Down the Ancient Stairs

Dante's Inferno is Alive and Well

Down the Ancient Stairs — Plot

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?

• Release date
• October 17, 1975
• Runtime
• 110 min
• Genres
• Drama
• Director
• Mauro Bolognini

Down the Ancient Stairs — 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