The Overcoat

The Overcoat

Year: 1952

Runtime: 103 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Alberto Lattuada

ComedyFantasyDrama

Based on the Nikolai Gogol story but set in 1950s Italy, “The Overcoat” is the story of a poor city hall clerk whose only desire is to buy a new overcoat.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Overcoat yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Overcoat (1952)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Overcoat (1952). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

Set in the 1930s in Northern Italy, the story unfolds against a backdrop of economic hardship and bureaucratic politics. The town hall, local government, and a corrupt mayor reflect a regime-era atmosphere where appearances trump empathy. The cold season amplifies deprivation and the longing for recognition.

Location

Pavia

The Northern Italian town of Pavia provides the confined stage for a tale of social struggle in the 1930s. A provincial city with a grand town hall and petty officials, its social hierarchy is laid bare. The film’s wintry streets, cafes, and public ceremonies reveal how power and indifference shape the lives of ordinary people.

🏛️ Italian town ❄️ Winter setting 🏙️ Historic city

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:41

Main Characters – The Overcoat (1952)

Meet the key characters of The Overcoat (1952), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Carmine De Carmine (Renato Rascel)

A modest town clerk whose dignity is crushed by neglect and class prejudice. His life changes after purchasing a luxurious coat, briefly elevating his status, only to be violently humbled when the garment is stolen. His arc moves from quiet resilience to a tragic, ghostly indictment of a community that spurns humanity.

💼 Clerk 🧊 Humiliation 🕯️ Isolation

The Mayor (Giulio Stival)

An ambitious, corrupt politician who presides over the town with contempt for the common people. His world revolves around appearances, private deals, and public ceremonies. The meeting with Carmine’s apparition forces a painful confrontation with guilt and accountability.

🏛️ Corrupt Leader 💰 Power 🪪 Hypocrisy

Secretary General (Ettore Mattia)

A bureaucratic figure who embodies cold administration and self-interest. He upholds the status quo by prioritizing productivity and prestige over human consequences, contributing to the town’s moral decay.

🏛️ Bureaucrat 🧭 Authority 🗝️ Coldness

Caterina (Yvonne Sanson)

The mayor’s mistress, a symbol of glamour and moral ambiguity. Her presence underscores the town’s complicity and the personal costs of political corruption.

💃 Mistress ❤️ Forbidden love 🪞 Hypocrisy

Landlady (Anna Carena)

A perceptive observer of social dynamics who embodies the intimate, everyday reality of a town under strain. Her interactions hint at how ordinary people navigate power and poverty.

🏠 Landlady 💬 Gossip 🧭 Social observer

Vittoria, The Mayor's Daughter (Antonella Lualdi)

A young woman tied to the center of power, her life intersects with Carmine’s misfortunes and the municipal moral tensions. She represents how familial and political ties shape the town.

👩‍🎓 Socialite 🏛️ Political lineage 💔 Complicity

The Tailor (Giulio Calì)

A skilled craftsman who creates the transformative coat, fueling Carmine’s brief ascent. He takes pride in his work and profits, unaware of the deeper moral costs his act triggers for the wearer and the town.

🧵 Tailor 💼 Enabler 🪢 Pride

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:41

Major Themes – The Overcoat (1952)

Explore the central themes of The Overcoat (1952), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧥 Social Injustice

A shabby coat becomes a symbol of dignity denied by a society that rewards wealth and status. Carmine’s humiliation at work and in public mirrors a broader class divide that renders the poor invisible until a costly transformation exposes the price of social climbing.

🏛️ Corruption & Indifference

The mayor and bureaucrats treat people as obstacles or tools, not as humans. Public ceremonies are performative while private corruption thrives, showing how power sustains itself through callous disregard for the vulnerable.

💔 Consequences of Pride

Personal ambition and vanity push Carmine toward a dangerous ascent that ends in vulnerability and tragedy. The narrative tracks how a desire to belong reveals the fragility of identity in a judgmental society.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:41

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of The Overcoat

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Overcoat in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Overcoat is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Overcoat Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Overcoat, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Overcoat Summary

The Overcoat Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Overcoat with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Overcoat Timeline

More About The Overcoat

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Overcoat: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Overcoat

Similar Movies to The Overcoat

Discover movies like The Overcoat that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.