L'ultimo amante

Of the handful of film directors who have remade their original versions, the name of Mario Mattoli does not immediately spring to mind! In 1942 he directed 'Stasera niente di nuovo' from a screenplay by the prolific Aldo de Benedetti which concerns the poignant relationship between a boozy journalist named Cesare and Maria, a prostitute he tries to redeem. In the original Cesare is played by Carlo Ninchi and Maria by the ravishing 21 year old Alida Valli. Fast forward to 1955 and we have Amadeo Nazzari as the journalist and as the prostitute the equally ravishing 21 year old Mai Britt.

In terms of the excellent performances and overall direction both films are evenly matched and again Benedetti contributes the screenplay. The striking difference is that the earlier version is very much influenced by French poetic realism whereas this later one is in the style of the 'tear-jerker' that proved extremely popular with post-war Italian film-goers and which film historians have since labelled as 'appendix neo-realism'!

Nazzari and Britt work wonderfully together and have a definite 'simpatico' which aids the film considerably. All of the characters are well drawn and Maria's 'protector' is played by well-dubbed American Frank Latimore. Miss Britt has the voice of the ubiquitous Lydia Simoneschi.

The final scene cannot fail to jerk a tear or three with a little help of course from Verdi's prelude to Act 111 of 'La Traviata'. Tissues at the ready!