Without a doubt, Sophia Loren is one of the most appealing movie stars of the 20th Century (and beyond), in looks, spirit and sensuality. Here, she's guilty of a crime. The crime of beauty that makes the women of her town hates her. Happily married to Marcello Mastroianni, she's lusted after by the governor, Vittorio De Sica, who already has a beautiful wife and children. De Sica arranges for Mastroianni to be arrested for allegedly inciting a riot, but the riot was over Loren on a swing, not even showing leg with all the coverings underneath her. But that's not enough for the women watching to be furious, although the young girls are looking at her with longing to be just like her. With her husband in custody, De Sica makes his move, and does so hysterically because romantically, he's very much a clod.
The beautiful sets and costumes and locations makes this almost look like a classic puzzle box. Lauren, looking great in the most gorgeous of peasant costumes, is terrific, and gets a terrific cat fight with an older woman who accuses her of using her vixen ways to get all the married men's attention. But all Loren wants is a happy life with her husband so she has every right to be insulted. De Sica is very funny, and the handsome Mastroianni is fiery, romantic and brave, not afraid to strike the governor when he discovers him wearing his night clothes. Yvonne Sanson, as the governor's wife, has a great scene where she pleads with her husband to be merciful to the peasants, obviously feeling that she is in the position to help the poor. Later she has a confrontation with Loren where her own fury briefly comes out, but when she realizes how wrong she was, she changes back quickly. This is a very easy film to follow for people not used to reading subtitles because it is so light-hearted and amusing. It's just that between the subtitles and the gorgeous look of the film, it's hard to concentrate on both at the same time.
The beautiful sets and costumes and locations makes this almost look like a classic puzzle box. Lauren, looking great in the most gorgeous of peasant costumes, is terrific, and gets a terrific cat fight with an older woman who accuses her of using her vixen ways to get all the married men's attention. But all Loren wants is a happy life with her husband so she has every right to be insulted. De Sica is very funny, and the handsome Mastroianni is fiery, romantic and brave, not afraid to strike the governor when he discovers him wearing his night clothes. Yvonne Sanson, as the governor's wife, has a great scene where she pleads with her husband to be merciful to the peasants, obviously feeling that she is in the position to help the poor. Later she has a confrontation with Loren where her own fury briefly comes out, but when she realizes how wrong she was, she changes back quickly. This is a very easy film to follow for people not used to reading subtitles because it is so light-hearted and amusing. It's just that between the subtitles and the gorgeous look of the film, it's hard to concentrate on both at the same time.
