Alfredo Alfredo

Soundtrack:

(51:54 min)

After already exploring the musical side of the films by Pietro Germi and the complete OSTs by Carlo Rustichelli for the films “Seduced and Abandoned” (“Sedotta e abbandonata”), “Divorce Italian Style” (“Divorzio all’italiana”) and “The Birds, The Bees, and The Italians” (“Signore e Signori”), it is now “Alfredo, Alfredo’s” turn. At the time, CAM had released an LP in Italy (CAM SAG 9044) and in Japan (Seven Seas FML 104) with 20 tracks for a total of 30 min. and 44 sec. Then in 1993 it was released for the first time on CD (CSE 107) with extra tracks (39:28 min. total), but with the sound filtered in Dolby Surround (something not appreciated by collectors). For our CD (51:54 minutes) we used the stereo master tapes from the original album (without Dolby) and we discovered around 21 extra minutes of material. 

Director and Cast:

Directed in 1972 by Pietro Germi. Starring Dustin Hoffman, Stefania Sandrelli, Carla Gravina, Saro Urzì, Duilio Del Prete, Enzo Cannavale.

Plot:

Alfredo (Hoffman) works in a bank and is in love with a pharmacist named Mariarosa (Sandrelli). With the help of a friend (Del Prete), he is able to start a relationship with Mariarosa and eventually marry her. But Mariarosa’s tendency to be possessive reaches extremes and causes Alfredo to lose his friend, his father and his independence. When she becomes pregnant, she sends Alfredo to sleep in the basement, but at least in this way he’s able to get back his freedom. During one of his nightly wanderings outside, Alfredo meets Carolina (Gravina), a nice girl who is willing to love him without any constraints. She becomes his lover and he runs to her when he finds out Mariarosa’s pregnancy was only the result her hysteria. The idea of returning to his previous hell throws him into despair. He becomes a supporter of legalizing divorce and when this happens, his marriage is legally dissolved. Now that he is free again, Carolina puts pressure on him to marry her. Once again Alfredo finds himself tangled up in matrimonial ties. The entire film is told using flashbacks to a courtroom.

Notes about film:

The film won the David di Donatello prize in 1973 for best film.