Bomber & Paganini (1976)

This is the tragicomic story of two equally dim-witted and incorrigible small-time crooks who are always chasing the big score and regularly fail spectacularly. One, Bomber, is strong, devout, and kind-hearted. The other, Paganini, is sensitive but cunning, and often a malicious, mean-spirited sort. The two have made ends meet with petty scams so far, and dream of a big career in the Mafia. Together, they decide to crack a safe, though each plans to swindle the other in the process. They are so clumsy that the explosion they cause in an attempt to open the safe leaves them crippled. Bomber can no longer see and has to rely on Paganini’s help; Paganini, in turn, can no longer walk and needs a wheelchair. Despite their intense mutual dislike, Bomber and Paganini are now utterly dependent on each other. For a while, they stick to small-time scams that bring in little money. They have not lost their bad characters either—in fact, they lie to and cheat each other whenever they can, and neither would give the other the time of day. Yet despite all these setbacks, hope remains: from then on, the crook duo waits for a miracle to cure their disabilities. What seems to be their salvation arrives in the shape of another big score: the two plan to rob a cash-in-transit van. And, as if by divine intervention, the criminal plan turns into a disaster that also heals them both. During the robbery, Paganini, still in his wheelchair, goes hurtling down a slope along with the cash-in-transit van. Another explosion follows, as a result of which Paganini can walk again and Bomber can see again. But they wouldn’t be Bomber and Paganini if they didn’t immediately start fighting again. In a fierce brawl, both are crippled once more—to the sounds of the song “As You Do to Me, So I Do to You,” once performed by nightclub singer Mina.