Down the Ancient Stairs
Per le antiche scale
“Dante's Inferno is Alive and Well”
Synopsis
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?
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
"The Films of Mauro Bolognini" (2021) excerpt
Type: Clip • Published 2022-05-13
Top Cast
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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
Enzo Robutti
il pazzo scrittore
Ferruccio De Ceresa
gerarca fascista in treno
Maria Teresa Albani
Paolo Pacino
Paola Corazzi
Alessandra Cardini
Annunziata Fuciarelli
Asylum Patient (uncredited)
Adriana Falco
Laura
Release History & Theatrical Window
Locarno Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 17, 1975
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Mauro Bolognini
- Screenplay & Story
- Tullio Pinelli
- Original Score
- Ennio Morricone
- Original Title
- Per le antiche scale
- Country of Origin
- Italy
- Spoken Languages
- Italian
- Runtime
- 1h 50m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Mauro Bolognini
Tullio Pinelli, Mario Tobino
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Guarnieri
Fulvio Lucisano
Department Leadership Roster
Mauro Bolognini
Director
Tullio Pinelli
Screenplay
Fulvio Lucisano
Producer
Ennio Morricone
Original Music Composer
Ennio Guarnieri
Director of Photography
Piero Tosi
Costume Design
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Down the Ancient Stairs.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Down the Ancient Stairs.
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MovieLens[30K:40K]
Italian Film Music
Films with Italian composer-related scores and music. As of now I've added Ennio Morricone, Alessandro Alessandroni, and Stelvio Cipriani up through the 1970s. Next up: Bruno Nicolai.
Italian Cinema
Digital
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Frequently Asked Questions About Down the Ancient Stairs
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Down the Ancient Stairs about?
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?
Who directed Down the Ancient Stairs?
Down the Ancient Stairs was directed by Mauro Bolognini.
Who stars in Down the Ancient Stairs?
The principal cast of Down the Ancient Stairs includes Marcello Mastroianni, Barbara Bouchet, Françoise Fabian, Silvano Tranquilli, Marthe Keller.
When was Down the Ancient Stairs released and how long is it?
Down the Ancient Stairs was released in 1975 with a total runtime of 1h 50m.
Who composed the musical score for Down the Ancient Stairs?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Down the Ancient Stairs was composed by Ennio Morricone.
Is Down the Ancient Stairs based on a book or true story?
Down the Ancient Stairs is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Mario Tobino".