La marchande d'amour

Oddly enough, this is a version of a tale which was written by 20th-century Italian novelist Alberto Moravia. It looks. however, as if written much earlier, say, by 19th-century French novelists such as Zola or Balzac. Zola, especially. This is naturalism at its most, therefore a Zolaesque treat from beginning to end, including incest. Gina is The Provincial One of the original title, a kind of Belle de Jour avant la lettre. The production is sound, although director Mario Soldati had done better earlier jobs in 'OK Nerone,' even 'Il piccolo mondo antico.' Neo-realism plus star quality doesnt always work well as the cast are eventually miscast . Isn't Lollo too beautiful to go wayward and unsatisfied like this? Wasn't Ferzetti much more insatiable (and a better actor) in 'L'avventura,' where he had sex with Monica Vitti, then with Lea Massari, finally with some casual hooker?