One of the many cool things that you're exposed to once you've moved to Italy is the sheer unabashed genius of Italian national icon Alberto Sordi -- the late Roman actor's films, mostly unknown to American audiences, get constant, heavy airplay on Italian TV.
A personal favorite of Opera Chic is Bravissimo, a very thin but very funny 1955 comedy about a dirt-poor schoolteacher who very reluctantly takes custody of a small child whose father eneded up in jail.
The child, of course, due to a set of abnormally large tonsils (yeah ok) turns out to be an opera prodigy, a five year old who sings with a deep, thundering baritone. The child can of course quickly rise to become an opera star.
Hammy hilarity ensues. (Italian friends of OC have in fact just txt'd her pointing out it's been rerun for the millionth time this afternoon on Italian TV. Those of us -- currently, in OC's case -- away from Italian airwaves can resort to YouTube and join in the fun: no subtitles but they're not really needed for this short clip).