The first time I became aware of this film's medieval erotic/religious/political narrative was via the VHS of a soft-core version of the same events called DEVILS OF MONZA (1986); other Italian adaptations were made in 1947, 1962 (perhaps the best-regarded of the lot a viewing of which, incidentally, followed soon after this one), 1980 (directed by notorious "Euro-Cult" exponent Bruno Mattei!) and even a TV mini-series in 2004. Having preceded it by another "Nunsploitationer" the slightly superior ABBESS OF CASTRO (1974) one can see how the genre was thematically limited, but an obvious exploitation goldmine which bloomed at this particular time when a laxity in censorship made itself felt. In fact, the plots of both films have much in common where the Mother Superior (in this case, Anne Heywood) is impregnated (rather than by a Bishop, here it's fugitive Antonio Sabato) and eventually victimized, more than anything else for political reasons; still, the corrupt cleric is still presented in the person of Hardy Kruger as the convent's Spiritual Director! As was the case with both the afore-mentioned ABBESS OF CASTRO and the even more notable FLAVIA, THE HERETIC (1974) all of which were watched during the course of a singe day! THE NUN OF MONZA's main assets are the prestigious names roped in to shoot and score it (Luigi Kuveiller and Ennio Morricone respectively); on the other hand, the career co-writer/director Visconti (despite being the nephew of celebrated auteur Luchino) did not amount to much! Anyway, Heywood is decent in the lead (looking startlingly like Giovanna Ralli from the 1962 version and who would go on to appear in THE NUNS OF ST. ARCHANGEL aka THE NUN AND THE DEVIL [1973]), but Sabato fatally lacks conviction as the man for whom she pretty much loses her soul (actually, their affair begins by his rape of her bafflingly condoned by two fellow nuns who subsequently flee the convent with Sabato and, later still, are killed by him!). Sadly, Kruger is not given much to do in spite of the complexity of his role; also on hand are Giovanna Galletti (Baroness Graps from Mario Bava's KILL, BABY
KILL! [1966]) as the stricter nun who succeeds Heywood, Pier Paolo Capponi (later ascending to leading man for ABBESS OF CASTRO), a blonde Rita Calderoni as Sabato's jilted fiancée (I should be getting her NUDE FOR Satan [1974] soon, which promises to be pure "Euro-Cult" wackiness) and, oddly uncredited since both roles have considerable prominence, Carla Gravina (as yet another nun who makes the list of Sabato's conquests) and Luigi Pistilli (as a nobleman relative of Heywood's). While certainly watchable, the film is rather dull overall (especially considering that it is nowhere near as explicit as later genre outings) though the poor English-dubbing may have also contributed to my dissatisfaction; even so, we get some unexpected moments of violence (Gravina is given a solid thrashing and thrown down flight of stairs by her fellow nuns who, in turn, end up on the receiving end of Sabato's ire as already mentioned) and Heywood's own fate walled up alive in a darkened room seems exceedingly harsh under the circumstances.
Review of The Lady of Monza
