Story Of A Woman (1970)

A young girl (Bibi Andersson) is studying music in Rome when she falls in love with an Italian medical student (James Farentino). After finding out he's married to an older woman (Annie Girardot), she flees to Sweden where she meets and marries an American diplomat (Robert Stack). She thinks she's over the affair but when the Italian re-enters her life, she's not so sure. Written and directed by Leonardo Bercovici. Bercovici was an American screenwriter (PORTRAIT OF JENNIE, THE BISHOP'S WIFE, KISS THE BLOOD OFF MY HANDS) who was blacklisted in the 1950s and went to Europe to work. Although filmed in Italy and Sweden and with European actresses (Andersson, Girardot) in leading roles, the film is pure Hollywood soap opera, not much different than the stuff Joan Crawford and Lana Turner were cranking out in the 1950s. Alas, not even Douglas Sirk could save this hill of cliches. Andersson and Girardot are always a welcome presence on the screen and Stack is very good but who can buy Andersson pining away for James Farentino (who doesn't even attempt an Italian accent)? James Farentino?!?! Edith Head did the costumes and John Williams provided the score. With Didi Perego and Mario Nascimbene (yes, the composer).