Watch The Magnificent Cuckold

The Magnificent Cuckold is a 1964 Italian comedy film directed by Antonio Pietrangeli, starring Claudia Cardinale, Ugo Tognazzi, and Bernard Blier. Set in Rome, the film explores themes of infidelity, jealousy, and the battle of the sexes. The story follows the life of Bernardo Cervelloni (Ugo Tognazzi), a wealthy businessman who finds out that his wife, Bianca (Claudia Cardinale), is having an affair with his own doctor, Carlo (Paul Guers). Rather than confront her directly, Bernardo decides to use the situation to his advantage.

He recruits his friend, Ferdinando Bonci-Donati (Bernard Blier), a retired detective, to help him in his plan to catch Bianca and Carlo in the act. Along the way, Ferdinando becomes caught up in his own obsession with adultery and his marriage falls apart.

As the plot thickens, Bernardo becomes increasingly desperate to keep up the charade and even hires an actress (Lila Kedrova) to play the part of Carlo's wife. Chaos ensues as the characters become entangled in a series of lies and deceit, and each character's flaws and weaknesses are revealed.

The Magnificent Cuckold is a satirical look at the hypocrisy of the bourgeoisie and the lengths to which people will go to preserve their public image. The film is also a subtle commentary on gender roles and power dynamics within relationships.

Claudia Cardinale delivers a standout performance as the sexually liberated Bianca, who refuses to be defined by the traditional expectations of women. Ugo Tognazzi brings a perfect balance of humor and pathos to the role of the cuckolded husband, whose machismo is ultimately exposed as a facade. Bernard Blier is superb as the jaded detective whose own experience with infidelity has left him bitter and disillusioned.

The film is shot in gorgeous black and white, capturing the beauty and decay of Rome in the early 1960s. The cinematography is notable for its use of mirrors and reflections to emphasize the characters' duplicity and self-deception.

The Magnificent Cuckold is a timeless classic of Italian cinema, a humorous and insightful look at human nature that is as relevant today as it was over 50 years ago. Fans of Italian comedy and drama will appreciate this witty and sophisticated film that stands as a testament to the art of storytelling.

The Magnificent Cuckold is a 1964 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours and 2 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.