In the great Jay Slater biography and interview I found on Renato Polselli, he says, "In 1961, Polselli found critical success with Ultimatum alla vita and Avventura al motel. Ultimatum alla vita is a war drama in which women prisoners of the Germans begin to fight for the partisan cause. The film won a number of awards and was particularly well-received in France. Polselli freely admits that World War II affected him during the German occupation of Italy. "Minor Italian films such as All the Girls Are Going to Stop Me and From Matter to Life made me stop and think. These films were not only important to me personally, but for all the people of Italy. They conveyed social concerns regarding the war and Italy's situation after the Allies left. In the 50s, Italian cinema found it difficult to raise these questions and answer our doubts." Polselli switches his mood to one of deep thought and utter seriousness. "I knew that in the 50s, Italian cinema was restrained in what it could say. So, I decided to make films that could ask questions and try to raise more dangerous topics. One such film I saw at the cinema, now lost, was critical of the American invasion of Italy. The politicians were afraid of movies like this, and tried to ban them." While on the subject of Ultimatum alla vita, Polselli changes direction and starts talking about mistreating his actors! "I have never really had a problem with actors in my films. The only actor who gave me trouble was Fabrizio Capucci, who plays the role of 'Hans' in Ultimatum alla vita. Capucci was always so stupid and full of himself. Eventually, after putting up with his behavior, I beat him up! After that, Capucci was fine on set and did what I asked of him."
I kind of love that Italian directors have no issues with telling you that they physically fought their actors.
He goes on: "Avventura al motel was a sexual farce, very much like the teenage American comedies of the early 80s in which the characters were obsessed with losing their virginity. The film is a simple story in which couples attempt to screw in a motel, but are always disturbed before they can get down to the dirty deed. Avventura al motel was very successful at the Italian box office."
Unfortunately, I can't find a copy of Ultimatum alla vita, but I have seen Avventura al motel.
It's pretty wild when you realize the excesses that Polselli would later unleash, but this is a light and frothy sex comedy in which a starlet and a pilot, two bit Casanovas, an industry manager and his secretary, and several others all have sexual hijinks in a fancy hotel. It was written by Polselli with Giovanni Grimaldi and Bruno Corbucci and stars Italian Western icon Anthony Steffen, comedy team Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia, Margaret Lee (Asylum Erotica AKA Slaughter Hotel) and Eva Bartok (Blood and Black Lace).
I kind of love that Italian directors have no issues with telling you that they physically fought their actors.
He goes on: "Avventura al motel was a sexual farce, very much like the teenage American comedies of the early 80s in which the characters were obsessed with losing their virginity. The film is a simple story in which couples attempt to screw in a motel, but are always disturbed before they can get down to the dirty deed. Avventura al motel was very successful at the Italian box office."
Unfortunately, I can't find a copy of Ultimatum alla vita, but I have seen Avventura al motel.
It's pretty wild when you realize the excesses that Polselli would later unleash, but this is a light and frothy sex comedy in which a starlet and a pilot, two bit Casanovas, an industry manager and his secretary, and several others all have sexual hijinks in a fancy hotel. It was written by Polselli with Giovanni Grimaldi and Bruno Corbucci and stars Italian Western icon Anthony Steffen, comedy team Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia, Margaret Lee (Asylum Erotica AKA Slaughter Hotel) and Eva Bartok (Blood and Black Lace).
