Poster for the movie Down the Ancient Stairs

Down the Ancient Stairs

1975 • 110 minutes
Drama

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?

Picture of Marcello Mastroianni

Marcello Mastroianni

Professor Bonaccorsi

Picture of Barbara Bouchet

Barbara Bouchet

Carla

Picture of Françoise Fabian

Françoise Fabian

Anna Bersani

Picture of Silvano Tranquilli

Silvano Tranquilli

professor Rospigliosi

Picture of Marthe Keller

Marthe Keller

Bianca

Picture of Lucia Bosè

Lucia Bosè

Francesca

Picture of Pierre Blaise

Pierre Blaise

Tonio

Picture of Adriana Asti

Adriana Asti

Gianna

Picture of Maria Michi

Maria Michi

la pazza aggressiva

Picture of Charles Fawcett

Charles Fawcett

dottor Sfameni

Picture of Enzo Robutti

Enzo Robutti

il pazzo scrittore

Picture of Ferruccio De Ceresa

Ferruccio De Ceresa

gerarca fascista in treno

Picture of Maria Teresa Albani

Maria Teresa Albani

Picture of Paolo Pacino

Paolo Pacino

Picture of Paola Corazzi

Paola Corazzi

Picture of Alessandra Cardini

Alessandra Cardini

Picture of Annunziata Fuciarelli

Annunziata Fuciarelli

Asylum Patient (uncredited)