“A young provincial woman (Bovo) and her husband (Trieste) arrive in Rome for their honeymoon. While her husband busies himself with arrangements to meet relatives and be presented to the Pope, she sets out to meet her idol - the White Sheik (Sordi), hero of a photographed magazine strip (the popular fumetti). She discovers her idol has feet of clay in an encounter with him on a boat that is interrupted by the arrival of his domineering wife. She throws herself into the Tiber only to discover it is but a few inches deep. Her husband finds her in the hospital and together they set out to meet his relatives.
“The first film Fellini directed alone, this is a delightful, shrewd and sardonic satire on popular ‘heart-throb' heroes. Though it is firmly rooted in orthodox neorealism, many of Fellini's characteristic motifs and subtle tones are present, even though in embryonic form. Alberto Sordi's performance as the romantic hero who turns out to have earthy tastes made him famous. Giulietta Masina appears in a supporting role as the prostitute, Cabiria.”