Le fate

Four Italian directors--Mauro Bolognini, Mario Monicelli, Antonio Pietrangeli, Luciano Salce--helmed this tepid French-Italian co-production dubbed into English about four attractive women who use their sex appeal to seduce, conquer and rule over men. Monica Vitti is saved from rape by a concerned passerby--whom she then overheats with her "charms", starting the cycle all over again; Claudia Cardinale is a hot-tempered swindler and babysitter who uses an infant to take advantage of a pediatrician; Raquel Welch is a married woman fooling around with a married man, who soon discovers his own wife doing the same thing; Capucine is a wealthy contessa giving a party who seduces one of her employees, a somewhat flustered butler. Obvious humor and situations, with the men portrayed as naïve and deluded. The film certainly looks good, however, and the ladies are all lovely. Fourth story with Capucine is the strongest, though this is primarily due to Alberto Sordi's solid, witty performance as her servant. *1/2 from ****

There are four episodes (60s style) directed by four excellent Italian directors (e.g., Monicelli, Bolognini) at their peak. The women Capucine, Raquel Welch, Monica Vitti and Claudia Cardinale are obviously at the top of their performances too. The best and very original episodes were with Vitti and Cardinale which is what the 9 rating is for. The other two episodes are OK (6).

Raquel is her early days can't act (not until she did Broadway). She looks amazing, but she's like looking at a $5,000 plasma HD TV turned off...nothing going on but looks good.

Monica is hilarious in her episode which involves some who's chasing who... Cardinale is terrific and gorgeous as a gypsy girl involves with babies (funky to check out where she lives...). They are the life of this film in contrast to the coolness of Capucine and Welch.

This film is the least know of the episodic commedia all'italiana genre (e.g., Boccaccio '70) It is difficult to get this on DVD (although I have seen copies perhaps unauthorized so the quality of a print you might find may not be good). Hopefully it will be digitally reworked on DVD.

Four different stories but having a common theme: Sex. Monica Vitti is seductive as always, in an episode not exactly for her superior value. Claudia Cardinale looks gorgeous and makes a fresh, original role. Raquel Welch it's a sexy presence, like she used to be in almost all her movies. Enrico Maria Salerno, Gastone Moschin and Jean Sorel, exactly in this order, help the three beauties, Vitti, Cardinale, Welch, how they can best. The final episode is the best of all. Thanks to the generous subject and especially thanks to the great acting of Alberto Sordi and the beautiful and talented Capucine.

If you like watching Italian multi-segment sex comedies -- yes, they made them by the hundreds in the 1960s -- this might be one of the most charming and enjoyable. Good production values, fine directors (Bolognini, Salce, Pietrangeli and champion Monicelli), efficient male co-stars (Jean Sorel, Enrico Maria Salerno, Gastone Moschin and great Alberto Sordi), simple but not bad stories (especially fine is Queen Marta/Welch episode).

But above all, you'll be delighted with these four magnificently beautiful, funny & sexy ladies: force of nature Claudia Cardinale as a carefree young gypsy mother (in one of her best comedy roles); supreme comedienne Monica Vitti who delivers here no less than a masterclass on comedy timing; gorgeous Raquel Welch, sexier than in any of her American films; and classy Capucine, whose character becomes very naughty when she drinks...and then forgets all about it. Wonderful for a lazy evening. Try to see it in the original Italian version with subtitles, so you won't miss Vitti & Cardinale's sexy, husky voices.