Down the Ancient Stairs

A mental hospital somewhere in Tuscany during the thirties. Far away from fascism, this closed world is rules over by Dr. Bonaccorsi, a passionate benevolent psychiatrist whose dream is to isolate the germ of madness. He is also a very active ladies'man and makes three women benefit from his sexual itch: Francesca the hospital manager's wife, Bianca, his devoted nurse and Carla, a nymphomaniac doctor's wife. His well-ordered universe starts being challenged with the coming of Anna, a trainee psychiatrist, who disapproves of his theory on the origin of madness. Worse, she resists his advances. As Bonaccorsi is more insecure than he looks, what will become of him?

Cast

Marcello Mastroianni

Professor Bonaccorsi

Barbara Bouchet

Carla

Françoise Fabian

Anna Bersani

Silvano Tranquilli

professor Rospigliosi

Marthe Keller

Bianca

Lucia Bosè

Francesca

Pierre Blaise

Tonio

Adriana Asti

Gianna

Maria Michi

la pazza aggressiva

Charles Fawcett

dottor Sfameni