Lively Teresa

For the short film with the same title, see La Vispa Teresa.

Lively Teresa (Italian: La vispa Teresa) is a 1943 Italian "white-telephones" comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Lilia Silvi, Roberto Villa and Carlo Ninchi.^[1] It was produced in the style of the White Telephone comedies popular during the Fascist era.

Lively Teresa
Tino Scotti & Lilia Silvi
Directed by	Mario Mattoli
Written by	Mario Mattoli
Starring	Lilia Silvi Roberto Villa Carlo Ninchi
Cinematography	Charles Suin Ugo Lombardi
Edited by	Fernando Tropea
Music by	Gioacchino Angelo
Production companies	Excelsa Film Regina Film
Distributed by	Minerva Film
Release date	4 September 1943 (1943-09-04)
Running time	85 minutes
Country	Italy
Language	Italian

The film was only fully released following the Liberation of Rome, alongside other equally innocuous films such as The Innocent Casimiro. This provoked criticism from supporters of the emerging neorealist movement who wanted to promote what they regarded as more innovative films, while the major film companies such as Lux Film and Minverva preferred more populist offerings.^[2]

It was shot at the Palatino Studios in Rome. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Piero Filippone and Mario Rappini.

Plot

A wealthy engineer is disturbed when he discovers that his son Alberto has fallen in love with an ambitious manicurist Luisa. He arranges for him to go on holiday to Venice while he tries to buy off Luisa. However, Luisa has secretly accompanied Alberto, and has got her friend Teresa to take her place at the beauty parlour. Alberto's parents mistake her for Luisa, and complications ensue.

Cast

• Lilia Silvi as Teresa
• Antonio Gandusio as Antonio, suo zio
• Vera Carmi as Luisa, la manicure
• Roberto Villa as Alberto Mari
• Carlo Ninchi as Carlo Mari, suo padre
• Giuditta Rissone as Matilde Mari, madre di Alberto
• Tino Scotti as Albertaccio
• Aldo Silvani as Il colonello Rossi
• Cesare Fantoni as Il maggiordomo di casa Mari
• Achille Majeroni as Un collabotatore del signor Mari
• Edda Soligo as La segretaria del Signor Mari
• Carlo Lombardi as Il commendatore
• Carlo Campanini as Un cliente dal barbiere
• Peppino Spadaro as L'usciere siciliano
• Leopoldo Valentini as Un cliente al bar