''When Women Were Called Virgins'' ( it, Quando le donne si chiamavano madonne) is a 1972
commedia sexy all'italiana
The commedia sexy all'italiana (, lit. "sex comedy Italian style"), also known as commedia scollacciata or commedia erotica all'italiana, is a subgenre of Italian ''commedia all'italiana'' film genre.
Style
''Commedia sexy'' is characterized typ ...
written and directed by
Aldo Grimaldi
Aldo Grimaldi (1942 – 5 August 1990) was an Italian director and screenwriter.
Born in Catania, the son of the director and screenwriter Giovanni Grimaldi, he started his career as an assistant director in the films of his father. He made ...
. It is part of a series of derivative erotic comedies set in
the Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
which were based on the success of
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Pier Paolo Pasolini (; 5 March 1922 – 2 November 1975) was an Italian poet, filmmaker, writer and intellectual who also distinguished himself as a journalist, novelist, translator, playwright, visual artist and actor. He is considered one of ...
's ''
The Decameron
''The Decameron'' (; it, label= Italian, Decameron or ''Decamerone'' ), subtitled ''Prince Galehaut'' (Old it, Prencipe Galeotto, links=no ) and sometimes nicknamed ''l'Umana commedia'' ("the Human comedy", as it was Boccaccio that dubbed Da ...
''.
Plot
During the Middle Ages, the young Gisippo, Ruberto and Tazio go to Prato to attend the trial of Giulia, guilty of having betrayed her husband Romildo (lazy and too "fast" during the sexual act) and for which she is expected to be sentenced to the stake. Giulia, however, beautiful and convincing, touches the judge's heart and gets permission to try again to make love once more before being sentenced. Since one of the three young men supported Giulia's apology during the trial, Romildo's uncle invites them to his house where he offers him the opportunity to indulge in the most unbridled and vulgar pleasures with three eager girls his guests and named Peronella, Francesca and Lucia.
Although Peronella readily gives herself to Tazio, the other two young men are not so lucky — Francesca has a very jealous uncle, a friar (even if in reality he is a great pleasure-seeker) while Lucia is afraid of confronting the other sex. Gisippo and Ruberto disguise themselves as women and manage to successfully overcome the girls' fears. In the end, the three boys continue to pursue their sexual adventures, while Madonna Giulia decides to offer her favors as a great seductress and prostitute to Judge Don Cecco in return for acquittal.
Cast
*
Edwige Fenech
Edwige Fenech (, ; born 24 December 1948) is an Algerian-born Maltese-Sicilian actress and film producer. She is mostly known as the star of a series of ''commedia sexy all'italiana'' and ''giallo'' films released in the 1970s, which turned her ...
as Giulia Varrone
*
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 ...
as Ser Cecco
*
Stefania Careddu as Francesca
*
Don Backy
Don Backy (real name Aldo Caponi; born 21 August 1939) is an Italian singer, songwriter and actor. He collaborated with Sofia Rotaru for "Grey Bird" – Ukrainian version of Italian song "L'immensità"— "Сизокрилий птах".
Selecte ...
as Marcuzio dei Lucani
*
Jürgen Drews
Jürgen Ludwig Drews (born 2 April 1945) is a German Schlager singer, musician, songwriter and actor.
Life
Drews was born in Nauen near Berlin, and brought up in Schleswig. After finishing school, he went on to study medicine at the Univer ...
as Ruberto
* Paolo Turco as Tazio
* Antonia Brancati as Lucia
*
Mario Carotenuto
Mario Carotenuto (30 June 1916 – 14 April 1995) was an Italian actor of film and theatre.
Biography
Carotenuto, the son of a silent film actor and younger brother of the actor Memmo Carotenuto, took various humble jobs for many years be ...
as Quinto Fulvo
*
Carlo De Mejo as Gisippo
* Francesca Benedetti as Gisa
*
Peter Berling
Peter Berling (20 March 1934 – 21 November 2017) was a German actor, film producer and writer. He has worked on several occasions with director Werner Herzog, among them his collaborations with actor Klaus Kinski like ''Aguirre, the Wrath of Go ...
as Romildo Varrone
*
Carletto Sposito as Friar Mariaccio
* Eva Garden as Peronella
See also
*
List of Italian films of 1972
A list of films produced in Italy in 1972 (see 1972 in film):
References Footnotes
Sources
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External linksItalian films of 1972at the Internet Movie Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:Italian Films Of 1972
1972
Within t ...
References
External links
*
Commedia sexy all'italiana
1970s sex comedy films
Films directed by Aldo Grimaldi
West German films
Films set in Prato
Films with screenplays by Giovanni Grimaldi
1972 comedy films
1972 films
1970s Italian films
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