Born in Verona, in the early-1970s Smaila co-founded together with Jerry Calà, Franco Oppini and Ninì Salerno a cabaret-ensemble, "i gatti di Vicolo Miracoli". The group, reduced to three components since 1982, appeared on several successful TV programs and films and released several songs. After the disbandment of the group Smaila was the television presenter of a number of quiz and variety shows, most notably the late night show Colpo grosso. In nineties he founded the "U.S.Band", an orchestra with whom he was cast in several television programs.
As a composer, Smaila signed the musical scores of several genre films including Beast with a Gun (1977), Il ragazzo del pony express (1986), Sweets from a Stranger (1987), Delitti e profumi (1988) and Chicken Park (1994). The main theme of Beast with a Gun was later included in the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown.
Smaila also wrote and directed a musical comedy film, Italian Boys, released in 1982. He is the founder of the brand Smaila's, a chain of restaurants and nightclubs specialized in live music.
Umberto smaila smaila s band live a punta cana santo domingo
Filmography
Composer
2023
Tic Toc
2022
Too Much Family!
2020
Lockdown all'italiana
2019
Odissea nell'ospizio (original score)
2017
Italian Business
2016
Infernet
2012
Operazione vacanze (co-composer)
2008
Torno a vivere da solo (co-composer)
2002
Ti voglio bene Eugenio
1999
Senza movente
1999
Screw Loose
1997
Gli inaffidabili
1997
Non chiamatemi papà (TV Movie)
1994
Chicken Park
1994
The Heroes
1992
Sognando la California
1990
Colpo grosso (TV Series) (1 episode)
- Episode #4.1 (1990)
1989
Oggi ho vinto anch'io (TV Movie)
1989
La più bella del reame
1988
Delitti e profumi
1987
F.R. David: Don't Go (Music Video)
1987
Urban Animals
1987
Below Zero
1987
I miei primi 40 anni
1987
Soldati - 365 all'alba
1987
Caramelle da uno sconosciuto
1986
Il ragazzo del pony express
1983
Italian Boys
1980
Una vacanza bestiale
1980
Arrivano i gatti
1977
Beast with a Gun
Actor
2024
L'Elisir di Leonardo da Vinci e la Banda del Buffardello (post-production) as
Aldebrando Testori
2023
Tic Toc as
Umberto Smaila
2022
Una panchina per due (il ritorno di Aristoteles) (Short) as
Telefonata Mister Cooper diventato
2022
La Banda del Buffardello e il manoscritto di Leonardo da Vinci as
Aldebrando Testori
2019
Nati 2 volte
2019
Odissea nell'ospizio as
Gilberto Smania
2017
Italian Business as
Leonida Randazzi
2012
Il commissario Rex (TV Series) as
Carbone
- L'intruso (2012) - Carbone
2006
Vita Smeralda as
Umberto Smaila
2001
Gian Burrasca (TV Movie)
1998
My Dearest Friends as
Nemo
1997
Gli inaffidabili as
Amedeo Manganelli
1997
Non chiamatemi papà (TV Movie) as
Ugo
1994
The Heroes as
Colombo
1991
L'odissea (TV Movie) as
Giove
1991
The Three Musketeers (TV Movie) as
Luigi XIII
1990
Don Tonino (TV Series)
- Don Tonino e la maledizione dell'abate (1990)
1988
Delitti e profumi as
Vice commissario Turroni
1984
Quo vadiz? (TV Series)
1983
Italian Boys as
Umberto
1981
Miracoloni as
Sant'Antonio
1980
Una vacanza bestiale as
Eros Castiglioni
1980
Arrivano i gatti as
Umberto
1977
Come ti rapisco il pupo as
Dado
1976
Sturmtruppen as
Cook
1974
Policewoman as
Giorgio Brembani - Il figlio del sindaco
1973
Un ufficiale non si arrende mai, nemmeno di fronte all'evidenza. Firmato Colonnello Buttiglione as
Soldier
Director
1983
Italian Boys
Soundtrack
2022
Tre sorelle (writer: "Io con me")
1997
Jackie Brown (performer: "Mad Dog (Feroce)" (1977)) / (writer: "Mad Dog (Feroce)" (1977))
