We cannot forget the dance scene starring Vittorio De Sica and Sophia Loren during the party in Sorrento. They both became famous all over the world, dancing to the rhythm of Mambo Italiano song.

The places of the city of Sorrento, of which today Sophia Loren is an honorary citizen, are also imprinted in our memory. Vittorio De Sica won the David di Donatello prize for his role.

Let’s find out the atmospheres and all the places together.

The love story between Cavalier Antonio and Donna Sofia

“Carotenuto Cavalier Antonio“, this is how Vittorio De Sica introduces himself to anyone he meets, leaves the city of Sagliena and is transferred to Sorrento, his hometown, where he begins to direct the command of the traffic police. The sanctimonious woman Violante Ruotolo, back from a strong sentimental disappointment and interpreted by Lea Padovani, will temporarily host Carotenuto, because of his house was illegally occupied by the young widow Donna Sofia Cocozza, known with the nickname Smargiassa, during his absence.

Donna Sofia is a fiery, beautiful, full of life woman and is much loved in Sorrento, especially by men. Don Matteo, however, describes her as a Circe, as an enchanting siren, and warns his brother of her temptations. Donna Violante also doesn’t esteem Donna Sofia.

Carotenuto, who still feels “strong, young and vigorous”, is welcomed joyfully in Sorrento, but strictly observed by his brother priest Matteo, who puts him in line every time he catches him running after women, and by the housekeeper Caramella, respectively played by Mario Carotenuto and by an exceptional and hilarious Tina Pica who expresses her comedy at her best here.

The illegally occupied house in Marina Piccola di Sorrento

In Marina Piccola di Sorrento, precisely in Via Sopra le Mura, it is still possible to see the house where Donna Sofia illegally resided.

The open scenes of the film that show Donna Sofia selling fresh fish and arguing with her competitor fishwife were filmed here too.

The meeting between Donna Sofia and De Sica at Bagni della Regina Giovanna

Hidden beach and natural swimming pool of the enchanting Sorrento Peninsula, the famous Bagni della Regina Giovanna are witnesses of the clandestine meeting between Vittorio De Sica and Sophia Loren. This magical place is located between Massa Lubrense and Sorrento.

The romantic conclusion at Villa Giuseppina

Also known as Villa Cosenza, Villa Giuseppina is a villa located in Meta di Sorrento. It is inspired by Vanvitelli and it was built in 1739. The terrace of the villa, present in the final scene of the film, is famous.

In the film we see De Sica extolling verses and Donna Violante who begins to accompany him playing the piano from her room. The scene ends with the two approaching and kissing.

Mambo Italiano song

In the film we can hear an instrumental arrangement by Mambo Italiano, the song written by Bob Merrill, which is used as a local imitation of the mambo dance. The most heard and known version is the one sung by Dean Martin, but it became famous in Italy when local singers, like Renato Carosone, made their own version.

There is a French version sung by the Turkish polyglot Dario Moreno.

Lady Gaga included the beginning of Mambo Italiano in the song Americano, her 2011 hit.

“Pane, amore e…” the whole collection

“Scandal in Sorrento” (“Pane, amore e…” in Italian) is part of a series of four films with the same incipit with Vittorio De Sica always as the male protagonist. <>It was the first to be shot in color, the first two films are, in fact, in black and white, and it is thus possible to admire the colors of the wonderful Sorrentine Peninsula. For this film the director Dino Risi, at the Berlin Film Festival in 1956, received the Special Mention.

“Pane amore e fantasia”

The film is set in Sagliena and directed by Luigi Comencini starring Gina Lollobrigida, in the role of Pizzicarella la Bersagliera, and Vittorio De Sica.

“Pane amore e… gelosia”

The love story between the Bersagliera and Carabiniere Stelluti and the one between Marshal Carotenuto and the midwife Annarella is the second of the tetralogy, and it is  directed by Luigi Comencini.

“Pane amore e Andalusia”

“Pane, amore e Andalusia”, on the other hand, was the fourth and last film directed by the Spanish director Javier Setò in 1958. It is an ideal conclusion to the previous three films. De Sica was also the producer of the latter film set in Spain.