Mondo Cane (1962)

50% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(1,100 ratings)

This shockumentary caused a stir when it was released in 1962 -- no one had seen anything quite like it before. But audiences need not have worried, this low-brow, disconnected series of clips on "savages" and "barbarians" (usually dark-skinned) who pierce their skin or their noses and do not bother… More This shockumentary caused a stir when it was released in 1962 -- no one had seen anything quite like it before. But audiences need not have worried, this low-brow, disconnected series of clips on "savages" and "barbarians" (usually dark-skinned) who pierce their skin or their noses and do not bother to cover their breasts, would only get worse in sequel after sequel, through the 1970s. Purporting to show repulsive or erotic ritual practices and strange cultural customs from around the world, such as the slaughter of pigs in New Guinea or Asians who eat dog meat, or even the Hawaiian hula, this supposed documentary is nothing more than a series of unrelated, jarring film clips with commentary from a limited white male perspective. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Gualtiero Jacopetti, Franco Prosperi
Genres: Documentary, Art House & International, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1963 Wide
On DVD: Jan 6, 2004

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
A quasi-documentary best remembered for the beautiful theme song "More."
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
average cinemagoers will be confused and bored, while shock seekers will come away deeply disappointed
Rumsey Taylor, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
The quintessential mondo film.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

1962 "shockumentary" that's lost a little of it's pop over the years but still stands up as bizarre entertainment. The intent was to attract western audiences with an odd mix of unusual customs, cuisine, and curios. There's a woman suckling a piglet, a tribe… More
1962 "shockumentary" that's lost a little of it's pop over the years but still stands up as bizarre entertainment. The intent was to attract western audiences with an odd mix of unusual customs, cuisine, and curios. There's a woman suckling a piglet, a tribe that worships airplanes, people eating dogs, people eating snakes, sea turtles dying of radiation exposure, fishermen torturing sharks, the list goes on and on. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to make a film like this today (thanks to political correctness and PETA). How ironic that this film about oddities has become an oddity itself.
Sylvester K

Love it or Hate it, I liked the fresh idea but disliked the commercial advertising of the film. It's interesting to learn about the mysticism in Italy
Patrick D

I hope I'm not sick for saying so but this film is really hilarious. I think it's a great comment on western society which is where all comedy of the film comes from. There are some astonishing things that happen in it too and it's a curiosity because of it's odd… More
I hope I'm not sick for saying so but this film is really hilarious. I think it's a great comment on western society which is where all comedy of the film comes from. There are some astonishing things that happen in it too and it's a curiosity because of it's odd documentary 60s feel.

Cast

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!

Discover movies your friends are watching
Keep track of what you want to see
Add your reviews to your Timeline

Get Started

Mondo Cane (1962)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

Sylvester K

Patrick D

Cast

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!