The Key

"TOO HOT for Italian cinemas! Judges close down all theatres screening "THE KEY"!"

1983 1h 50m IT

😐

6.0

MID

★6.0TMDB · 457

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In 1940s Venice, after twenty years' marriage, retired art critic Nino Rolfe and his younger wife Teresa feel their passion waning. To help her shed her inhibitions and rekindle their relationship, the professor records his sexual fantasies in a diary.

“TOO HOT for Italian cinemas! Judges close down all theatres screening "THE KEY"!”

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Cast

Stefania Sandrelli
Teresa Rolfe
Frank Finlay
Nino Rolfe
Franco Branciaroli
Laszlo Apony
Barbara Cupisti
Lisa Rolfe
Armando Marra
Maria Grazia Bon
Giulietta
Gino Cavalieri
Don Rusetto
Piero Bortoluzzi
Memo Longobardi

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Tinto Brass
Writers: Tinto Brass
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

43 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Tinto Brass, shot by Silvano Ippoliti. 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 Ennio Morricone. 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 Tinto Brass 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

Stefania Sandrelli and Frank Finlay and Franco Branciaroli carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "TOO HOT for Italian cinemas! Judges close down all theatres screening "THE KEY"!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0085328 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Tinto Brass directs. Silvano Ippoliti behind the camera. Ennio Morricone scores. Tinto Brass cuts. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

143 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by Tinto Brass, shot by Silvano Ippoliti. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Ennio Morricone. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Tinto Brass shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Stefania Sandrelli and Frank Finlay and Franco Branciaroli carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "TOO HOT for Italian cinemas! Judges close down all theatres screening "THE KEY"!".
7IMDB entry: tt0085328 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 19 themes, including "infidelity", "jealousy", "husband wife relationship", "sexual obsession".