Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Italian: Ieri, oggi, domani) is a 1963 comedy anthology film directed by Vittorio De Sica.[3] Starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni, the film consists of three short stories about couples in different parts of Italy. The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 37th Academy Awards.[4]
| Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Italian | Ieri, oggi, domani |
| Directed by | Vittorio De Sica |
| Written by |
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| Produced by | Carlo Ponti |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Giuseppe Rotunno |
| Edited by | Adriana Novelli |
| Music by | Armando Trovajoli |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 118 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Italian |
| Box office | |
Plot
editAdelina of Naples
edit- Written by Eduardo De Filippo in collaboration with Isabella Quarantotti
In 1954, in the working-class Naples district of Forcella, Adelina supports her unemployed husband Carmine and their child by selling black market cigarettes in the street. Due to an unpaid fine, her furniture is to be repossessed, but her neighbours assist her by hiding the furniture. A local lawyer warns Carmine that, since the fine and furniture are under Adelina's name, she will be imprisoned. However, Italian law stipulates that women cannot be imprisoned while pregnant or within six months after the delivery. As a result, Adelina schemes to stay pregnant continuously.
After seven children in eight years, Carmine becomes too exhausted to perform sexually and Adelina nearly resorts to being impregnated by their mutual friend Pasquale, but decides against it. She then turns herself in, and the whole neighbourhood gathers money to free her and petition for her pardon, which eventually occurs and she is reunited with Carmine and their children.
Anna of Milan
edit- Written by Cesare Zavattini and Billa Billa
- Based on the short story "Troppo ricca" by Alberto Moravia
While her wealthy industrialist husband is on a business trip to Stuttgart, bored Milanese housewife Anna picks up her lover Renzo, a struggling writer, in her husband's Rolls-Royce for a drive in the country. She feels neglected by her husband, who, according to her, only cares about work and money. On the drive, Anna allows Renzo to take the wheel of the Rolls-Royce, and while she seductively proposes that they run away together that night, he swerves to avoid a young boy selling flowers by the roadside and crashes the car into a tractor. Infuriated by the damage to her Rolls-Royce, Anna hitches a ride home with a passing driver, leaving Renzo on the highway. After begrudgingly buying a bouquet of flowers from the boy, Renzo throws the flowers away as he walks away.
Mara of Rome
edit- Written by Cesare Zavattini
Mara works as a prostitute from her apartment overlooking Piazza Navona, servicing a variety of high-class clients including Augusto, the wealthy, powerful and neurotic son of a Bologna industrialist.
Mara's elderly neighbour's grandson Umberto is a handsome and callow young man studying for the priesthood but not yet ordained. Umberto and Mara talk one night asking each other about their occupations. Embarrassed, Mara tells him she is a manicurist. Umberto's grandmother sees them talking and, knowing that Mara is a prostitute, interrupts their conversation, telling Mara that she will go to hell. Umberto protests, but Mara defends herself. Umberto falls in love with her. To the shrieking dismay of his grandmother, the young man wishes to leave his vocation to be with Mara, or to join the French Foreign Legion, if Mara rejects him. Mara vows to set the young man on the path of righteousness back to the seminary and vows celibacy for a week, if she succeeds. For this, she enlists the reluctant Augusto. Umberto finally agrees to return to the seminary. Mara rewards Augusto with a striptease, but remembering her vow, refuses to go to bed with him.
Cast
edit|
"Adelina"
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"Anna"
"Mara"
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Production
editThe production of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow took place in various locations across Italy. Each of the three segments was shot in different settings, reflecting the diverse cultural and social landscapes of the country. The first segment is set in Naples and follows the story of Adelina. The second story is set in Milan and revolves around the character of Anna. The final segment is set in Rome and centers on Mara.
For her striptease scene in the "Mara" segment, Loren was coached by Jacques Ruet, choreographer for the Crazy Horse.[5]
Reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 78% based on 9 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10.[6]
John Simon of The New Leader described Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow as an "overrated dud".[7]
Accolades
edit- 1965 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film[4]
- 1965 BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor – Marcello Mastroianni
- 1964 Golden Globes – Samuel Goldwyn Award (nomination)
- 1964 David di Donatello Awards – David for Best Production – Carlo Ponti
- 1964 National Board of Review, USA - NBR award.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "All-time Film Rental Champs". Variety. 7 January 1976. p. 50.
- ^ Balio, Tino (5 November 2010). The Foreign Film Renaissance on American Screens, 1946–1973. ISBN 9780299247935.
- ^ "NY Times: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2012. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
- ^ a b "The 37th Academy Awards (1965) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
- ^ Reynaud, Floriane (20 April 2021). "The secrets behind Sophia Loren's striptease in "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"". Vogue France. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ Simon, John (1967). Private Screenings. The MacMillan Company. p. 154.
- ^ "Top 5 Foreign Language Films Archives". National Board of Review. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
