Bell'Antonio
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Mauro Bolognini
Marcello Mastroianni
Claudia Cardinale
Pierre Brasseur
Rina Morelli
Tomas Milian
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
After spending 3 years in Rome, handsome Antonio Magnano returns to his native Catania. His reputation as a lady-killer has been fostered largely by his boastful father, Alfio, who equates honor with virility. Consequently Antonio finds himself besieged by women, a situation from which he escapes by agreeing to his father's wish that he marry Barbara Puglisi, the naive and innocent daughter of a wealthy and politically prominent family. For the first time in his life, Antonio becomes involved in a relationship based on love rather than pure eroticism, and the shock makes him impotent. For almost a year Antonio and Barbara appear to be blissfully happy, but when it becomes common knowledge that their union is still unconsummated, Barbara's outraged parents have the marriage annulled. The public disgrace falls heavily on Signor Magnano, and he tries to reestablish the family reputation by distinguishing himself at the neighborhood brothel, a course of action which proves fatal to the diabetic old man. Filled with remorse and still in love with Barbara, who has since remarried, Antonio has a fling with the family maid. She becomes pregnant, and the overjoyed Signora Magnano proclaims the news of her son's virility throughout the town. Antonio finds little solace in his regained manhood, however, in the face of his unfulfilled love for Barbara.
Director
Mauro Bolognini
Cast
Marcello Mastroianni
Claudia Cardinale
Pierre Brasseur
Rina Morelli
Tomas Milian
Fulvia Mammi
Patrizia Bini
Anna Arena
Maria Luisa Crescenzi
Cesarina Gherardi
Gina Mattarolo
Alice Sandro
Nino Camarada
Guido Celano
Maurizio Conti
Salvatore Fazio
Rino Giusti
Enzo Tiribelli
Ugo Torrente
Crew
Nino Baragli
Luigi Bazzoni
Alfredo Bini
Manolo Bolognini
Carlo Egidi
Nicolo Ferrari
Raphael Hakim
Armando Nannuzzi
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Piero Piccioni
Piero Tosi
Gino Visentini
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Opened in Rome in February 1960 as Il bell'Antonio, and in Paris in July 1961 as Le bel Antonio; French running time: 92 min.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in France July 1961
Released in Italy February 1960
Released in United States April 2, 1962
Released in United States March 12, 1994
Released in United States on Video March 12, 1994
Released in United States Spring April 2, 1962
b&w
Released in Italy February 1960
Released in United States March 12, 1994
Released in United States on Video March 12, 1994
Released in United States April 2, 1962 (New York City)
Released in United States Spring April 2, 1962
Released in France July 1961
