User reviews

This very earthy comedy was based on the play "The Three-Cornered Hat" from the Spanish novel of Alarcon. It is a subject which director Mario Camerini had previously filmed in 1935. This CinemaScope/Technicolor remake was a modest success in the States after its release, although not so big a hit with the Catholic Legion of Decency which condemned it. The film has Vittorio De Sica as a lecherous governor of Naples in 1680 who lusts after the wives of several peasants, particularly the miller's wife Carmela, played by a ravishing Sophia Loren. The miller himself, played by a youngish Marcello Mastroianni, plans to avenge his honor by seducing the wife of the governor. Wonderful fun boasting a great cast and one of the earliest pairings of Loren and Mastroianni.

A naturally gifted wife could contribute to her husband's success. But there are some limits. Either you could let your wife's beauty to steer the helm of your destiny to the end or you could allow your honour to change the course of your success. It is a decision a man has to make when he finds himself at some delicate crossroads.

In this film, apart from the above-mentioned dilemma, there are beautiful colours, beautiful places, beautiful people and very beautiful ladies, that is, the miller's wife and the governor's wife.

I have enjoyed seeing that film and I still enjoy it when I see it from time to time. It is like a beautiful painting of that period placed in a museum.

On medieval era Spain occupied the Italic peninsula since 1559 until 1814, this fictional story took place at 1600 based on a novel, nearby Naples where has a little village that has a gorgeous married women Carmela (The younger and beauty Sophia Loren), always has been harassed by the Spanish Governor Don Teofilo (Vittorio De Sica), his jealous husband (Mastroianni) the owner of the wheat Mill consents a slight meeting with many people around in exchange some facilities from the governor as not paying taxes, however the rakish Don Teofilo doesn't give up, during a annual fair had a shambles triggered by Carmela's behavior, quickly the Joyful feast becomes in a true riot mainly by highest taxes implied by the heartless Governor, many villagers were arrested including Luca, nevertheless the beauty and kind-hearted Governor's wife Dolores (Yvonne Sanson) asking gently to his husband set free all them, he ends up agreeing, but advised by his clever secretary Gardunia who actually is the mind behind all Governor's decisions, suggest him a plan to gets one night with Carmela, just he has to hold Luca one night on the jail, from now on the whole night will becomes all sort of misunderstood and mess, delightful Italian comedy with strong and acid social commentary, a slight sexual orientation without be appellative, Loren the real Italian Godess!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 8

Seductive.

For the very young Sophia Loren in her splendor.

For the flavors of Carlo Goldoni comedies.

For Vitorio de Sica as a charming - amusing- ridiculous and nice husband governor.

And, sure, for iresistible Marcelo Mastroiani.

A light comedy offering, in proper - honest manner, exactly what you expect, in profound seductive manner.

Adventure, sugestions, slices of coruption, pure love and fair moral , misunderstandings and final irony, revenges and a colorful world.

Not the last, few very pleasant ( and useful ) teaspoons of nostalgia.

In short, just delightful film , reminding old times and basic truths in just inspired manner.

You just can't go wrong with a 21-year-old Sophia Loren.

I want to be honest with this review. I didn't care about the plot or the story. I just wanted to see Sophia Loren in her prime.

She is fun and playful and nicely dressed. The screening I saw was in Italian with English subtitles. Seriously, the story and plot are cute but for most men, seeing the most beautiful woman in the world in a light comedy is reason enough to see this great movie. The movie can be a bit hard-to-find. My copy came from eBay in Spain. The quality was good.