''The Miller's Beautiful Wife'' () is a 1955 Italian

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Mario Camerini Mario Camerini (6 February 1895 – 4 February 1981) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Camerini began his career in the film industry in 1920, working for his cousin the director Augusto Genina. Camerini went on to direct his own fi ...

, that stars

Marcello Mastroianni Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni (26 September 1924Come da lui stesso dichiarato a 1'10" dquesta intervista/ref> – 19 December 1996) was an Italian actor. He is generally regarded as one of Italy's most iconic male performers of the 20t ...

Sophia Loren Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone (; born 20 September 1934), known professionally as Sophia Loren ( , ), is an Italian actress, active in her native country and the United States. With a career spanning over 70 years, she is one of the ...

and

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. Widely considered one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, four of the fil ...

. A remake of the director's 1934 film, 'Il capello a tre punte”, it is based on the Spanish novel

El sombrero de tres picos ''The Three-Cornered Hat'' ( or ) is a ballet choreographed by Léonide Massine to music by Manuel de Falla. Commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev, the ballet premiered in 1919. In addition to its Spanish setting, this ballet also employs the techniq ...

that came out in 1874.

Plot

In the south of Italy under Spanish rule, the young miller Luca lives with his wife Carmela. A good-looking and sociable couple, they host lunches at their mill for local dignitaries, including the Spanish governor Don Teofilo. When the governor makes advances to Carmela, she asks him for favours in return. His inept administration of the province leads to an outbreak of popular anger at the annual celebration of the town's patron saint and among the many arrested and detained is Luca. Donna Dolores, the governor's neglected wife, realises that he has gone too far in his handling of the inhabitants and begs him to release them all, which he does apart from Luca. At nightfall he goes out to the mill, planning to catch Carmela alone, but in the dark falls into the chilly millstream. Rescued by Carmela, he is put to bed with a hot toddy while his clothes dry by the fire. Meanwhile, Luca has escaped and, creeping into the darkened mill, sees not only Don Teofilo's clothes, but also the governor in the marital bed. A way of getting even comes to him. Dressing in the governor's clothes, he goes to Don Teofilo's house and finds Donna Dolores in her bed. She responds eagerly to his advances, but he breaks off and reveals his identity, saying he has had his revenge. When Don Teofilo creeps back in the miller's nightshirt, Luca is able to humiliate him in front of his wife. She advises her contrite husband not only to avoid other men's wives but also to treat the inhabitants more justly. Don Teofilo never discovers if his wife did succumb to Luca, who now spends more time with Carmela and less in socialising.

Cast

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. Widely considered one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, four of the fil ...

as Don Teofilo *

as Carmela *

as Luca *

Paolo Stoppa Paolo Stoppa (6 June 1906 – 1 May 1988) was an Italian actor. Biography Paolo Stoppa was born in Rome into a family of a ministerial official, Luigi Stoppa, and Adriana De Antonis. He began as a stage actor in 1927 in the theater in Rome ...

as Gardunia *

Yvonne Sanson Yvonne Sanson, born Fotini Sapountzakis (Greek: Φωτεινή ΣαπουντζάκηMario Passante Mario (; ) is a character created by the Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the star of the ''Mario'' franchise, a recurring character in the ''Donkey Kong'' franchise, and the mascot of the Japanese video game company Nintendo. M ...

Carlo Sposito Carlo Sposito (1 May 1924 – 9 September 1984) was an Italian character actor, sometimes credited as Carletto Sposito. Born in Palermo, he was among the most active actors in the post-war Italian genre cinema. He was also pretty active on sta ...

(as Carletto Sposito) *

Virgilio Riento Virgilio Riento (29 November 1889 – 7 September 1959) was an Italian actor and comedian. He appeared in 108 films between 1936 and 1959. Life and career The son of a theatrical impresario, Riento made his debut on stage as a child, as a ...

as Salvatore *

Elsa Vazzoler Elsa Vazzoler (10 May 1920 – 8 August 1989) was an Italian stage, film, television and voice actress. Life and career Born in Treviso, Vazzoler started studying acting and ballet after finishing high school. She debuted with dialect amateur ...

* Angela Lavagna *

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 actress ...

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 ...

Emilio Petacci Emilio Petacci (1886–1965) was an Italian film actor.Goble p.74 Selected filmography * '' Love Everlasting'' (1913) * '' The Wedding March'' (1934) * '' The Joker King'' (1935) * '' Sette giorni all'altro mondo'' (1936) * '' Joe the Red'' (193 ...

Michele Riccardini Michele Mario Alberto Riccardini (2 October 1910 – 24 July 1978) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in around fifty films during his career as well as several television episodes. In 1943 he played the role of Don Remigio in Luchino Viscont ...

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 ...

Nino Marchesini Nino Marchesini (1895 – 13 January 1961) was an Italian actor. He appeared in more than seventy films from 1931 to 1961. Filmography References External links * 1895 births 1961 deaths Italian male film actors Male actors from A ...

References

External links

* 1955 films 1950s Italian-language films 1955 comedy films Films based on Spanish novels Films based on works by Pedro Antonio de Alarcón Films directed by Mario Camerini Films produced by Carlo Ponti Films produced by Dino De Laurentiis Remakes of Italian films Works about millers Italian comedy films 1950s Italian films Works based on The Three-Cornered Hat Italian-language comedy films {{1950s-Italy-comedy-film-stub