Down the Ancient Stairs (1975): cast, story & where to watch
1975 · Film · ★ 5.3
Released in 1975, Down the Ancient Stairs is a drama film directed by Mauro Bolognini, running about 110 minutes. “Dante's Inferno is Alive and Well” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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?
Who’s in it. Down the Ancient Stairs stars Marcello Mastroianni as Professor Bonaccorsi, Françoise Fabian as Anna Bersani, Marthe Keller as Bianca and Barbara Bouchet as Carla, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.3/10, Down the Ancient Stairs has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Down the Ancient Stairs page.
If you liked it. Fans of Down the Ancient Stairs tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Down the Ancient Stairs (1975)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Down the Ancient Stairs change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Down the Ancient Stairs worth watching?
- Down the Ancient Stairs holds an audience score of 5.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Down the Ancient Stairs?
- Down the Ancient Stairs stars Marcello Mastroianni, Françoise Fabian, Marthe Keller, Barbara Bouchet and Silvano Tranquilli.
- When was Down the Ancient Stairs released?
- Down the Ancient Stairs was released in 1975, with a runtime of about 110 minutes.