The Sons of the Leopard

Baron Tulicò, nicknamed the Leopard, deserts his longterm companion and the two sons she had with him, opting to marry a wealthy woman to regain social standing. Refusing to be written out of his life, the jilted woman rallies her sons to press for recognition and rights. Their efforts set off a string of comic episodes, from disguises and pratfalls to awkward confrontations with the baron's new circle, that poke fun at social rank and pretension. The movie keeps the mood light, leaning on physical humor and escalating misunderstandings rather than serious drama, and it moves through set pieces that highlight personality clashes and quick gags.

Directed by Sergio Corbucci and scripted by Bruno Corbucci and Giovanni Grimaldi, the 1965 Italian comedy features the popular comic duo Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia, with Evi Marandi and Raimondo Vianello in supporting roles, fitting into the era's prolific output of broad farces.

Detailed box office records for this mid 1960s Italian release aren't widely documented. The film circulated mainly within Italian and nearby European markets, typical of many local comedies of the period, and it didn't register as a major international commercial event.

As part of Franco and Ciccio's filmography, the picture highlights the pair's knack for double roles, costume humor and slapstick routines that appealed to mass audiences at the time. Its use of disguise and gender play represents a recurring comic device in 1960s popular cinema, and the film retains modest interest among collectors and fans of vintage Italian comedies.

Modern user ratings average around 5.8 out of 10 from a small number of votes, reflecting mixed impressions. Viewers tend to appreciate the energetic physical comedy and the performers' chemistry, while noting a thin plot and predictable setups. The movie leans into themes of social status, legitimacy and performative identity, using farce to unsettle class decorum more than to offer moral judgment.