The story follows Guido Quiller (Celentano), a billionaire engineer who has grown incredibly wealthy by inventing a type of indestructible, burglar-proof glass. This invention has made him the enemy of the criminal underworld—specifically the family of Tilli (Eleonora Giorgi), a talented pickpocket.
In the landscape of 1970s European cinema, few figures loomed as large in popular culture as Adriano Celentano. Known for his distinctive physicality and comedic timing, Celentano’s 1979 film Der Millionenfinger (originally Mani di velluto ) serves as a clever subversion of the "wealthy elite" trope. By blending elements of a caper film with a romantic comedy, the movie explores the friction between social classes through a protagonist who must hide his immense fortune to win the heart of a woman who despises the rich. Der Millionenfinger (1979).mp4
After a series of accidents leaves Quiller temporarily unable to speak or identify himself, he is found and taken in by Tilli’s family. Believing him to be a fellow petty thief, they embrace him. Quiller, instantly smitten with Tilli, chooses to maintain the charade. To impress her and fit into her world, he begins "staging" robberies—often using his own money to pay off the victims or stealing back his own property—resulting in a "twisted Cinderella" plot where the prince must pretend to be a pauper to find true love. The story follows Guido Quiller (Celentano), a billionaire
Der Millionenfinger remains a notable entry in the late 70s Italian comedy genre. While it features the typical exaggerated scenarios of the era, it manages to offer a charming reflection on whether money can truly buy happiness—or if, in Quiller’s case, it actually stands in the way of it. By the time the truth is revealed in the film's climax, the audience is left with a lighthearted but clear message: identity is defined more by our actions and associations than by the numbers in a bank account. Mani di velluto (1979) - IMDb Known for his distinctive physicality and comedic timing,
The film titled (1979) is the German release of the Italian romantic crime comedy originally titled Mani di velluto (English title: Velvet Hands ).
The film's success relied heavily on Celentano’s "molleggiato" (springy) style of physical comedy. His performance balances the arrogance of a tycoon with the bumbling earnestness of a man out of his depth. The chemistry between Celentano and Eleonora Giorgi provides the necessary heart to ground the more slapstick elements of the script.
Directed by Franco Castellano and Giuseppe Moccia, the film stars the iconic Italian actor and singer alongside Eleonora Giorgi . Below is an essay exploring the film's themes, plot, and its place in the "commedia all'italiana" tradition of the late 1970s.