'Tis Pity She's a Whore (film)

'Tis Pity She's a Whore (Italian: Addio fratello crudele, lit. 'Goodbye Cruel Brother') is a 1971 film adaptation of John Ford's tragedy. It is directed by Giuseppe Patroni Griffi, who co-wrote the screenplay, and stars Charlotte Rampling as Annabella, Oliver Tobias as Giovanni, and Fabio Testi as Soranzo. The musical score was composed by Ennio Morricone.

'Tis Pity She's a Whore
Directed by	Giuseppe Patroni Griffi
Screenplay by	Alfio Valdarnini Carlo Carunchio Giuseppe Patroni Griffi
Based on	'Tis Pity She's a Whore by John Ford
Produced by	Silvio Clementelli
Starring	Charlotte Rampling Oliver Tobias Fabio Testi
Cinematography	Vittorio Storaro
Edited by	Franco Arcalli
Music by	Ennio Morricone
Production company	Clesi Cinematografica
Distributed by	Euro International Film
Release date	September 20, 1971 (1971-09-20) (Italy)
Running time	140 minutes
Countries	Italy France

Plot

Main article: 'Tis Pity She's a Whore § Synopsis

In the city of Mantua, during the Italian Renaissance, Giovanni, the son of a propertied man, is sent to study abroad having never met his sister, Annabella, who is a couple of years younger than him. After ten years of separation, the now beautiful Annabella is reunited with her brother for the first time, as adolescents. The young siblings are immediately attracted and cannot help falling in love with each other. After struggling with their feelings for some time Giovanni and Annabella begin a secret relationship, and she becomes pregnant. Knowing that the world will condemn them, Giovanni leaves his father's villa, and Annabella accepts the marriage proposal of her suitor, the wealthy noble Soranzo. After Soranzo discovers that he has been the object of a deception, he makes plans for a bloody vengeance.

Cast

• Charlotte Rampling as Annabella
• Oliver Tobias as Giovanni
• Fabio Testi as Soranzo
• Antonio Falsi as Friar Bonaventura
• Rik Battaglia as Mercante
• Angela Luce as Mercante's governess
• Rino Imperio as Soranzo's servant

Reception

Italian film critic Marco Giusti writes that Rampling undresses as much as she can, but that it is Fabio Testi's physique that is imposing: Always naked and often framed at the height of his buttocks, it is causing the spectators some embarrassment. Giusti perfectly remembers the sight of Testi's big hairy buttocks on the screen of the cinema Verdi in Genoa. However, Teo Mora "forced" Giusti and Enrico Ghezzi to stage it at the Teatro dell'Archivolto in Genoa. Giusti acted as Soranzo, Testi's character; he has not done any theatre since.

Accolades

The film received two Nastro d'Argento Award nominations; Best Cinematography (Vittorio Storaro) and Best Production Design (Mario Ceroli).

Bibliography

• Giusti, Marco (1999). dizionario dei film italiani STRACULT [sic]. Cles: Sterling & Kupfer. ISBN 88-200-2919-7.

External links

• 'Tis Pity She's a Whore at IMDb
• 'Tis Pity She's a Whore at Rotten Tomatoes