"The Young Montalbano" MUCH better than the older one.....

**edashtav** · 15-09-13, 12:05

An interesting review, Cali, that adds context to this new series which I agree is far superior to "old" Montalbano.

**johncorrigan** · 15-09-13, 13:27

Originally posted by Caliban View Post

I never got on with the original 'Inspector Montalbano' series - unappealing characters, odd semi-comedy style, grainy film, some daft acting... Never made it more than 5 or 10 minutes in, in fact.

But I've been enjoying the 'Young Morse'-style prequel far more - "The Young Montalbano" now 2 episodes in to a 6 episode run on BBC4 in the 9pm Saturday slot http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03b8pz3

Still one or two of the bit parts are rather ridiculous 'European comedy' roles, mainly the stronzo who mans the switchboard in the Commissariat

But apart from that, I'm enjoying the thoughtful, watchful main actor, the other regulars, the wonderful soft southern Italian accent (reminiscent of my south Italian friends - more lilting, less staccato, and the 'ci' sound being a 'sh' rather than a 'tch'.... so 'amici' is 'ameeshi' rather than the north Italian 'amitchi'), Montalbano's fondness for food.... and also the beautifully filmed Sicilian ("Sisheeliano") landscapes and seascapes.

In particular, I fantasise (as we are meant to) about having access to a house like the one Montalbano has managed to move into, with two balconies actually over the beach... (the actual location for the beach house being a little seaside town called Punta Secca - see the second photo down on this page:

http://www.travelsignposts.com/Italy...tor-montalbano )

Good viewing now autumn has us in its damp grip...

Tend to agree, Cal, though me and Mrs C enjoyed the original series. Mind you, the original was more of an ad for the Sicilian tourist industry. 'Let's not meet in the office, get her to meet me at the top of a hill with a grand Church and a glorious view behind us and then we'll go to a beautiful restaurant and enjoy some gorgeous grub.' I think it is very funny and that's enjoyable for me. Sometimes I struggle to keep up with the subtitles as they keep you up with the goings-on. But I'm certainly in agreement with you on the beach house - delightful. Me and Mrs C could enjoy that.

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 15-09-13, 14:32

I'm very fond of "old" Montalbano, too, but the quality of the first episode last week was much finer than anything in the (?) "postprequel" (? "quel" ?). Last night had more of the slapstick that can be irritating in the original series, but still very good.

**johncorrigan** · 22-09-13, 08:13

Really enjoyed last night's episode...for me the best so far...felt it had moved up a gear...really liked the new Jack Lemmon looking character who arrived...great addition, I thought.

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 22-09-13, 09:26

Originally posted by johncorrigan View Post

...really liked the new Jack Lemmon looking character who arrived...great addition, I thought.

Livia???!!!!

**johncorrigan** · 22-09-13, 09:46

Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post

Livia???!!!!

Of course ferney! Who else would I be talking about?

**eighthobstruction** · 22-09-13, 10:34

Yes she's very....continental....

**ferneyhoughgeliebte** · 22-09-13, 12:30

Originally posted by eighthobstruction View Post

Yes she's very....continental....

Wot? She needs Tena Lady already???!!

**Dave2002** · 22-09-13, 12:34

Originally posted by Caliban View Post

Still one or two of the bit parts are rather ridiculous 'European comedy' roles, mainly the stronzo who mans the switchboard in the Commissariat

A friend of mine has read the books (presumably in English) and tells me that Catarella is supposed to be like that - it is a joke (I hope!). I fear that "stronzo" might not be quite the appropriate word for this character, as he is generally supposed to be a harmless buffoon. Some of the other (bad or unpleasant, dodgy) characters are from time to time referred to much more appropriately, IMO, by the use of this word.

I still want to know what young M and the coroner said to each other in the previous episode - suitably rude words I think.

Many so-called detective or crime series are in fact comedy shows - and New Tricks takes this to a higher level. Its Wikipedia entry makes this very clear. Vera is another one - as one of my relatives suggested recently that she'd never have made it to the police force in the first place - though someone will now tell me I'm wrong. I spent years worrying about films, plays etc. because of their apparent semblance with reality, and now, rather late in life, I realise that sometimes one is not meant to take these things seriously.

**Nick Armstrong** · 22-09-13, 12:37

Originally posted by eighthobstruction View Post

Yes she's very....continental....

Funnily enough, she's not - she's a Londoner! Sarah Felberbaum, the actress is called

- has obviously worked a lot in Italy as her Italian is perfect (unlike the German who played the 'mature' rôle, who had to be 'voiced' by an Italian actress, apparently - not that I would know, I never watched it).

Originally posted by johncorrigan View Post

Really enjoyed last night's episode...for me the best so far...felt it had moved up a gear...really liked the new Jack Lemmon looking character who arrived...great addition, I thought.

I also loved the latest one, last night. Are you talking about the new moustachio'd deputy ("Mi chiamo Mimí"

)? Hadn't struck me he looked like Lemmon....

Had misgivings to start with that he was one of the rather 'high' comic rôles, with all his ogling waitresses... but it was ok...

Moment of the episode: Salvo's death stare at his new deputy when the latter committed the carnal sin of asking for parmesan on his clam spaghetti....

**eighthobstruction** · 22-09-13, 12:44

Believe me Cali, ....she's very continental....

**Nick Armstrong** · 22-09-13, 13:20

Originally posted by eighthobstruction View Post

Believe me Cali, ....she's very continental....

**slarty** · 22-09-13, 13:47

Well Cali, the older Livia on the main series has a claim to fame other than just being an actress, she is Karl Böhm's granddaughter, and daughter of Karl-Heinz Böhm of "Peeping Tom" fame. as for the language, well it is quite earthy, the translations are sometimes quite liberal with their meanings, but if some of the phrases were literally translated there would no doubt be lots of complaints.
there are certain words that the Italians just don' t say, although they are part of the language, that one hears in English all the time EG "basta*#d is Never said, they use the Word "cornuto" which although is pretty rustic Language, means cuckold with a ripe preceding adjective, and the normal word heard these days describing excrement is never really heard spoken by Italians or Sicilians. Stronzo is also very rustical ,meaning "Richardhead", and the word for Fu** that is used regularly is phonetically heard as minkia. I won't spell it correctly.
None of these words would normally be heard in mixed company amongst normally educated people.
as for the two Montalbanos - the elder is revered in Italy and became so popular that RAI tv moved it from the second to the first channel around 2005. Zingaretti, like John Thaw, kept saying enough, and they have filled the void with the YM.
I saw all six last Christmas when they were first released, and they get better and better. A second series is going into production soon.
A new series of the older Montalbano is ready for transmission. BBC4 will be showing them(4) this winter.
I am not getting into the debate of which is better. I like them both very much.

**jean** · 22-09-13, 13:58

Stronzo which is used a lot (even in my presence!) is literally turd, isn't it? Not a word we use much as an insult. It's not quite the same as calling someone a shit.

Did no-one else like the music of the older Montalbano series?

"The Young Montalbano" MUCH better than the older one.....

"The Young Montalbano" MUCH better than the older one.....

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