''In Olden Days'' ( it, Altri tempi, link=no, also known as ''Times Gone By'' and ''Infidelity'') is a 1952 Italian

anthology film An anthology film (also known as an omnibus film, package film, or portmanteau film) is a single film consisting of several shorter films, each complete in itself and distinguished from the other, though frequently tied together by a single theme ...

Plot

The cart of old books

A good-natured peddler of old books shows his customers some works from the past and is pranked by the rowdy son of a newsagent.

Excelsior dance

Filmed reconstruction of the Excelsior Ball, an allegorical late-century dance by the composer Romualdo Marenco performed for the first time at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan on 11 January 1881.

Less than a day

Two lovers, for contingent reasons, manage to see each other in a hotel room once a year, for a few hours, but due to some quarrels and jealousies they are unable to consume their relationship.

The Sardinian drummer

During the first war of independence fought against the Austrians, a very young drummer, delivering an important message to the Italian command, is hit and loses a leg (episode from the book "Cuore").

Matter of interest

Two peasants scramble for possession of manure dung.

The idyll

Tender summer idyll between two children from upper-class families. Guido, because of a kiss given to the sweet Greek girl Filli, wonders if the kiss could have generated a child and also fears for his maid, who had a baby without being married. With the end of the summer comes the painful separation.

The vice

A trader discovers his wife's cheating with his business partner. Upon returning home, at first he pretends nothing has happened, then with an excuse he sends the maid away and after denying his wife her forgiveness, threatening to take her children away from her, induces her to take her life.

Potpourri of songs

Story of a happy courtship and marriage, enlivened by the birth of a child and concluded with the departure of her husband for the war, from which she may not return. The songs to which the title refers are Lo specio me ga finger, Oh Trieste, oh blessed Trieste, Forbidden Music, Un peu d'amour, Le valse bleu, Baciami baciami, Santa Lucia and Tripoli bel suol d'amore.

The Trial of Phryne

Naples. A commoner is tried for trying to poison her husband and mother-in-law together. Thanks to her irrepressible beauty, the defense attorney appointed ex officio succeeds with an inspired and vehement harangue to overturn the situation, dragging the public and jurors to the side of the accused. Obtained from a short story by Edoardo Scarfoglio, and referring to an ancient story of the ethereal Phryne, he remained famous above all because Vittorio De Sica, in the role of the defender of the prosperous graces of a commoner (played by Gina Lollobrigida), coined the term "increased physics" which will in fact mark an era and will be widely used throughout the 1950s and most of the 1960s. The exact reference, in the sentence pronounced in the film by De Sica during the speech, is: "increased physics" as opposed to the phrase "psychic handicapped". Vittorio De Sica in this episode is at his first appearance alongside Gina Lollobrigida; both actors, the following year, will seize great popularity as the marshal and the bersagliera in the film Bread, love and fantasy directed by Luigi Comencini. It should only be noted that the scene of the "trial in court" for Italian cinema is an unmissable event, starting with the forerunners. Defendant, get up! by Mario Mattoli (1939) with Erminio Macario up to San Giovanni taken off by Amleto Palermi (1940) with Totò, and in this film he finds a fundamental scene for aficionados. Later scenes of trials will make the fortune of Nando Mericoni "American in Rome" (Alberto Sordi) in the duology of Stefano Vanzina Un giorno in magistrale (1953) and Un americano a Roma (1954), up to Christian De Sica who in 1984 will pay an explicit homage to this scene played by his father, as Praetor of the film Mi fa causa (1984).

Cast

Il carrettino dei libri vecchi

Aldo Fabrizi Aldo Fabrizi (; born Aldo Fabbrizi; 1 November 1905 – 2 April 1990) was an Italian actor, director, screenwriter and comedian, best known for the role of the heroic priest in Roberto Rossellini's ''Rome, Open City'' and as partner of Totò in ...

: the street vendor of ancient books; *

Pina Renzi Pina Renzi (16 December 1901 – 13 July 1984) was an Italian film actress. She appeared in more than 50 films between 1933 and 1959. She also directed one film, ''Cercasi bionda bella presenza'', in 1942. She was born in Morciano di Romagna ...

: the newsagent * Enzo Staiola: his son *

Luigi Cimara Luigi Cimara (19 July 1891 – 26 January 1962) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 46 films between 1914 and 1960. He was born and died in Rome, Italy. Partial filmography * ''L'esplosione del forte B.2'' (1914) * ''Cura di baci'' ( ...

: gentleman on the convertible *

Marisa Merlini Marisa Merlini (6 August 1923 – 27 July 2008) was an Italian character actress active in Italy's post-World War II cinema. Merlini appeared in over fifty films during her career, which spanned from World War II to 2005. In Luigi Comencini's 1953 ...

: lady on the convertible * Galeazzo Benti: her lover *

Mario Riva Mario Riva (26 January 1913 – 1 September 1960) was an Italian television presenter and actor. He appeared in 51 films between 1941 and 1960. Life and career Born in Rome as Mariuccio Bonavolontà, the son of a composer, Giuseppe (Joseph) ...

: the fussy customer

Ballo Excelsior

* Alba Arnova: the Progress *

Carlo Mazzone-Clementi Carlo Mazzone-Clementi (12 December 1920 – 5 November 2000) was a performer and founder of two schools of commedia, mime and physical theater as well as a contemporary and colleague of leaders of modern European theater. From his arrival in the U ...

: the Obscurantism *

Anna Maria Bugliari Anna may refer to: People Surname and given name * Anna (name) Mononym * Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke * Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773) * Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th century) * Anna (Anisia) (fl. 1218 to 1221) ...

: Italy *

Mirdza Capanna Mirdza is a Latvian given name and may refer to: * Mirdza Bendrupe (1910–1995), Latvian writer * Mirdza Ķempe (1907–1974), Latvian poet * Mirdza Martinsone (born 1951), Latvian actress * Mirdza Martinsone (1916–1983), Latvian skier * Mird ...

: the Light *

Antonio Acqua Antonio Acqua (5 November 1893 - 18 October 1966) was an Italian actor of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Born in Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , ima ...

: the Science *

Dino Raffaelli Dino may refer to: Prefix * dino-, a common prefix in taxonomy, meaning "terrible", "formidable" **Dinosaur People * Dino (given name), a masculine given name and a nickname * Dino (surname), a surname found in Albania and Turkey * Diño, a surn ...

: the Art *

Filippo Morucci Filippo is an Italian male given name, which is the equivalent of the English name Philip, from the Greek ''Philippos'', meaning "amante dei cavalli".''Behind the Name''"Given Name Philip" Retrieved on 23 January 2016. The female variant is Filip ...

Alessandro Volta Alessandro Giuseppe Antonio Anastasio Volta (, ; 18 February 1745 – 5 March 1827) was an Italian physicist, chemist and lay Catholic who was a pioneer of electricity and power who is credited as the inventor of the electric battery and the ...

Meno di un giorno

* Alba Arnova: Matilde * Andrea Checchi: Camillo * Gondrano Trucchi: the station master *

Bruno Corelli Bruno Corelli (20 August 1918 – 17 February 1983) was an Italian actor. Life and career Born in Bologna, after being part of a dramatic society of his hometown Corelli moved to Rome to attend the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia. He ma ...

: the waiter * Gabriele Tinti: the young man on the train *

Silvio Bagolini Silvio Bagolini (4 August 1914 – 26 September 1976) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 130 films between 1936 and 1973. Life and career Born in Bologna, Bagolini studied architecture at the Bologna University, without gr ...

: the guide

Il Tamburino Sardo

Enzo Cerusico Enzo Cerusico (22 October 1937 – 26 November 1991) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 50 films between 1951 and 1984. Career in the United States Cerusico's first role on American television was in a 1966 episode of ''I ...

: il tamburino *

Vittorio Vaser Vittorio Vaser (1904–1963) was an Italian stage and film actor. He appeared in Alessandro Blasetti's 1929 film ''Sun'' about the reclamation of the Pontine Marshes.Verdone p.63 He was the son of the actor Ernesto Vaser. Selected filmography ...

: il capitano *

Attilio Tosato Saint Attilio, one of the legendary martyrs of the Theban Legion, is venerated as a saint in the area of Trino Vercellese, in Piedmont, north-west Italy and commemorated on 28 June. However his cult is no longer officially recognized by the Roma ...

: il sergente * Guido Celano: il tenente * Ugo Sasso: a soldier *

Yvonne Cocco Yvonne is a female given name. It is the feminine form of Yvon, which is derived from the French name Yves and Yvette. It is from the French word ''iv'', meaning "yew" (or tree). Since yew wood was used for bows, Ivo may have been an occupation ...

: a nun *

Pietro Tordi Pietro Tordi (12 July 1906 – 14 December 1990) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 100 films between 1942 and 1988. He was born in Florence, Italy. Selected filmography * '' Doctor Antonio'' (1937) - L'altro conspiratore * '' Don C ...

: un infermiere

Questioni d'interesse

* Arnoldo Foà: il contadino * Folco Lulli: l'altro contadino *

Mario Mazza Mario Mazza (7 June 1882 - 22 November 1959) was an Italian educator. In 1916 he was one of the founding members of ASCI (Italian: l'Associazione Scautistica Cattolica Italiana) which became The Scouts Scouting, also known as the Scout Movem ...

: il carabiniere

L'idillio

Maurizio Di Nardo Maurizio is an Italian masculine given name, derived from the Roman name Mauritius. Mauritius is a derivative of Maurus, meaning ''dark-skinned, Moorish''. List of people with the given name Maurizio Art and music * Maurizio Arcieri (born 1945) ...

: Guido * Geraldina Parriniello: Filli * Paolo Stoppa: Guido's father *

Rina Morelli Rina Morelli (6 December 1908 – 17 July 1976) was an Italian film and stage actress. She appeared in 34 films between 1939 and 1976. She was born in Naples, Italy and died in Rome, Italy. Her husband, Paolo Stoppa, was an Italian stage and ...

: Guido's mother *

Sergio Tofano Sergio Tòfano (20 August 1886 – 28 October 1973) was an Italian actor, director, playwright, scene designer and illustrator. Tofano was born in Rome. In 1909, he made his first appearance on stage with Ermete Novelli, then joined Virgil ...

: Guido's grandfather *

Jone Morino Jone Morino (28 April 1896 – ?) Birth name Jone Nicola Morino. was an Italian film actress. Born in Rome, Italy, appeared in at least 37 films between 1938 and 1956. Filmography *''The House of Shame'' (1938) *''Validita Giorni 10'' (19 ...

: Maddalena

La morsa

Amedeo Nazzari Amedeo Nazzari (10 December 1907 in Cagliari – 5 November 1979 in Rome) was an Italian actor. Nazzari was one of the leading figures of Italian classic cinema, often considered a local variant of the Australian–American star Errol Flynn. Al ...

: Andrea Fabbri * Elisa Cegani: Giulia, his wife * Roldano Lupi: Antonio Serra, her lover *

Goliarda Sapienza Goliarda Sapienza (10 May 1924 – 30 August 1996) was an Italian actress and writer. She is best known for her 1998 novel '' L'arte della gioia'' (The Art of Joy). Life Early life Sapienza was born on 10 May 1924 in Catania, Sicily to Maria Giu ...

: Anna, la domestica

Pot-pourri di canzoni

Barbara Florian Barbara Florian (born 1931) is a retired Swedish film actress known for her work in Italian cinema.Small p.129 Selected filmography * ''The Devil in the Convent'' (1950) * '' Carcerato'' (1951) * '' Rome-Paris-Rome'' (1951) * '' Red Moon'' (1951) ...

: the bride *

Elio Pandolfi Elio Pandolfi (17 June 1926 – 11 October 2021) was an Italian stage, film and television actor, radio personality, and voice actor. Life and career Born in Rome, Pandolfi got a degree in accounting, and then he enrolled at the Silvio d’Ami ...

: lo sposo *

Amalia Pellegrini Amalia Pellegrini (16 June 1873 – 13 September 1958) was an Italian actress. She appeared in more than sixty films from 1935 to 1958. Selected filmography References External links * 1873 births 1958 deaths Italian film actresses ...

: the grandmother *

Oscar Andriani Oscar Andriani (28 December 1905 – 17 July 1987) was an Italian actor and playwright. He appeared in more than fifty films from 1937 to 1969. Life and career Born in Brescia, Andriani made his stage debut at 17 years old in the theatrical comp ...

: the father * Elena Altieri: la moglie del maggiore * Gian Aldo Bettoni: il maggiore

Il processo di Frine

* Gina Lollobrigida: Maria Antonia Desiderio *

Vittorio De Sica Vittorio De Sica ( , ; 7 July 1901 – 13 November 1974) was an Italian film director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement. Four of the films he directed won Academy Awards: ''Sciuscià'' and ''Bicycle Thieves'' (honorary) ...

: l'avvocato difensore * Arturo Bragaglia: il pubblico ministero *

Giovanni Grasso jr. Giovanni may refer to: * Giovanni (name), an Italian male given name and surname * Giovanni (meteorology), a Web interface for users to analyze NASA's gridded data * ''Don Giovanni'', a 1787 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, based on the legend of ...

: il presidente del tribunale * Turi Pandolfini: primo cancelliere * Armando Annuale: secondo cancelliere *

Vittorio Caprioli Vittorio Caprioli (15 August 1921 – 2 October 1989) was an Italian actor, film director and screenwriter. He appeared in 109 films between 1946 and 1990, mostly in French productions. Biography Caprioli was born in Naples. Having graduated fr ...

: il farmacista *

Dante Maggio Dante Maggio (2 March 1909 – 3 March 1992) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 115 films between 1940 and 1975. Born in Naples into a family of actors, Maggio had a turbulent adolescence that led his father to send him in an institu ...

: un testimone * Umberto Sacripante * Liana Del Balzo *

Alberto Talegalli Alberto Talegalli (2 October 1913 – 10 July 1961) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 37 films between 1952 and 1961. He was born in Pincano (Spoleto), Italy and died in Gualdo Tadino, in the province of Perugia, Italy. Life and c ...

Alfredo Rizzo Alfredo Rizzo (2 January 1902 – 6 September 1991) was an Italian actor, screenwriter and director. Life and career Born in Nice, France into a family of actors, Rizzo started his career as an actor of avanspettacolo and revue, often alongs ...

Alberto Sorrentino Alberto Sorrentino (16 February 1916 – 31 January 1994), was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 89 films between 1943 and 1988. He was born in La Spezia, Italy. Selected filmography * '' The Last Wagon'' (1943) - Un passante * '' I c ...

References

External links

* {{Alessandro Blasetti 1952 films Films based on works by Edmondo De Amicis Films based on works by Luigi Pirandello 1950s Italian-language films Films directed by Alessandro Blasetti Italian anthology films Films scored by Alessandro Cicognini Italian black-and-white films Works based on Heart (novel)