The Saga of Franca Viola: The Most Beautiful Wife (1970)
Twilight Time’s second film starring iconic Ornella Muti (after 1974’s Appassionata) is The Most Beautiful Wife / La Moglie Più Bella (1970), a thinly veiled dramatization of Franca Viola, the young woman who successfully had a local mafia leader charged with rape and sent to prison, and changed the terrible convention of a ‘rehabilitated marriage.’ The release is also of note for containing some extras from the prior 2006 NoShame label, which released their own special edition back in 2006.
Shot on location in Sicily under mostly gloomy weather, this grim tale introduced Muti to cinema, and the young actress, then 14 years old, holds her own in carrying the film while supported by an excellent cast of veteran actors. The score by Ennio Morricone has strong and very odd moments, but adds extra depth to a complex story that never deteriorates into outright sexploitation.
Mark R. Hasan, Editor
KQEK.com
Category: EDITOR'S BLOG
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