The Filumena Marturano by Sophia Loren is passionate, determined to protect her children, a "carnal" woman, aware of her life, but determined not to be crushed by the prejudices reserved for women "of ill repute" as she was in her youth by hunger and misery. Filumena is ignorant (the scene in which she has to put her signature on a document is famous), but endowed with a deep emotional intelligence that makes her loved by all and with a stubborn strength that, in the epilogue, makes her achieve that familial love she has never received and that redeems her from the suffering she has endured.

The locations where "Marriage Italian Style" was filmed, between Naples and Herculaneum

Inspired by the play "Filumena Marturano," which Maestro Eduardo De Filippo built for his sister Titina, the film of Vittorio De Sica recounts the tormented bond, born of a chance meeting during a bombing raid during World War II, between wealthy womanizer Domenico Soriano and prostitute Filumena.

Herculaneum: Domenico's interrogation of Filumena and the kiss

It is located here, in Via Contrada Osservatorio, the area called Atrio del Cavallo, which serves as a backdrop for the protagonists in the scene in which Domenico tries to steal Filumena's name from her son. The correspondence of the place is confirmed by some glimpses in the film and is also the scene of the famous kiss between the protagonists at the height of a heated argument.

Maschio Angioino: Soriano pastry shop

On the street corner of Via Vittorio Emanuele III and Via San Carlo, where there is now a bank located right in front of the triumphal arch of Castel Nuovo, one can find the Soriano pastry shop of "Marriage Italian Style."

Piazza Bellini: Filumena and the lawyer, the signing scene

It is in the square dedicated to the great Italian musician of the 19th century that Filumena, who has just left the lawyer's office, is joined by the factotum Alfredo who, having always been in love with her, proposes to marry her, making her a respectable woman and also taking charge of her three children.

Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, symbolic place of the film

Piazza del Gesù Nuovo is named after the church of the same name and is located along the Decumano Inferiore. In the film it is crossed by Loren running, followed by the seamstress, in the scene where she joins Mastroianni-Domenico in the Church for the wedding. It is in this Piazza that Palazzo Pandola is also located.

Pandola Palace, where Filumena first experiences love and family

The interior of the building overlooking the famous Piazza del Gesù becomes Filumena's home. In the finale of "Marriage Italian Style," the facade of Palazzo Pandola frames the closing lines of Filumena, who sits on the sofa crying from happiness. De Sica recalls that in the first take of this scene Sophia Loren was emotional, and that the line in which she confesses to Domenico how beautiful it is to cry came out in a strange baritone tone of voice, so much so that it left all the bystanders stunned. In order not to impress the actress, the director continued shooting this very emotional scene, and then gently asked Loren to use a light tone of voice with a higher pitch.

The most important things to know about "Marriage Italian Style"

  • Initially, Anna Magnani was thought of for the role of the female lead, but she was later preferred to Loren in order to reintroduce on the big screen the Mastroianni-Loren pair, which had already proved successful in "Ieri, Oggi e Domani."
  • The film was the winner of numerous awards, such as: David di Donatello 1965 for Best Director for Vittorio De Sica, Best Producer for Carlo Ponti, Best Leading Actress for Sophia Loren and Best Actor for Marcello Mastroianni; Nastro d'argento 1965 for Best Supporting Actress for Tecla Scarano.
  • "Marriage Italian Style "was also a huge commercial success, so much so that it held its own in terms of box office with a classic like "Agent 007 - Mission Goldfinger," in theaters in Italy at the same time.