''Adua and Her Friends'' ( it, Adua e le compagne), also known as ''Hungry For Love'', is a 1960 Italian film directed by Antonio Pietrangeli with a collaborative screenplay by the film's director together with

Ruggero Maccari Ruggero Maccari (28 June 1919 – 8 May 1989) was an Italian screenwriter. Specially known by his collaboration with film director and screenwriter Ettore Scola. He wrote Commedia all'italiana films such as ''The Easy Life'', '' Brutti spor ...

, Ettore Scola and

Tullio Pinelli Tullio Pinelli (24 June 1908 – 7 March 2009) was an Italian screenwriter known for his work on the Federico Fellini films ''I Vitelloni'', ''La Strada'', '' La Dolce Vita'' and '' 8½''. Biography Born in Turin, Piedmont, Italy, Pinelli beg ...

. The movie is about four

prostitutes Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, non-penet ...

who start a restaurant after their brothel is shut down by the Merlin law, which made brothels illegal in Italy.

Plot

In 1958, the Merlin law made brothels illegal in Italy. Adua, Lolita, Marilina and Millie are four prostitutes whose brothel in Rome is shut down. Under Adua's leadership, they pool their savings, two million lire apiece, to open a restaurant on the outskirts, which will be a cover for an illegal brothel. They rent a run-down building and hire workmen to fix it up but, when they apply for a permit to open the restaurant, their application is rejected because of their history of prostitution. One of Adua's former customers, Ercoli, agrees to buy the building and use his connections to get the permit in his name, in return for a rent of one million lire a month. The restaurant turns out to be unexpectedly successful, and the women effectively abandon their plans to offer sexual services and start to lead respectable lives. Marilina brings her young son to live with her and Millie falls in love and plans to marry. But the restaurant doesn't earn as much as they could make as a brothel, and they can't pay Ercoli his rent. Ercoli gives them an ultimatum: start working as prostitutes again, and pay him his rent, or he will kick them out in 24 hours. When Ercoli returns, Adua refuses to pay and humiliates him, and he leaves. In revenge, he has them all arrested for prostitution. Their pictures appear in the newspapers and their respectable lives are destroyed. Adua, who has sworn never to suffer the fate of a worn-out old prostitute, ends up working in the streets again. In the final scene, on a dismal rainy night, she is rejected in favor of a younger woman.

Cast

Simone Signoret Simone Signoret (; born Simone Henriette Charlotte Kaminker; 25 March 1921 – 30 September 1985) was a French actress. She received various accolades, including an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards, a César Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a ...

: Adua Giovannetti *

Sandra Milo Sandra Milo (born Salvatrice Elena Greco; 11 March 1933 in Tunis) is an Italian actress, television personality, author, and musician. She won a Silver Ribbon best supporting actress award for each of her roles in Federico Fellini's '' 8½'' an ...

: Lolita *

Emmanuelle Riva Emmanuelle Riva (; 24 February 1927 – 27 January 2017) was a French actress, best known for her roles in the films ''Hiroshima mon amour'' (1959) and '' Amour'' (2012). Riva was nominated for a BAFTA Award for her role in ''Hiroshima mon ...

: Marilina *: Milly *

Claudio Gora Claudio Gora, '' Emilio Giordana '' (27 July 1913 – 13 March 1998) was an Italian actor and film director. He was particularly prolific, making some 155 appearances in film and television over nearly 60 years (from 1939 to 1997). In the 1950s ...

: Ercoli *

Ivo Garrani Ivo Garrani (6 February 1924 – 25 March 2015) was an Italian actor and voice actor. In films since 1952, Garrani is possibly best known for his role as Prince Vajda in Mario Bava's '' Black Sunday'' (1960). Biography Born in Introdacqua, ...

: Avvocato *

Gianrico Tedeschi Gianrico Tedeschi (20 April 1920 – 27 July 2020) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Life and career Born in Milan in April 1920, Tedeschi got a degree in pedagogy before enrolling at the Silvio D'Amico National Academy of Dramatic Art, wh ...

: Stefano * Antonio Rais: Emilio *

Duilio D'Amore Duilio (born Lorenzo Duilio di Cicco, 23 February 1973, Basel) is a Swiss singer, best known for his participation in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. Duilio was chosen by broadcaster SRG SSR to represent Switzerland in the 39th Eurovision S ...

: Frate Michele *

Valeria Fabrizi Valeria Fabrizi (born 20 October 1936) is an Italian actress, singer and television personality. Life and career Born in Verona, in 1936 Fabrizi made her acting debut in the revue ''Campione senza valore''. The same year, she had her first lead ...

: Fosca la bionda *

Luciana Gilli Luciana Gilli (born 1944) is a former Italian film actress. During the 1960s she starred in a number of Italian films or European co-productions, particularly adventure stories and westerns.Weisser p.237 Her film debut was the role of Luciana ...

: Dora *

Enzo Maggio Enzo Maggio (10 October 1902 – 13 July 1978) was an Italian actor. Born Vincenzo Maggio in Naples into a family of actors, Maggio made a long apprenticeship in the avanspettacolo theaters before and during the Second World War. On stage, he ...

: Calypso * Domenico Modugno: Himself * Marcello Mastroianni: Piero Silvagni

Sources

External links

* 1960 films 1960 comedy films Italian black-and-white films Commedia all'italiana Films directed by Antonio Pietrangeli 1960s Italian-language films Films set in Rome Films shot in Rome Films about prostitution in Italy Films with screenplays by Ruggero Maccari Italian comedy films 1960s Italian films {{1960s-Italy-comedy-film-stub