Il mantenuto

Of the five films in which Ugo Tognazzi both directs and stars, this is the first and arguably the finest. The character of Stefano is a perfect vehicle for this actor whose undoubted comedic touch is tinged with a certain air of melancholy which makes his performances so interesting.

Although not nearly as sexy as its poster would suggest the film concerns Stefano's relationships with three women. There is a colleague at work who constantly resists his advances with the oh-so typical 'I'm not saying yes and I'm not saying no'. He meets a tart pretending to be a nurse with whom his friendship results in his being wrongly labelled 'a gigolo' by both the police and a gang of pimps. The final irony is that having been chased by a rich widow he ends up working as an employee in her supermarket, thereby becoming literally 'a kept man'. In the final scene we witness his anger and frustration boil over.

Tognazzi has cast this well and especially of note is Ilaria Occhini as the manipulative tart.

This is all about the artistry of Tognazzi however whose character is a poignant reminder that nice guys invariably finish last. The presence of his canine chum Adolfo would also suggest that perhaps, after all, a man's best friend is his dog!