The Couples

1970 2h 1m IT

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 16

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Three episodes. Episode 1 - The Refrigerator (Monicelli). A married couple of two poor emigrant workers spend almost all their money to buy a refrigerator (a must in the '70s). The purchase is too expensive for their family balance sheet. To earn some money they decide to go for prostitution. The wife is not so unhappy to the perspective. Episode 2 - The Room (Sordi). To celebrate ten years of marriage a couple decides to spend a quick holiday in top luxury hotels in Sardinia. But the fashion luxury VIP world is too hard to enter; they soon will end in prison. Episode 3 - The Lion (De Sica). Two adulterous, Antonio and Giulia, are blocked by a lion, staying on the exit in the place they met. They both have to come back home, but couldn't move because of the lion’s presence. The critical situation soon drives them to their limit, revealing their real essence.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Alberto Sordi
Giacinto / Antonio
Monica Vitti
Adele / Giulia
Enzo Jannacci
Gavino
Rossana Di Lorenzo
Erminia
Luigi Bonos
Kalam Shamsuddin

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Alberto Sordi
Writers: Ruggero Maccari, Rodolfo Sonego, Stefano Strucchi
Languages: Italian
Countries: Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

56 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Alberto Sordi, shot by Carlo Di Palma. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Piero Piccioni. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Ruggero Mastroianni shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Alberto Sordi and Monica Vitti and Enzo Jannacci carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0065577 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 16 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Alberto Sordi directs. Carlo Di Palma behind the camera. Piero Piccioni scores. Ruggero Mastroianni cuts. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

156 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Alberto Sordi, shot by Carlo Di Palma. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Piero Piccioni. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Ruggero Mastroianni shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Alberto Sordi and Monica Vitti and Enzo Jannacci carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0065577 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 16 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.