Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • 3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)
    • 3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)
    • 3625. Ode To Joy (2019)
    • 3624. One Chance (2013)
    • 3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)
    • 3622. The Polka King (2017)
    • 3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)
    • 3620. Friendzone (2021)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»2549. Seduced And Abandoned (1964)

    2549. Seduced And Abandoned (1964)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on May 11, 2019 110-119 mins, 1964, 6 - 7.9, Comedy, Drama, Italy, May 19, Movies Of 2019, Review
    7.5 Enjoyably manic
    • Acting 7.5
    • Directing 7.5
    • Story 7.6
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Saro Urzi, Stefania Sandrelli, Aldo Puglisi

    Director: Pietro Germi

    Running Time: 118 mins


    Seduced And Abandoned (Sedotta e abbandonata) is an Italian film about a father who, after discovering his daughter has been left pregnant by a family friend, sets out on a manic search for the man.

    I wouldn’t call this movie a laugh-a-minute farce of a comedy, given that it’s actually quite a lot darker and grittier than it seems to let on, but it does have an enjoyable manic sense of humour that ramps up the silly factor as it goes along, centred around a hilariously highly-strung performance from Saro Urzi as he desperately tries to rescue his family’s honour following the discovery of his daughter’s pregnancy.

    We have to start, however, with the film’s opening act, which is a rather strange and unexpectedly heavy-going way to begin a film that seems like it’s meant to be a lot funnier than it is. That’s not to say the humour in the opening act is poor, but given that the film starts off with a young woman being violated, and then being repeatedly chastised by her family as the man who committed the crime is off doing his own thing, it’s all a little too dark and gritty to really find much opportunity to laugh at.

    Of course, times are different and the topic wasn’t taken as seriously at the time this film was made, which is why so many rather dark themes are taken so lightly, but it’s still difficult to really get into the funnier side of this movie at the beginning, particularly as it centres on the rather heavy emotional suffering of this young woman in the opening stages.

    On the flipside, however, the film does offer up some interesting themes and ideas that, while not always quite fitting for a comedy, do make for an engrossing watch throughout. The diminutive and submissive role of women in society makes for fascinating and equally depressing watching, while on the slightly lighter side of things, the film touches on the unavoidable world of gossip and social standing in small-town life.

    And that’s where the funnier side to Seduced And Abandoned comes in. While it starts off in intriguing but unfittingly heavy-going fashion, the story shifts its focus from the suffering of the daughter to the stress of the father, as he desperately tries to hunt down the man who committed the crime, as well as salvage the honour of his family in the meantime. Once that happens, the lighter-hearted vibe is much more palatable, and the film begins to ramp up the silliness factor to ridiculous levels.

    Saro Urzi’s performance plays a big role in the growing mania of the story, as his increasingly flustered, embarrassed and desperate character goes to extreme lengths to get his way. However, given that he’s not working entirely out of selfishness, and more for the benefit/honour of his family, as well as Urzi’s likably manic on-screen persona, he never proves an annoying or distasteful lead, and instead helps the film on its way to a hugely funny and crazed finale.

    Overall, I enjoyed Seduced And Abandoned, both as a silly comedy – once it gets to that point – as well as an engrossing and uncharacteristically gritty drama. It definitely doesn’t blend the lighter and darker sides of its key themes together well, but it does offer up interesting ideas and entertaining humour throughout, and that’s why I’m giving it a 7.5.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. Since January 1st, 2013, he has watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    7.1

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    5.3
    January 17, 2022

    3620. Friendzone (2021)

    7.1
    January 10, 2022

    3612. The Lost Daughter (2021)

    8.0
    January 7, 2022

    3609. Licorice Pizza (2021)

    7.2
    January 7, 2022

    3608. Lamb (2021)

    7.4
    December 30, 2021

    3599. The King’s Man (2021)

    6.3
    December 29, 2021

    3598. The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

    8.4
    December 28, 2021

    3597. West Side Story (2021)

    6.3
    December 27, 2021

    3596. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

    Recommended Movies
    8.5
    Review
    December 16, 20140

    784. Galaxy Quest (1999)

    8.9
    Review
    July 21, 20170

    1831. Dunkirk (2017)

    8.0
    Review
    February 3, 20130

    41. Planet Of The Apes (1968)

    8.6
    Review
    August 6, 20170

    1847. Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)

    8.7
    Review
    January 4, 20160

    1205. The Revenant (2015)

    Popular Posts
    7.1
    January 24, 2022

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8
    January 23, 2022

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9
    January 22, 2022

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    7.4
    January 21, 2022

    3624. One Chance (2013)

    6.3
    January 20, 2022

    3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)

    7.5
    January 19, 2022

    3622. The Polka King (2017)

    6.0
    January 18, 2022

    3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)

    © 2022 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.