Down the Ancient Stairs (1975)
"Per le antiche scale" (original title)

A mental hospital somewhere in Tuscany during the thirties. Far away from fascism, this closed world is rules over by Dr. Bonaccorsi, a passionate benevolent psychiatrist whose dream is to ... See full summary »

Director:

Mauro Bolognini

Writers:

Raffaele Andreassi, Mario Arosio,

Stars:

Marcello Mastroianni, Françoise Fabian, Marthe Keller

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marcello Mastroianni	...	Professor Bonaccorsi
Françoise Fabian	...	Anna Bersani
Marthe Keller	...	Bianca
Barbara Bouchet	...	Carla
Pierre Blaise	...	Tonio
Maria Teresa Albani
Maria Michi
Paolo Pacino
Silvano Tranquilli	...	Professor Rospigliosi
Charles Fawcett	...	Doctor Sfameni
Enzo Robutti
Ferruccio De Ceresa	...	Fascist Official in train
Lucia Bosé	...	Francesca
Adriana Asti	...	Gianna
Paola Corazzi

Storyline

A mental hospital somewhere in Tuscany during the thirties. Far away from fascism, this closed world is rules over by Dr. Bonaccorsi, a passionate benevolent psychiatrist whose dream is to isolate the germ of madness. He is also a very active ladies'man and makes three women benefit from his sexual itch: Francesca the hospital manager's wife, Bianca, his devoted nurse and Carla, a nymphomaniac doctor's wife. His well-ordered universe starts being challenged with the coming of Anna, a trainee psychiatrist, who disapproves of his theory on the origin of madness. Worse, she resists his advances. As Bonaccorsi is more insecure than he looks, what will become of him?

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Plot Keywords:

nymphomaniac | tuscany | mental hospital | 1930s | tuscany italy | 

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Taglines:

The sensual. The tortured. The obsessed. He is their ruler.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

28 November 1975 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Down the Ancient Stairs

Filming Locations:

De Paolis/INCIR Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Italian International Film, Les Productions Fox Europa

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Blurb.

DOWN THE ANCIENT STAIRS has Marcello Mastroianni playing the head doctor in an insane asylum of fascist Italy of the thirties. Director Bolognini probably intended the hospital to represent a microcosm of the Italy of the times. The doctor is working on the theory that schizophrenia is caused by a physical virus that can be isolated and treated. This controversial film examines the repressive mechanisms common to fascism and institutional psychiatry. The doctor is loved by three women and has simultaneous affairs with a nurse, a nymphomaniac, and the hospital director's wife. Although somewhat sensationalized, this film was made by a director of some renown, Mauro Bolognini, who gave us gems like BELL'ANTONIO (also with Mastroianni), LA GRANDE BOURGEOISE, METELLO, AGOSTINO, and LA VIACCIA.