''Story of a Woman'' is a 1970 Italian-American

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...

romance film Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...

written, produced and directed by Leonardo Bercovici and starring

Bibi Andersson Berit Elisabet Andersson (11 November 1935 – 14 April 2019), known professionally as Bibi Andersson (), was a Swedish actress who was best known for her frequent collaborations with filmmaker Ingmar Bergman. Early life and career Ander ...

Robert Stack Robert Stack (born Charles Langford Modini Stack; January 13, 1919 – May 14, 2003) was an American actor. Known for his deep voice and commanding presence, he appeared in over forty feature films. He starred in the highly successful ABC tele ...

and

James Farentino James Farentino (February 24, 1938 – January 24, 2012) was an American actor. He appeared in nearly 100 television, film, and stage roles, among them '' The Final Countdown'', ''Jesus of Nazareth'', and '' Dynasty''. Career Born in Brooklyn, N ...

Plot

A Swedish girl studying to be a concert pianist in Rome falls in love with a medical student. When she discovers the student is married to an older woman, she heads home to Sweden and marries an American diplomat. The diplomat is assigned to Rome.

Cast

as Karin Uilman *

as David Frasier *

as Bruno Cardini *

Annie Girardot Annie Suzanne Girardot (25 October 193128 February 2011) was a French actress. She often played strong-willed, independent, hard-working, and often lonely women, imbuing her characters with an earthiness and reality that endeared her to women und ...

as Liliana *

Didi Perego Didi Perego (13 April 1935 – 28 June 1993) was a statuesque Italian actress who appeared in more than 80 films and television shows. She made her film debut in 1959's '' Death of a Friend''. The same year, she starred in perhaps her best-know ...

as Bruno's Girl Friend *

Mario Nascimbene Mario Nascimbene (28 November 1913 – 6 January 2002) was one of the best known Italian film soundtrack composers of the 20th century. His career spanned six decades, during which time he earned several awards for the innovative contents of his ...

as Prof Ferrara *

Francesco Mulè Francesco Mulè (3 December 1926 – 4 November 1984), was an Italian actor, voice actor and television and radio personality. He appeared in 74 films between 1953 and 1979. Born in Rome, the son of composer Giuseppe Mulè, he studied at t ...

as Manzetti (as Francesco Mulé) *

Frank Sundström Frank Sundström (16 January 1912 – 8 November 1993) was a Swedish actor. He appeared in more than 30 films and television shows between 1933 and 1989. In 1948 he played the lead in the American film '' Song of My Heart''. Selected filmo ...

as Mr. Ullman *

Toivo Pawlo Toivo Pawlo (25 December 1917 – 14 June 1979) was a Swedish film actor. He appeared in 50 films between 1943 and 1978. At the 12th Guldbagge Awards he won the award for Best Actor for his role in the film '' Hello Baby''. Selected filmog ...

as Rushenov *

Beppe Wolgers John Bertil "Beppe" Wolgers (10 November 1928 – 6 August 1986) was a Swedish author, poet, translator, lyricist, actor, entertainer and artist. Career Wolgers was born in Stockholm, Sweden and was the son of forest ranger John Wolgers and Ge ...

as Fahlen *

Birgitta Valberg Birgitta Valberg (16 December 1916 – 29 March 2014) was a Swedish actress. She was best known for her work in several Ingmar Bergman films made over a 30-year period, including the Bergman produced ''Paradise Place'' (1977). For her role in ...

as Mrs. Ullman * Cathy Riney as Cathy * Erika Rosell as Sissi

Production

Universal wanted Robert Stack to sign to a long-term contract and star in the TV series '' The Name of the Game''; as an inducement they offered him one feature film a year the first of which was ''Story of a Woman''. He made it just before he started the series. Stack called it "a love story, in the genre of '' A Man and a Woman'' with its own kind of style. The role is a real departure for me, my first unabashedly romantic story. When I saw daily footage I saw a character I'd never seen on film before - me." James Farentino joined the cast in February 1968. Filming began in March 1968 in Stockholm. It was also filmed in Rome. Composer John Williams contributed to the film's score with the song "Uno di qua, l'altra di là", which was sung by Onella Vanoni.

Reception

The film's release was delayed a long time. According to one report the film "played a week in Cleveland and died." It screened in Los Angeles in late 1971, the ''Los Angeles Times'' calling it "well made". ''The Motion Picture Herald'' also reviewed the film, noting that it was "straight out of the pages of one of the better women's magazines". Variety predicted its "clichéd development will have very limited appeal." Stack later wrote "despite good reviews, the film came in over budget and didn't make a nickel." Stack says that Universal tried to get out of its commitment to him to make one film a year for the next two years - they ended up paying him off.Stack p 271

References

External links