The Organizer (1963)

You won't be disappointed!

Sorry, this movie sucks

Brilliant and touching

A lot of fun.

Mario Monicelli's The Organizer (1963) is an excellent dramatic production.It is a very engaging, and compelling period piece set in the late 19th Century textile worker's strike in Turin, Italy. The storyline is very believable, if not totally historically accurate.The acting by the whole cast was somewhat inspired, very sincere, and believable. Marcello Mastroianni gives an exceptionally strong performance in a role that is quite different than the several others I seen him portray, that of a somewhat mild mannered, reflective, teacher cum labor organizer, who doesn't seem to be quite sure of himself on some level. This is certainly a departure from the glib, debonair, self assured, upper crust character that I've become accustomed to in the other films that I've seen him in. Yet,for me, his role in this film confirmed for me the breadth of his acting ability, and furthers my belief that he is one of the great actors of all time. Mastroianni is the dramatic lynchpin in this film, and carries the storyline to its conclusion.The cinematography in this film is really great, giving the viewer a variety of interesting "looks", as a result of diverse camera positions, and camera angles.The period sets and period costumes are very good. The huge indoor factory setting is amazing, and made me wonder where they got all that antique machinery.The dramatic tone of the film was just right, in my opinion, somewhat walking the tightrope between the various emotional tensions inherent in the storyline at various points.This film is just an example of good cinematic storytelling, allowing the viewer to see the emerging storyline from a diversity of character perspectives. The storyline has a few interesting twists, and the rather downbeat ending was rather unexpected, but left me pleasantly speculating about where the story went from there.

Earnest, as 1 commentator said? Yes. Depressing, as the same commentator said? No, no, no. It's realistic, showing what was and too often is, not upbeat with false hopes for the future, except that the perseverance of the title character is upbeat. The Organizer is one of the best, perhaps the best, movie about union organizing that I can recall. As is often the case, Mastroianni's acting is different from any other role he has played. The same is true of Salvatori and Girardot. The movie itself is far superior to director Monicelli's Big Deal on Madonna Street, which doesn't really hold up today. I saw The Organizer when it first came out in the US and later on VHS. A DVD is long overdue.

I saw this in theatrical release 40 years ago, and have been longing to see it again. It has long been on my top 10, no, my top "1" list. In my opinion it is Mastroianni's best film, and the most memorable labor film I can recall seeing. MAK-4's comment that this is the movie "Matewan", "Molly Maguires" and "Germinal" tried to be, really nailed it. However, although my 40-year-old impressions are indelible, they are no longer detailed. What a tragedy that "Divorce Italian Style" is available on DVD, and "The Organizer" is not available at all.

I Compagni is memorable. When we consider why films move us, affect our lives, indeed, create us to some extent, we think of films such as this. This is not just an artistic triumph for all its filmmakers, but also a moving document of humanity. We take measure of Mastroianni not by his range of performance but by his deep involvement. Like France's Charles Aznavour has his heart in his song, Marcello Mastroianni is fully engaged in his performance. As Professor Sinigaglia in I Compagni, Mastroianni is at his best form. The source of his intensity is not his surface emotion, but the depths of his soul.