The Pizza Triangle (1970)

A three-way love affair in the Rome of the early seventies.

Director:

Ettore Scola

Writers:

Agenore Incrocci (screenplay) (as Age), Furio Scarpelli (screenplay) (as Scarpelli)

Stars:

Marcello Mastroianni, Monica Vitti, Giancarlo Giannini

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marcello Mastroianni	...	Oreste
Monica Vitti	...	Adelaide
Giancarlo Giannini	...	Nello
Manuel Zarzo	...	Ugo (as Manolo Zarzo)
Marisa Merlini	...	Silvana
Hércules Cortés	...	Ambleto di Meo
Fernando Sánchez Polack	...	District Head of Communist Party (as Fernando Sanchez Polak)
Gioia Desideri	...	Adelaide's Friend
Juan Diego	...	Antonia's Son
Bruno Scipioni	...	Pizza maker
Josefina Serratosa	...	Antonia
Giuseppe Maffioli	...	Lawyer
Corrado Gaipa	...	President of tribunal
Paola Natale	...	Flower Seller
Brizio Montinaro	...	Restaurant Night Guard

Storyline

A three-way love affair in the Rome of the early seventies. Construction worker Oreste and young fiancee Adelaide meet Nello, cook in a pizzeria. This love triangle often go to communist rallies, and enjoy the filthy beach of Ostia. Will the hostile environment leave a way to jealousy?

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Plot Keywords:

italy | stabbing | beach | construction worker | love triangle | 

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Taglines:

...a tender comedy

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy Spain

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

30 April 1970 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Pizza Triangle

Filming Locations:

Piazza San Giovanni, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dean Film, Jupiter Generale Cinematografica, Midega Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The third movie Marcello Mastroianni that has the subtitle Italian style. The other two are divorce Italian style (1961), marriage Italian style (1964)

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Quotes

Nello: That's not how to put it. It makes it seem dirty. She tried to choose; but, she found she couldn't. Talking about it, it turned out very fortunately, today, certain problems are solved simply and very practically. Does everyone have to go by twos? For example, Denmark, Sweden.

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Connections

Featured in Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember (1997)

User Reviews

Almost lost early 70's Ettore Scola classic - 2 English titles "A Drama of Jealousy" & "Pizza Triangle"

I loved seeing this at MoMA on 10/20/11. We first meet Monica Vitti & Marcello Mastriani at the closing down of a small ramshackle street fair/carnival in an ugly empty lot in Rome. She is urging the ride operator to give a longer experience & he has drank a bit too much after helping to tear down some of the exhibits & falls asleep awaking to Monica kissing on him. A romance begins amongst piles of plastic garbage & flies while he continues to go home to a wife who appears to be his mother. Flashbacks to recreating a crime for detectives take us back to the florid romantic affair complete with lush orchestrations featuring that electronic harpsichord so popular during this early 70's time period. What follows is a charming absurdly funny at times interesting story told in fascinating narrative involving characters turning to talk to us in the audience in order to inform us of different aspects of character & story that we otherwise wouldn't know - sometimes in theatrical spotlights - other times in extreme close-up. I particularly liked some of the sped up film & over amplified sound effects, esp. physical hits which gives the film that "slapstick" crazy kind of absurd playfulness. Other online reviews can give further insights into this enjoyable piece. I would say that this one is prime pickings for remake since it's distribution has been inconsistent & spotty at best.