Two brothers (Richard Burton, Ian Bannen) are in love with the same woman (Sophia Loren). But in his will, their father insists that it is the younger brother (Bannen) that marry the girl even though it is the older brother that she loves. Years pass before they can find happiness together but it is brief as tragedy follows. This period costume drama, based on a novel by Luigi Pirandello (
SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR), was the swan song of the great neo-realist director Vittorio De Sica. Sadly, it's a weak film and not indicative of his great talents. It's a romance and as all great movie romances can attest to, chemistry is key. Alas, Burton and Loren have zero chemistry together. Taylor and Burton, yes, Loren and Mastroianni, yes but Burton and Loren, none. I suppose it doesn't help that this is an Italian film with an all Italian cast except for the British Burton and Bannen as Italian brothers. Burton especially looks burnt out. On the other hand, Loren is gorgeous and vital so when everyone comes up to her and tells her she looks pale and should see a doctor (she gets out of breath and coughs when she climbs the stairs, we all know what
that means), it doesn't make much sense. Visually, the movie is splendid, worthy of Visconti and lovingly shot by Ennio Guarnieri (
GARDEN OF THE FINZI CONTINIS). The subtle, lovely score is by Manuel De Sica. With Barbara Pilavin, Paolo Lena and Annabella Incontrera.
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