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?

• Mauro BologniniDirector
• Tullio PinelliScreenplay
• Ennio MorriconeOriginal Music Composer

• Marcello MastroianniProfessor Bonaccorsi
• Barbara BouchetCarla
• Françoise FabianAnna Bersani
• Silvano Tranquilliprofessor Rospigliosi
• Marthe KellerBianca
• Lucia BosèFrancesca
• Pierre BlaiseTonio
• Adriana AstiGianna
• Maria Michila pazza aggressiva
• Charles Fawcettdottor Sfameni
• Enzo Robuttiil pazzo scrittore
• Ferruccio De Ceresagerarca fascista in treno