Pasqualino Settebellezze (1975)

Director:

Lina Wertmüller

Writer:

Lina Wertmüller (writer)

Release Date:

21 January 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | War

Plot:

Pasqualino Settebellezze è un giovane malavitoso napoletano che decide di commettere un crimine per farsi un nome in quel mondo...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Russia | Prostitute | Prostitution | Seduction

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Giancarlo Giannini	...	Pasqualino Frafuso
Fernando Rey	...	Pedro the Anarchist Prisoner
Shirley Stoler	...	Commandant
Elena Fiore	...	Concettina, a Sister
Piero Di Iorio	...	Francesco His Friend
Enzo Vitale	...	Don Raffaele
Roberto Herlitzka	...	Socialist
Lucio Amelio	...	Lawyer
Ermelinda De Felice	...	His Mother
Bianca D'Origlia
Francesca Marciano	...	Carolina (as Francesca Marciani)
Mario Conti	...	Totonno Concettina's Pimp, His Victim
Barbara Valmorin
Emilio Salvatori
Aristide Caporale		(as Aristide Caporali)

Also Known As:

Seven Beauties (International: English title) (USA)
Pasqualino: Seven Beauties (informal literal English title)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:18 | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | USA:R | Hong Kong:III | West Germany:18 (nf) | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Naples, Campania, Italy

Company:

Medusa Produzione

Trivia:

The ratio of film shot to film actually used in the final cut was 50 to 1.

Quotes:

Narrator: The ones who don't enjoy themselves, even when they laugh. Oh yeah. The ones who worship the corporate image, not knowing that they work for someone else. Oh yeah. The ones who should have been shot in the cradle... Pow! Oh yeah. The ones who say 'Follow me to success, but kill me if I fail...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Fifth Element (1997)

A Must See Masterpiece

I've watched this movie dozens of times in the last thirty years and it's still a treat. I just bought the new DVD version and I'm in love with Lina again.

It's a roller-coaster ride with scenes of the grotesque against visions of sublime beauty. And, Thank You, Lina, for the courtroom scene of poignant conversation without words.

The theme of the movie is simply that we too often accept survival as an excuse to abandon honor, integrity and fundamental humanity. There is a leftist tone that may put some off but that shouldn't detract from the basic message.

The simple message is told with flawless visuals, hypnotic music and acutely fine acting.

Please enjoy this important part of cinematic history.