Better a Widow
Cast & Crew
Duccio Tessari
Virna Lisi
Peter Mcenery
Gabriele Ferzetti
Lando Buzzanca
Jean Servais
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
When Tom Proby, a young British engineer, arrives in Sicily to select the site for a new petroleum refinery, the local Mafia splits into two factions. The progressives, headed by Don Calogero Minniti, favor the enterprise, while the arch-conservatives, led by Baron Misceni, oppose it. Once the progressives have won the dispute, Don Calogero assigns a local journalist, Massito, to escort Proby around the countryside in the hope of influencing his decision, but Proby proves to be a man of such integrity that Baron Misceni initiates a campaign to drive the young engineer out of Sicily. Proby, however, remains unharmed and has the audacity to pursue romantically Don Calogero's daughter Rosa, who is engaged to marry Misceni. Through continued harassment, Misceni eventually succeeds in persuading Proby to leave Sicily. Don Calogero tries to delay him by sending a prostitute to his room, but Rosa telephones Proby and changes his mind. The subsequent public lovemaking between Rosa and Proby creates a scandal, and the outraged Misceni decides it is time to do away with the troublesome Englishman. When several assassination attempts fail, the Mafia chieftain orders Misceni into retirement and decrees that his estate, which Proby has selected for the oil refinery, be sold. Misceni ignores the decision, however, and abducts Rosa just as Proby has won the approval of her father. In order to preserve her honor, Rosa must marry Baron Misceni, and although the wedding takes place, the baron is killed as he leaves the church. With Rosa's reputation unblemished, she is free to marry Proby and return with him to England.
Director
Duccio Tessari
Cast
Virna Lisi
Peter Mcenery
Gabriele Ferzetti
Lando Buzzanca
Jean Servais
Agnès Spaak
Nino Terzo
Carla Calò
Salvatore Fucile
Roy Bosier
Bruno Lauzi
Adriano Vitale
Francesco Leone
Luciano Taccone
Oreste Palella
Giorgio Cholet
Raniero Di Giovanbattista
Ivan Scratuglia
Sebastiano Rossito
Salvatore Spadaro
Gaetano Tomaselli
Crew
Rita Agostini
Adriano Baracco
Alberto Bartolomei
Adriana Berselli
Don Bruno
Bruno Casari
Jole Cecchini
Ceraceni
Alfred Cox
Carlo De Biase
Ennio De Concini
Ennio De Concini
Brian Degas
Dante Ferretti
Mario Forges Davanzati
Tudor Gates
Ennio Guarnieri
Nilo Jacoponi
Emilio Loffredo
Claudio Maielli
Danilo Marciani
Michele Marsala
Antonio Mazza
Danilo Moroni
Mario Morra
Francesco Mulè
Bruno Nicolai
G. B. Poletto
Carlo Rustichelli
Sergio Salvati
Luigi Scaccianoce
Duccio Tessari
Tirelli Of Rome
Tiziani Of Rome
Romano Trina
Turi Vasile
Louise Vincent
Vongher
Arturo Zavattini
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Location scenes filmed in Siracusa, Italy, and in Sicily. Released in Italy in 1968 as Meglio vedova.
