The Lovemakers () is a 1961 Italian drama film directed by Mauro Bolognini based on a novel by Mario Pratesi. The film which stars Claudia Cardinale and Jean-Paul Belmondo, was entered into the 1961 Cannes Film Festival.

Plot

The original Italian La viaccia is the name of the family farm which motivates the plot. The death of a wealthy patriarch in 1885 sets off an interfamily power struggle. Son Ferdinando buys out his other relatives in order to gain full control over the dead man's property. But Ferdinando's country-bumpkin nephew Amerigo holds out. Amerigo's stance is weakened when he heads for the city and meets prostitute Bianca. To support her in the manner in which she is accustomed, Amerigo steals from his uncle. Disgraced in the eyes of his family, Amerigo decides to stay near his beloved Bianca by becoming a bouncer in her brothel.

The Lovemakers (film)

Cast

Jean-Paul Belmondo as Amerigo

Claudia Cardinale as Bianca

Pietro Germi as Stefano

Gabriella Pallotta as Carmelinda

Romolo Valli as Dante

Paul Frankeur as Ferdinando

Gina Sammarco as Maîtresse

Marcella Valeri as Beppa

Emma Baron as Giovanna

Franco Balducci as Tognaccio

Claudio Biava as Arlecchino

Nando Angelini as young man

Duilio D'Amore as Bernardo

Giuseppe Tosi as Casamonti

Paola Pitagora as Anna

Gianna Giachetti as boarder at brothel

Rosita di Vera Cruz as Margherita

Dante Posani as Gustavo

Olimpia Cavalli as boarder

Aurelio Nardi as ball-man

Maurice Poli

Renzo Palmer

Rina Morelli

References

External links

The Mario Pratesi Fonds at the Victoria University Library at the University of Toronto

The Lovemakers (film)

The Lovemakers at Le Film Guide

1960s Italian-language films

1961 films

1961 drama films

Italian black-and-white films

Titanus films

Films directed by Mauro Bolognini

Films scored by Piero Piccioni

1960s Italian films

The Lovemakers (film)