Publisher: CinemaSerf June 4, 2023
There can be no doubt that Luchino Visconti was a master at putting together a film with class, style and beauty - and this is no different. A magnificent score from Franco Mannino (with plenty of classical assistance) and some fabulous cinematography from Pasqualiono de Santis breath much life into this - but not enough to compensate for a rather flawed, empty story with three really rather underwhelming performances. Tullio Hermil is "Giancarlo" a rather shallow pig of a man, who is married to Laura Antonelli ("Giuliana") and lives in their grand country palace whilst he constantly parades his glamorous mistress Jennifer O'Neill ("Teresa") for all to see. When he begins to suspect, however, that his wife has been ploughing her own furrow, he begins to get jealous and as with so many in the situation yearns for what he can no longer have. There is a real inevitability about how it will end and although our route to this denouement is bestrewn with gorgeousness and chic, Antonelli constantly reminded me of Anne Bancroft without, regrettably, the sophistication and charm and O'Neill, though certainly beautiful was almost as shallow as her paramour.