Main Cast: Sergio Assisi, Gabriella Pession, Silvana De Santis, Mario Scaccia, Isa Danieli
Release Year: 1999
Country: IT/FR
Run Time: 102 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
The life and times of Italy's King Ferdinand are played for laughs in this comic historical piece directed by Lina Wertmuller. Set in the 18th century, Ferdinando E Carolina opens with the aging Ferdinand falling ill and being taken to his bed, with his life story told in flashback. A naturally rambunctious and impetuous child, Ferdinand grows to young adulthood and is poised to take over the crown at 16. The powers behind the throne have arranged a marriage with a princess from Austria (despite the fact that Ferdinand has already taken a lover), but she dies of smallpox before the wedding can take place; her sister is next proposed as a fitting mate, but then she dies as well. When a third sister, Maria Carolina, is presented, Ferdinand is decidedly unenthusiastic, given the family's track record on the path to the altar. But when Ferdinand's advisors (and Carolina's mother) start to lean on him, he agrees, and he soon discovers on their honeymoon that he and Carolina get along famously in the bedroom, if nowhere else. While Ferdinand is never quite cured of his roving eye, Carolina soon has the King under her spell, and her political power soon rivals his own. While much of the cast of Ferdinando E Carolina (aka Ferdinand and Carolina) are newcomers, veteran Italian film stars Silvana De Santis and Mario Scaccia appear in supporting roles. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Cast
Sergio Assisi - Ferdinando
Gabriella Pession - Maria Carolina
Silvana De Santis - Empress Maria Teresa
Mario Scaccia - Old Ferdinando
Isa Danieli - Governess
Nicole Grimaudo - Princess Of Medina; Lola Pagnani - Sara
Credit
Gino Persico - Costume Designer, Simonetta Frollini - First Assistant Director, Cosma Quaglia - First Assistant Director, Lina Wertmüller - Director, Pierluigi Leonardi - Editor, Italo Greco - Composer (Music Score), Paolo Raffone - Composer (Music Score), Marcello Vitale - Composer (Music Score), Bruno Amalfitano - Production Designer, Enrico Job - Production Designer, Blasco Giurato - Cinematographer, Edwige Fenech - Producer, Edwin Fenech - Producer, Giuseppe Muratori - Sound/Sound Designer, Lina Wertmüller - Screenwriter, Raffaele La Capria - Screenwriter
