Seduced and Abandoned

Italian director Pietro Germi's 1964 b&w film follows the escapades of Don Vincenzo (Saro Urzi), a furious father whose ravished--unmarried and impregnated--daughter (Stefania Sandrelli) is about to cast shame on the entire family. Vincenzo must track down the scoundrel (Leopoldo Trieste), but he happens to be his other daughter's fiance. While this film is certainly a comedy, there are some disturbing scenes (for today's audience) that detract from the humor. Vincenzo, for example, beats his daughter rather savagely when he finds out she is pregnant, and continues to hit her throughout the movie. In fact, the movie as a whole seems a bit too misogynistic to actually be funny. Women are continually called "whores" and treated poorly in general. The film is certainly well-made, and maybe in its time, seemed acceptable and even amusing. Now, however, many will find it offensive. Optional. (L. Russo)[DVD Review—Aug. 22, 2006—Criterion, 117 min., in Italian w/English subtitles, not rated, $29.95—Making its first appearance on DVD, 1964's Seduced and Abandoned boasts an excellent transfer and Dolby Digital mono sound. DVD extras include the 26-minute featurette “Commedia all'Italiana: Germi Style” featuring new interviews with screenwriters Furio Scarpelli and Luciano Vincenzoni and Italian film scholar Mario Sesti, interviews with costars Lando Buzzanca (7 min.) and Stefania Sandrelli (7 min.), a two-minute screen test of Sandrelli, a new essay by film scholar Irene Bignardi, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a smart and often very funny farce that some will find offensive for its treatment of women—although the men aren't treated much better.]