For Love and Gold

Entre Buena y Muy Buena

Brancaleone is a funny character; he's brave and honorable, but a bit of a blowhard and a buffoon, and his "army" is made up of some very colorful characters. There's definitely a Holy Grail kind of vibe to the little troupe of goofs wandering around in their patchwork armor, bouncing from one silly scene to the next...Monty Python must've been influenced by this. Sadly, some of the humor is lost in translation but there's still lots of laughs and a surprising amount of bloody action.

One of the best discoveries of the year for me! Also look for the sequel, Brancaleone Alle Crociate.

For Love and Gold's anticipation of Monty Python's Holy Grail is often striking, but viewers expecting that level of absurdism and nonsense will be disappointed. It doesn't lack for laughs, but generally Age and Scrapelli's script is subtler, leaving room for enjoyment of the atmosphere, characterization, great acting and music. There is wry humor in such details as costume design. Very recommended watching, even if this hasn't aged as well as other Monicellis.