Ciccio Ingrassia

Francesco "Ciccio" Ingrassia (5 October 1922 – 28 April 2003) was an Italian actor, comedian and film director.
He was born in Palermo, Sicily and began his career in the 1950s, although his career only really took off in the 1960s. He starred in many comedies, mainly as a duo with comedian Franco Franchi. During the 1980s he also did television work.
On the 1966 film Due Marines e un Generale he worked with Buster Keaton and Franco Franchi.

Ingrassia and Franchi in Due mafiosi nel Far West (1964)

In 1959, Franco Franchi finally settled a contract with his friend Ciccio Ingrassia to start a brilliant career in the theater. From 1961 until the end in 1992, the two friends will be the most famous comedy duo in Italy. In fact, the secret of their success is the creation of two Sicilian buffoons characters, charlatans and extremely messy, very similar to those of Totò and Peppino De Filippo, or Laurel and Hardy. Franco Franchi becomes the funny "Franco", a young man completely out of his mind which expresses itself only with the facial expressions and the movements of the rest of the body. Turns into Ciccio Ingrassia, the skeletal and mustachioed bully which believe him best of friend, but in reality he is much more stupid than him when the two characters have to resolve a difficult situation. Another feature of the commercial success and popular of the two characters is the use of the body as a means of communication and simple lines, sharp and not at all vulgar.

With these tricks up its sleeve, as both actors will be challenged in youth theater, Franco and Ciccio thanks to their friend Domenico Modugno began to pursue a film career as extras. Then they are noticed by directors of small comedy and so their film career begins.

In all years, the two actors churn out at least ten films, working at a pace unimaginable today. In fact, because these days very fast film products are among the best. And unfortunately the criticism then he cut down every film of Franco and Ciccio coming out to the movies, calling it useless and meaningless pecoreccio comedian. However, the popular success of films of Franco and Ciccio was huge and always has been until now in Italy and also in foreign countries.

The specialty of the many films of Franco and Ciccio is improvisation during the scenes, as did Toto and De Filippo, but also the use of parody. In fact there are many foreign films chosen by the two above you to pluck a fun comedy, as the saga of James Bond and that of the great adventure films.

• Appuntamento a Ischia, directed by Mario Mattoli (26-9-1960)
• L'onorata società, directed by Riccardo Pazzaglia (30-3-1961)
• 5 marines per 100 ragazze, directed by Mario Mattoli (10-8-1961)
• Maciste contro Ercole nella valle dei guai, directed by Mario Mattoli (19-10-1961)
• Il giudizio universale, directed by Vittorio De Sica (26-10-1961)
• Pugni pupe e marinai, directed by Daniele D'Anza (17-11-1961)
• Gerarchi si muore, directed by Giorgio Simonelli (22-12-1961)
• Il mio amico Benito, directed by Giorgio Bianchi (3-3-1962)
• I tre nemici, directed by Giorgio Simonelli (23-6-1962)
• I due della legione, directed by Lucio Fulci (16-8-1962)
• 2 samurai per 100 geishe, directed by Giorgio Simonelli (7-9-1962)
• Le massaggiatrici, directed by Lucio Fulci (20-9-1962)
• I motorizzati, directed by Camillo Mastrocinque (29-11-1962)
• Vino, whisky e acqua salata, directed by Mario Amendola (7-12-1962)
• Avventura al motel, directed by Renato Polselli (9-2-1963)
• Il giorno più corto, directed by Sergio Corbucci (14-2-1963)
• La donna degli altri è sempre più bella, directed by Marino Girolami (21-2-1963)
• Obiettivo ragazze, directed by Mario Mattoli (5-8-1963)
• Tutto è musica, directed by Domenico Modugno (18-8-1963)
• Gli imbroglioni, directed by Lucio Fulci (25-9-1963)
• I due mafiosi, directed by Giorgio Simonelli (15-1-1964)
• Due mattacchioni al Moulin Rouge, directed by Giuseppe Vari (17-1-1964)
• Le tardone, directed by Marino Girolami (29-1-1964)
• I maniaci, directed by Lucio Fulci (28-3-1964)
• Queste pazze pazze donne, directed by Marino Girolami (22-5-1964)
• Canzoni, bulli e pupe, directed by Carlo Infascelli (29-5-1964)
• I marziani hanno dodici mani, directed by Franco Castellano & Pipolo (21-6-1964)
• Due mafiosi nel Far West, directed by Giorgio Simonelli (30-6-1964)
• L'amore primitivo, directed by Luigi Scattini (17-7-1964)
• Le sette vipere, directed by Renato Polselli (11-8-1964)
• Cadavere per signora, directed by Mario Mattoli (19-8-1964)
• I due evasi di Sing Sing, directed by Lucio Fulci (22-8-1964)
• Amore facile, directed by Gianni Puccini (3-10-1964)
• 002 Agenti Segretissimi, directed by Lucio Fulci (10-10-1964)
• Sedotti e bidonati, directed by Giorgio Bianchi (14-10-1964)
• I due toreri, directed by Giorgio Simonelli (3-12-1964)
• Un mostro e mezzo, directed by Steno (18-12-1964)
• Veneri al sole, directed by Marino Girolami (24-12-1964)
• I due pericoli pubblici, directed by Lucio Fulci (31-12-1964)
• Soldati e caporali, directed by Mario Amendola (31-12-1964)
• Io uccido, tu uccidi, directed by Gianni Puccini (25-3-1965)
• Letti sbagliati, directed by Steno (6-4-1965)
• Per un pugno nell'occhio, directed by Michele Lupo (14-4-1965)
• I figli del leopardo, directed by Sergio Corbucci (21-4-1965)
• Scandali nudi, directed by Enzo Di Gianni (11-6-1965)
• Veneri in collegio, directed by Marino Girolami (26-6-1965)
• Gli amanti latini, directed by Mario Costa (11-8-1965)
• I due sergenti del generale Custer, directed by Giorgio Simonelli (13-8-1965)
• Come inguaiammo l'esercito, directed by Lucio Fulci (21-8-1965)
• Due mafiosi contro Goldginger, directed by Giorgio Simonelli (15-10-1965)
• 00-2 Operazione Luna, directed by Lucio Fulci (25-11-1965)
• Due marines e un generale, directed by Luigi Scattini (26-11-1965)
• I due parà, directed by Lucio Fulci (24-12-1965)
• Due mafiosi contro Al Capone, directed by Giorgio Simonelli (4-3-1966)
• Come svaligiammo la Banca d'Italia, directed by Lucio Fulci (18-3-1966)
• Le spie vengono dal semifreddo, directed by Mario Bava (29-7-1966)[2]
• I due sanculotti, directed by Giorgio Simonelli (13-8-1966)
• Gli altri, gli altri e noi, directed by Maurizio Arena (31-10-1966)
• I due figli di Ringo, directed by Giorgio Simonelli e Giuliano Carnimeo (7-12-1966)
• Come rubammo la bomba atomica, directed by Lucio Fulci (3-2-1967)
• Il lungo, il corto, il gatto, directed by Lucio Fulci (3-5-1967)
• I Zanzaroni, directed by Ugo La Rosa (17-5-1967)
• Il bello, il brutto, il cretino, directed by Giovanni Grimaldi (13-8-1967)
• Due Rrringos nel Texas, directed by Marino Girolami (25-8-1967)
• Stasera mi butto, directed by Ettore Maria Fizzarotti (27-10-1967)
• I due vigili, directed by Giuseppe Orlandini (13-12-1967)
• I barbieri di Sicilia, directed by Marcello Ciorciolini (21-12-1967)
• Nel sole, directed by Aldo Grimaldi (22-12-1967)
• Brutti di notte, directed by Giovanni Grimaldi (14-3-1968)
• L'oro del mondo, directed by Aldo Grimaldi (27-3-1968)
• Capriccio all'italiana, directed by Mauro Bolognini, Mario Monicelli, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Steno, Franco Rossi (13-4-1968)
• Franco, Ciccio e le vedove allegre, directed by Marino Girolami (13-4-1968)
• I due crociati, directed by Giuseppe Orlandini (7-8-1968)
• Don Chisciotte e Sancio Panza, directed by Giovanni Grimaldi (24-8-1968)
• Ciccio perdona... Io no!, directed by Marcello Ciorciolini (26-9-1968)
• I due pompieri, directed by Bruno Corbucci (29-10-1968)
• I nipoti di Zorro, directed by Marcello Ciorciolini (12-12-1968)
• I due magnifici fresconi (un imbroglio tutto curve), directed by Marino Girolami (23-12-1968)
• I due deputati, directed by Giovanni Grimaldi (1-1-1969)
• Indovina chi viene a merenda?, directed by Marcello Ciorciolini (2-4-1969)
• Franco, Ciccio e il pirata Barbanera, directed by Mario Amendola (16-9-1969)
• Franco e Ciccio... ladro e guardia, directed by Marcello Ciorciolini (20-11-1969)
• Lisa dagli occhi blu, directed by Bruno Corbucci (23-12-1969)
• Satiricosissimo, directed by Mariano Laurenti (21-1-1970)
• Nel giorno del Signore, directed by Bruno Corbucci (18-3-1970)
• Franco e Ciccio sul sentiero di guerra, directed by Aldo Grimaldi (26-3-1970)
• Don Franco e Don Ciccio nell'anno della contestazione, directed by Marino Girolami (16-4-1970)
• Ma chi t'ha dato la patente?, directed by Nando Cicero (28-8-1970)
• I due Maggiolini più matti del mondo, directed by Giuseppe Orlandini (29-8-1970)
• Principe coronato cercasi per ricca ereditiera, directed by Giovanni Grimaldi (29-8-1970)
• W le donne, directed by Aldo Grimaldi (4-9-1970)
• Due bianchi nell'Africa nera, directed by Bruno Corbucci (28-10-1970)
• I due maghi del pallone, directed by Mariano Laurenti (2-12-1970)
• Il clan dei due Borsalini, directed by Giuseppe Orlandini (18-2-1971)
• Mazzabubù... Quante corna stanno quaggiù?, directed by Mariano Laurenti (25-2-1971)
• Scusi, ma lei le paga le tasse?, directed by Mino Guerrini (11-3-1971)
• Ma che musica maestro!, directed by Mariano Laurenti (6-4-1971)
• I due della Formula Uno alla corsa più pazza pazza del mondo, directed by Osvaldo Civirani (12-8-1971)
• Venga a fare il soldato da noi, directed by Ettore Maria Fizzarotti (12-8-1971)
• Riuscirà l'avvocato Franco Benenato a sconfiggere il suo acerrimo nemico il pretore Ciccio De Ingras?, directed by Mino Guerrini (19-8-1971)
• Armiamoci e partite!, directed by Nando Cicero (3-9-1971)
• I due pezzi da 90, directed by Osvaldo Civirani (28-10-1971)
• I due assi del guantone, directed by Mariano Laurenti (2-12-1971)
• Continuavano a chiamarli i due piloti più matti del mondo, directed by Mariano Laurenti (8-3-1972)
• Continuavano a chiamarli... er più e er meno, directed by Giuseppe Orlandini (24-3-1972)
• Two Sons of Trinity, directed by Osvaldo Civirani (26-7-1972)
• I due gattoni a nove code... e mezza ad Amsterdam, directed by Osvaldo Civirani (31-7-1972)
• Storia di fifa e di coltello - Er seguito d' Er Più, directed by Mario Amendola (14-8-1972)
• Amarcord, directed by Federico Fellini (13-12-1973)
• Paolo il freddo, directed by Ciccio Ingrassia (11-4-1974)
• Farfallon, directed by Riccardo Pazzaglia (12-8-1974)
• The Exorciccio (L'Esorciccio), directed by Ciccio Ingrassia (1975)
• Crema, cioccolata e pa... prika, directed by Michele Massimo Tarantini (15-8-1981)
• Kaos (from the tales by Luigi Pirandello, directed by Paolo & Vittorio Taviani (23-11-1984)