'Tis Pity She's a Whore (1971)

Annabella marries Soranzo, when she is pregnant by her brother Giovanni. Destiny, and jealousies will expose her past, and Soranzo broods revenge. But he is not alone in that - and death will unite all.

Director:

Giuseppe Patroni Griffi

Writers:

John Ford (play), Alfio Valdarnini (screenplay) (as Alfio Valdarini)

Stars:

Charlotte Rampling, Oliver Tobias, Fabio Testi

2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Charlotte Rampling	...	Annabella / Giovanni's sister
Oliver Tobias	...	Giovanni / Annabella's brother
Fabio Testi	...	Soranzo / Annabella's husband
Antonio Falsi	...	Bonaventura
Rik Battaglia	...	Mercante / the father (as Rick Battaglia)
Angela Luce	...	Mercante's governess
Rino Imperio	...	Soranzo's manservant

Storyline

In an amoral home, where a man lives in sin with a woman, his daughter and his son fall in love, and have incestuous relations even after the young woman marrys. Her husband will seek revenge, and a gory end will unite all in classic tragedy - death. (Based on John Ford's play, "Pity she's a whore", respecting its poetic text, and careful Italian Renaissance settings.)

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Plot Keywords:

brother sister incest | female nudity | incest | bare breasts | brother murders sister | 

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Taglines:

John Ford's Classic Tragedy.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

X

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

November 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

'Tis Pity She's a Whore

Filming Locations:

Torrechiara, Langhirano, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Clesi Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Toch zonde dat 't een hoer is (1978)

User Reviews

Shakespeare for sleazehounds?

'Tis Pity She's A Whore' is a lavishly produced and strongly acted movie which raises a lot of fascinating questions about where to draw the line between art and exploitation, and indeed, if there is any need to. Based on the play by Shakespeare's contemporary John Ford, it manages to work as an engrossing historical drama, and captivate as a passionate, albeit unconventional, romance, while still being sensationalistic enough to entertain any fan of AIP-style Seventies sleaze. The central relationship between Charlotte Rampling ('The Damned', 'Zardoz', 'Angel Heart') and long forgotten 70s sex symbol Oliver Tobias (who I grew up watching on several UK TV shows popular at the time, but now too obscure to bother listing) is incestuous, and the movie ends up with a surprisingly bloody climax that will please splatter buffs. Like the recent controversial adaption of 'Titus' it reminds the modern viewer that sex, violence and extreme imagery are are nothing new and have long been the subject of great literature. (Or if you prefer so-called "great literature") 'Tis Pity She's A Whore' is one of the great lost European movies of the early Seventies, and deserves a much larger audience. Knowing nothing about it before viewing, and not being familiar with the original text, I expected it to be a lighweight erotic romp worth a giggle or two, but was very impressed at just how powerful a movie experience it was. After watching it I immediately watched it again. Highly recommended.