L'innocente (1976)

Tullio Hermil is a chauvinist aristocrat who flaunts his mistress to his wife, but when he believes she has been unfaithful he becomes enamored of her again.

Director:

Luchino Visconti

Writers:

Gabriele D'Annunzio (novel), Suso Cecchi D'Amico (screenplay),

Stars:

Giancarlo Giannini, Laura Antonelli, Jennifer O'Neill

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Giancarlo Giannini	...	Tullio Hermil
Laura Antonelli	...	Giuliana Hermil
Jennifer O'Neill	...	Teresa Raffo
Rina Morelli	...	Tullio's Mother
Massimo Girotti	...	Count Stefano Egano
Didier Haudepin	...	Federico Hermil
Marie Dubois	...	The Princess
Roberta Paladini	...	Miss Elviretta
Claude Mann	...	The Prince
Marc Porel	...	Filippo d'Arborio
Philippe Hersent
Elvira Cortese
Siria Betti
Enzo Musumeci Greco
Alessandra Vazzoler

Storyline

Luchino Visconti's last film based on a novella by Gabrielle d'Annunzio is a haunting account of aristocratic chauvinism and sexual double standards in turn of the century Italy. Giannini as the psichotic husband whose lust cannot be satisfied. Antonelli as his sensitive and tormented wife and O'Neil as cunning possesive mistress.

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Plot Keywords:

mistress | aristocrat | widow | affair | mother son relationship | 

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Taglines:

Luchino Visconti's Epic Final Film [DVD Australia]

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

11 January 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Innocent

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rizzoli Film, Les Films Jacques Leitienne, Imp.Ex.Ci.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Cosmovision)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Luchino Visconti intended the title roles to be played by Alain Delon and Romy Schneider. But Delon was under long-term contract, and the $1,000,000 that his producers wanted to release him was considered too much; and Schneider was pregnant at the time, so Visconti had to work with Laura Antonelli, and the little-known Giancarlo Giannini.

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Quotes

Tullio Hermil: I'm sorry. You have to be patient with me as with an ill person.
Giuliana Hermil: An ill person who rejoices in his own illness.

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Connections

Featured in La femme de l'amant (1992)

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Soundtracks

"Walzer"
Music by Frédéric Chopin (as Chopin)
Performed by Franco Mannino, pianoforte

User Reviews

upper class romance

A wealthy and arrogant aristocrat openly has an affair with another woman, thus driving his wife to start her own affair with a writer that leads to a pregnancy and baby. Giancarlo Giannini is magnificent in a role that instills in the viewer zero sympathy and outright hostility. The film heads into what can only be described as one of the most memorably tragic conclusions since Shakespeare, and is also one of the most beautifully filmed and costumed movies ever, with sumptuous deep red wallpapered rooms with velvet curtains. Wealth and position can cut both ways, with Giannini's role going down into a dark and bankrupt morality that in the end is like a swamp.