreal, and there are also some other strange things. The film's surreal and absurd feel is also transmitted to the live action parts. The playing Grannies laugh, cry and do all kinds of strange things. The slimy host's desperate attempts to keep the film together are also strange and amusing. The Conductor constantly threats the animator and everything else weird happens.Allegro is a emotional roller-coaster of experiences. It will make you laugh, get confused, cry and influence you. At least it struck me like at 1000 volts and is now one of my favorite films. I can not recommend Allegro non Troppo enough, i recommend- no I COMMAND to get this movie in your hands: buy it from Amazon, take a look at it on YouTube, anything works! I recommend it to all friends of the animation and movie's generally to watch Allegro non Troppo, right now!

I first saw "Allegro non troppo" in a cinema on it's release and have watched it since whenever it appears on TV. The choice of music and the contrast of the grainy B&W film with the animator's coloured cartoon efforts make for a wonderfully crafted film. I was so impressed by Allegro that I had always wanted a top quality commercial copy so I considered buying the VHS tape when it became available but waited 'til a more stable technology was available. As it has not been on sale at any DVD shops I have finally bitten the bullet and ordered a copy. It has been a long wait(nearly 30 years) but well worth it.The internal comparisons with Disney's Fantasia, which I also have, parodying the constant US remakes such as The Bird Cage for La Cage, The Good the bad for Seven samurai etc. The music is all great, a better mix than in Fantasia. The Bolero will always remind me of Allegro and the monkey rather than "10" and Bo.

This very hard-to-find mix of animation, music and comedy is a real treat for those who can appreciate it. I recorded it from TV some years ago, and it's still one of the most valuable articles in my archive. Very clever use of in-between b/w passages, great classical music and animations of totally different styles, concepts and attitudes, but each so well-blended with the music and the whole picture that you hardly get distracted. I don't agree with the comparisons to Fantasia, this is something different. It deals with things (and uses imagery) that a Disney product would never dare, let alone in the days Fantasia was made. If you have the slightest admiration for art, and can stand movies without the standard hollywood cliches, grab this one (though that won't be easy) and you'll not be sorry. 10 / 10