Directing
Mario Zampi
Born — Died
1903-11-01 — 1963-12-02
Place of birth
Sora, Italy
Known for
Directing
Credits
28 titles
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mario Zampi (1 November 1903, Sora, Italy - 2 December 1963, London, England) was a film producer and director. A co-founder of Two Cities Films, he is most closely associated with British comedies of the 1950s. Zampi started out as an actor in Italy at the age of 17. By 1930, he was working for Warner Bros. as a film editor in London. In 1937, he and fellow compatriate Filippo Del Giudice founded Two Cities Films. While the company was noted for such serious films as In Which We Serve, Henry V, and Hamlet, Zampi is most remembered for comedies. He made his mark with such films as Laughter in Paradise (1951), The Naked Truth (1957), and Too Many Crook…
Known for
6.5When an eccentric practical joker dies, he divides his fortune among four heirs. But before they can collect the cash they must each do something which goes completely against their nature. NB: This is the film which introduced Audrey Hepburn.
Laughter in Paradise
1951
6.8Nigel Dennis publishes a scandal magazine. But for each story he writes, he first approaches the person whose scandalous behavior is described (or rather implied, to avoid any libel suit) and says he will suppress the story in return for money. Several of his victims first decide individually to kill him instead of paying, but fail in amusing ways. Then they find that to protect their various secrets they must now join forces for a rather different purpose...
The Naked Truth
1957
NRDuring World War I, a British farmer is abducted by the Germans to take the place of a spy about to be executed whom he closely resembles.
Spy for a Day
1940
7.0It's back! A fourth compelling collection of SHORT SHARP SHOCKS revisits the heyday of the supporting program with a compendium of eerie and eccentric British short films presented for the first time in High Definition. Well-known names to spot include Patrick Macnee, John Le Mesurier, Gabrielle Drake and Elspeth Gray. Settle in for a strange cinematic journey through uncanny stories, twists in the tale, low-budget weirdness and oodles of atmosphere.
Short Sharp Shocks Volume 4
2025
5.5The whole village mourns when General O'Leary, owner of a hunting estate in South Ireland, is killed in an accident. His nephew, Jasper O'Leary, takes over the state and soon has aroused the displeasure of all, with the exception of Serena McGluskey, as much a schemer as he is a cad. Led by Thady O'Heggarty, the villagers plot to drive Jasper away. They use the occasion of "O'Leary Night", when the ghost of the first O'Leary walks the halls, to create general chaos.
Happy Ever After
1954
8.0A British Sanitary Engineer, goes on holiday with a set of plans for a new secret weapon which he has mistaken for his new plumbing invention. Everyone is hunting for him, including the Russians. The Russians find him and offer him a job in the Kremlin doing research (on plumbing he believes). He accepts, arrives in Russia and falls in love with Tania, a secret agent. And then discovers the true nature of the plans he is carrying...
Top Secret
1952
Behind the camera
6.5When an eccentric practical joker dies, he divides his fortune among four heirs. But before they can collect the cash they must each do something which goes completely against their nature. NB: This is the film which introduced Audrey Hepburn.
Laughter in Paradise
1951
6.5When an eccentric practical joker dies, he divides his fortune among four heirs. But before they can collect the cash they must each do something which goes completely against their nature. NB: This is the film which introduced Audrey Hepburn.
Laughter in Paradise
1951
6.8Nigel Dennis publishes a scandal magazine. But for each story he writes, he first approaches the person whose scandalous behavior is described (or rather implied, to avoid any libel suit) and says he will suppress the story in return for money. Several of his victims first decide individually to kill him instead of paying, but fail in amusing ways. Then they find that to protect their various secrets they must now join forces for a rather different purpose...
The Naked Truth
1957
6.8Nigel Dennis publishes a scandal magazine. But for each story he writes, he first approaches the person whose scandalous behavior is described (or rather implied, to avoid any libel suit) and says he will suppress the story in return for money. Several of his victims first decide individually to kill him instead of paying, but fail in amusing ways. Then they find that to protect their various secrets they must now join forces for a rather different purpose...
The Naked Truth
1957
NRDuring World War I, a British farmer is abducted by the Germans to take the place of a spy about to be executed whom he closely resembles.
Spy for a Day
1940
NRDuring World War I, a British farmer is abducted by the Germans to take the place of a spy about to be executed whom he closely resembles.
Spy for a Day
1940
7.0It's back! A fourth compelling collection of SHORT SHARP SHOCKS revisits the heyday of the supporting program with a compendium of eerie and eccentric British short films presented for the first time in High Definition. Well-known names to spot include Patrick Macnee, John Le Mesurier, Gabrielle Drake and Elspeth Gray. Settle in for a strange cinematic journey through uncanny stories, twists in the tale, low-budget weirdness and oodles of atmosphere.
Short Sharp Shocks Volume 4
2025
5.5The whole village mourns when General O'Leary, owner of a hunting estate in South Ireland, is killed in an accident. His nephew, Jasper O'Leary, takes over the state and soon has aroused the displeasure of all, with the exception of Serena McGluskey, as much a schemer as he is a cad. Led by Thady O'Heggarty, the villagers plot to drive Jasper away. They use the occasion of "O'Leary Night", when the ghost of the first O'Leary walks the halls, to create general chaos.
Happy Ever After
1954
5.5The whole village mourns when General O'Leary, owner of a hunting estate in South Ireland, is killed in an accident. His nephew, Jasper O'Leary, takes over the state and soon has aroused the displeasure of all, with the exception of Serena McGluskey, as much a schemer as he is a cad. Led by Thady O'Heggarty, the villagers plot to drive Jasper away. They use the occasion of "O'Leary Night", when the ghost of the first O'Leary walks the halls, to create general chaos.
Happy Ever After
1954
8.0A British Sanitary Engineer, goes on holiday with a set of plans for a new secret weapon which he has mistaken for his new plumbing invention. Everyone is hunting for him, including the Russians. The Russians find him and offer him a job in the Kremlin doing research (on plumbing he believes). He accepts, arrives in Russia and falls in love with Tania, a secret agent. And then discovers the true nature of the plans he is carrying...
Top Secret
1952
8.0A British Sanitary Engineer, goes on holiday with a set of plans for a new secret weapon which he has mistaken for his new plumbing invention. Everyone is hunting for him, including the Russians. The Russians find him and offer him a job in the Kremlin doing research (on plumbing he believes). He accepts, arrives in Russia and falls in love with Tania, a secret agent. And then discovers the true nature of the plans he is carrying...
Top Secret
1952
7.5A gambler falls in love with a naive young girl. He thinks she is bringing him good luck. Then his main gambling rival arrives and he desires the girl as well.
Third Time Lucky
1949
7.0A young American accepts a bet to spend a night in a haunted house in Mayfair.
The Fatal Night
1948
7.0A young American accepts a bet to spend a night in a haunted house in Mayfair.
The Fatal Night
1948
7.8A satire of the Cold War, Italian style. Soviet flunkey Boris Popovitc is sent on a goodwill mission to Rome, where he is to deliver a symbolic dove of peace to a group of WW II freedom fighters. Somehow, Boris winds up in Venice minus the dove. As he searches up street and down canal for the missing bird, he meets and falls in love with luscious flower-girl Maria.
Ho scelto l'amore
1953
7.8A satire of the Cold War, Italian style. Soviet flunkey Boris Popovitc is sent on a goodwill mission to Rome, where he is to deliver a symbolic dove of peace to a group of WW II freedom fighters. Somehow, Boris winds up in Venice minus the dove. As he searches up street and down canal for the missing bird, he meets and falls in love with luscious flower-girl Maria.
Ho scelto l'amore
1953
7.4Accident-prone Fingers runs a pretty unsuccessful gang. They try and rob wealthy but tricky Billy Gordon - who distrusts banks and fears the Inland Revenue - but he sees Fingers and the boys off. So they decide to kidnap his daughter, only to end up with his wife Lucy. Gordon makes out he couldn't be more pleased, spuring Lucy to take charge of the hopeless bunch of villains.
Too Many Crooks
1959
7.0It is based on the popular West End stage comedy by Terrence Rattigan. It all begins when Diana (Ellen Drew), the sister of a British boy studying in France, arrives in town to flirt with all of her brothers' schoolmates. Alan (Ray Milland), one of the students, successfully resists Diana's charms-meaning of course that Alan and Diana will be in each other's arms by fadeout time. (AllMovie)
French Without Tears
1940
7.3A petty crook gallantly consoles wealthy widows and is doing all right in his chosen profession until he meets and falls in love with a lovely baroness, who knows all about get-rich-quick schemes.
Five Golden Hours
1961
7.3A petty crook gallantly consoles wealthy widows and is doing all right in his chosen profession until he meets and falls in love with a lovely baroness, who knows all about get-rich-quick schemes.
Five Golden Hours
1961
7.0A man catches sight of a woman believed by everyone to be dead.
Shadow of the Past
1950
7.0A man catches sight of a woman believed by everyone to be dead.
Shadow of the Past
1950
7.0A rich young society girl falls in love with a car mechanic. Her family is appalled and stops her seeing him. The girl attempts to commit suicide and then decides to elope.
Now and Forever
1956
7.0A rich young society girl falls in love with a car mechanic. Her family is appalled and stops her seeing him. The girl attempts to commit suicide and then decides to elope.
Now and Forever
1956
6.7An incompetent boarding school headmaster, Professor Jim Edwards, devises a bizarre plot to raise the profile of his boarding school, and thus save his job, by passing off his bookie's son as a Middle Eastern prince. The headmaster's madcap scheme is further complicated when an official from the Foreign Office arrives and announces that a real prince is to be placed under Edwards supervision, not due to the schools lofty reputation, but that a gang of kidnappers are unlikely to look for the regal child there.
Bottoms Up!
1960
6.7An incompetent boarding school headmaster, Professor Jim Edwards, devises a bizarre plot to raise the profile of his boarding school, and thus save his job, by passing off his bookie's son as a Middle Eastern prince. The headmaster's madcap scheme is further complicated when an official from the Foreign Office arrives and announces that a real prince is to be placed under Edwards supervision, not due to the schools lofty reputation, but that a gang of kidnappers are unlikely to look for the regal child there.
Bottoms Up!
1960
7.0A hated country gentleman is murdered, and the inspector on the case takes the veiwer through his thoughts about the possible murderer and motives as he questions everyone concerned.
The Phantom Shot
1947
7.0A hated country gentleman is murdered, and the inspector on the case takes the veiwer through his thoughts about the possible murderer and motives as he questions everyone concerned.
The Phantom Shot
1947
