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The Key

Original title: La chiave
  • 19831983
  • RR
  • 1h 56m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
3K
YOUR RATING
Stefania Sandrelli in The Key (1983)
DramaHistoryRomance
1940s Venice. After twenty years of marriage, a retired art critic and his younger wife feel their passion is waning. To help her shed her inhibitions and rekindle their relationship, the pr... Read all1940s Venice. After twenty years of marriage, a retired art critic and his younger wife feel their passion is waning. To help her shed her inhibitions and rekindle their relationship, the professor records his sexual fantasies in a diary.1940s Venice. After twenty years of marriage, a retired art critic and his younger wife feel their passion is waning. To help her shed her inhibitions and rekindle their relationship, the professor records his sexual fantasies in a diary.
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Tinto Brass
  • Writers
    • Jun'ichirô Tanizaki(novel "Kagi")
    • Tinto Brass
  • Stars
    • Frank Finlay
    • Stefania Sandrelli
    • Franco Branciaroli
  • Director
    • Tinto Brass
  • Writers
    • Jun'ichirô Tanizaki(novel "Kagi")
    • Tinto Brass
  • Stars
    • Frank Finlay
    • Stefania Sandrelli
    • Franco Branciaroli
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 10User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos89

    Stefania Sandrelli in The Key (1983)
    Tinto Brass and Stefania Sandrelli in The Key (1983)
    Stefania Sandrelli in The Key (1983)
    Stefania Sandrelli in The Key (1983)
    Stefania Sandrelli in The Key (1983)
    Stefania Sandrelli in The Key (1983)
    Stefania Sandrelli in The Key (1983)
    Stefania Sandrelli in The Key (1983)
    Franco Branciaroli and Stefania Sandrelli in The Key (1983)
    Stefania Sandrelli in The Key (1983)
    Stefania Sandrelli in The Key (1983)
    Barbara Cupisti in The Key (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Frank Finlay
    Frank Finlay
    • Nino Rolfe
    Stefania Sandrelli
    Stefania Sandrelli
    • Teresa Rolfe
    Franco Branciaroli
    • Laszlo Apony
    Barbara Cupisti
    • Lisa Rolfe
    Armando Marra
    Maria Grazia Bon
    • Giulietta
    Gino Cavalieri
    • Don Rusetto
    Piero Bortoluzzi
    • Memo Longobardi
    Irma Veithen
    • The Nurse
    Eolo Capritti
    Maria Pia Colonnello
    Milly Corinaldi
    Milly Corinaldi
    • Giustina
    Edgardo Fugagnoli
    Luciano Gasper
    Giovanni Michelagnoli
    • Dr. Fano
    Osiride Pevarello
    Sara Tagliapietra
    Mirella Zardo
    • Director
      • Tinto Brass
    • Writers
      • Jun'ichirô Tanizaki(novel "Kagi")
      • Tinto Brass
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Tinto Brass only ever wanted actress Stefania Sandrelli for the role of Teresa Rolfe and waited until she was at the right age for the part.
    • Goofs
      In the scene Laszlo shows Nino how to use an instant camera. That was not possible in the period the story takes place (Mussolini's fascist Italy). They are using a Polaroid Land Camera model 95 and its production was from 1948 to 1953.
    • Quotes

      Nino Rolfe: [while his wife sleeps] When did you ever give me this flesh that sets my prick on fire?

    • Alternate versions
      The UK cinema and 1987 video version was cut by 38 secs by the BBFC to remove a shot of a man's erection seen through his open shorts and a female masturbation scene, and additional edits were made to optically darken visible shots of female genitals. The 2001 Arrow DVD features the uncut print.
    • Connections
      Edited into Bellissimo: Immagini del cinema italiano (1985)
    • Soundtracks
      Un'ora sola ti vorrei
      Written by Umberto Bertini (as Bertini) and Paola Marchetti (as Marchetti)

      Published by National Music

    User reviews10

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Don't throw away The Key
    Just from the opening scene it's evident that Tinto Brass is in a class of his own as a filmmaker. A beautifully shot period piece in which an ageing husband gets aroused by his wife falling for her daughter's boyfriend (kind of a ménage a quatre), simply because it arouses him to see his wife aroused. I'm not into cuckolding, but it's actually a sweet, romantic film in a way, just with a lot of visual fawning over women's exposed buttocks. Tinto Brass is like that. I've heard about him but not really seen much so far. I'm glad this is beginning to change.
    helpful•7
    0
    • Karl Self
    • Dec 13, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 19, 1983 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • Italy
    • Language
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • La chiave
    • Filming locations
      • De Paolis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Selenia Cinematografica
      • International Video Service
      • San Francisco Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 56 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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