Indiscretion of an American Wife (1953)
"Stazione Termini" (original title)

Prior to leaving by train for Paris, a married American woman tries to break off her affair with a young Italian in Rome's Stazione Termini.

Director:

Vittorio De Sica

Writers:

Truman Capote (dialogue), Luigi Chiarini,

Stars:

Jennifer Jones, Montgomery Clift, Gino Cervi

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jennifer Jones	...	Mary Forbes
Montgomery Clift	...	Giovanni Doria
Gino Cervi	...	Police commissioner
Richard Beymer	...	Paul (as Dick Beymer)

Storyline

A married American woman has gotten involved with another man while visiting relatives in Rome. She decides that the time has come to break off the relationship, and she makes plans to return home to her husband. But she soon realizes that she is not at all sure about what she wants to do, and she continues to agonize over her decision.

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Plot Keywords:

affair | train | cafe | tourist | housewife | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

Italy USA

Language:

English Italian French

Release Date:

10 May 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Indiscretion of an American Wife

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Produzioni De Sica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A short, "Autumn in Rome," was supervised by Selznick as a prologue to "Indiscretions" to supplement the feature's brief 63 minute running time.

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Quotes

Giovanni Doria: [Angrily to the police] What is this - a zoo? Are we a couple of monkeys or something?

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Connections

Referenced in Biography: Jennifer Jones: Portrait of a Lady (2001)

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Soundtracks

"Rhapsody in Blue"
(uncredited)
Written by George Gershwin
(heard as transition between the two Patti Page ballads)

User Reviews

Melodramatic, Boring and Dated Romance in a Mutilated Version

In Rome, the American Mary Forbes (Jennifer Jones) arrives in the central station to get the first train to Milan to return to her husband and daughter in Philadelphia. She calls her sister's house and asks her nephew Paul (Dick Beymer) to bring her luggage to the station. When the train is ready to go, Mary sees Giovanni Doria (Montgomery Clift) seeking her out in the platform. Mary has had a torrid love affair with the Italian man and she decided to break off with her lover without saying good-bye to him. She misses the train and decides to take one direct to Paris later to stay with Giovanni. They go to an empty wagon and while making love, they are arrested by the chief engineer and sent to the police station where the commissioner will decide their fate.

I have just watched the 63 minutes running time version of "Indiscretion of American Wife" and I found it a melodramatic, boring and dated romance. However I noted in IMDb that the original version has 90 minutes running time; therefore it is unfair to review such mutilated version, unfortunately the only one available on DVD in Brazil. I only do not understand how a distributor can cut one third of the film and release the crap work credited to Vittorio De Sica. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "Quando a Mulher Erra" ("When the Woman Makes a Mistake")