Lo Scopone Scientifico is an Italian film by director Luigi Comencini with a cast of both Italian and American actors. A widowed American Millionairess (Bette Davis) travels to Rome once a year for the sole purpose of playing a game of cards with a poor Italian family. She gives them a sum of money for the stakes and they play. For whatever reason, no matter how hard Peppino (Alberto Sordi) and Antonia (Selvina Mangano) try, they can never beat her. Every time, the Millionairess comes close to losing, but always manages to win back her fortune in the end. This same story continues year after year. Every year, Pepino and Antonia study and practice their card game, only to lose again. Their daughter, Cleopatra (Antonella Demaggi) decides to change all that. She figures out a science to playing the game and the next year, when the Millionairess invariably shows up at their door, Cleopatra challenges her to one last game.moreless
