Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Introduction

Sophia Loren is one of the most renowned screen beauties of all time and, in the 1960s, Marcello Mastroianni was something of an Italian heartthrob. In Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow they appear as different people in three separate stories, romantic comedies which represented a massive change in direction for director Vittorio De Sica, the great neo-realist responsible for Bicycle Thieves and Shoeshine.

The first story, Adelina, concerns the travails of the title character, played by Loren, who was caught selling black market cigarettes but, by chance, found out that she couldn't go to jail for non payment of the fine if she was pregnant or feeding in the six months after birth. Every 18 months then, she and her husband Carmine (Mastroianni), ensure that she is in a position to present the law with a doctor's certificate to keep her out of jail. As the family grows, Carmine becomes increasingly tired and, eventually, unable to perform.

The second and shortest story, Anna, is based on a novella by Alberto Moravia and takes place almost entirely in a Rolls Royce where Anna (Loren) picks up Renzo (Mastroianni) for a drive in the country and some quick nookie while her husband is away in Stuttgart working for the EEC.

Lastly, in Mara, Loren plays a prostitute who lives next door to an opinionated old woman whose grandson comes to visit and is smitten by the gorgeous Mara, deciding against going back to the seminary. Mara is constantly visited by Rusconi (Mastroianni), a politician in town for the week who is also besotted with her. Mara vows to try and get the young man back to the seminary and, if she succeeds, she'll do without for a week.

Video

The setting for Adelina is a gorgeous seaside village near Naples, similar to the windy streets in Bicycle Thieves, though Anna takes place mostly inside a car, the scenery is stunning and beautifully filmed, with the initial journey through Milan. Mara is set predominately in her apartment and terrace in Rome overlooking a beautiful square, though which one I don't know. The DVD does full justice to the cinematography with excellent colours and decent definition.

Audio

A clear Italian mono soundtrack with a lovely score by Armando Trovajoli, so each segment has its own feel and lively comic atmosphere. The option English subtitles are unproblematic and there don't appear to be any daft translations that stick out.

Conclusion

The recipient of the Best Foreign Film Oscar at the 1965 Academy Awards, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow is a breezy sex comedy of a portmanteau film and, whilst notable for Sophia Loren's striptease in front of a howling Marcello Mastroianni, there is more than just superficial enjoyment to be had.

De Sica is clearly making some sociological points about the place of women in society and, whilst Loren was picked for her looks (and, boy does she have them!), she also proves herself a fine actress with a great sense of comic timing. Mastroianni is predominantly known for his roles in Fellini's 8 ½ and La Dolce Vita and is a great foil for Loren, equal to her in almost every respect.

This is a lovely film, dominated by the first and last segments - Anna left me a bit cold - which are very good. Despite the barebones nature of the disc, this is well worth a watch.