Johnny Stecchino

Johnny Stecchino
English VHS cover
Directed byRoberto Benigni
Written byRoberto Benigni,
Vincenzo Cerami
Produced byMario Cecchi Gori,
Vittorio Cecchi Gori
StarringRoberto Benigni,
Nicoletta Braschi
CinematographyGiuseppe Lanci
Edited byNino Baragli
Music byEvan Lurie
Distributed byVariety Distribution
Release dates
  • 24 October 1991 (1991-10-24) (Italy)
  • 14 September 1992 (1992-09-14) (Canada)
  • 9 October 1992 (1992-10-09) (U.S.)
Running time
122 minutes (original Italian version)
CountryItaly
LanguageItalian
Box office39 billion liras (Italy)[1]

Johnny Stecchino is a 1991 Italian comedy film directed by and starring Roberto Benigni in dual roles. This film is one of Benigni's many collaborations with co-star and wife, Nicoletta Braschi. It was the highest-grossing film of all-time in Italy with a gross of 39 billion liras.[1]

This film follows the life of Dante, a quirky school bus driver (Benigni) for students with Down syndrome, who bears a striking resemblance to Johnny Stecchino, an Italian mafioso who is wanted by Sicilian mobsters for treason and murder. The film's plot begins to unravel when Dante meets Maria, the wife of Stecchino, who begins her plan into tricking mobsters to kill Dante thinking he is Stecchino. The film takes several unexpected twists when Maria begins to fall for Dante, and it becomes clear that Dante cannot possibly be the cold-blooded killer Johnny Stecchino.

The U.S. version released in theaters and on VHS is about 20 minutes shorter than the full Italian version. It trims several conversations including the final scene with Lillo sniffing cocaine.

  1. ^ a b Groves, Don (1 February 1993). "Ciao, bella! 'Beauty' breaks record". Variety. p. 43.