Criterion Collection (series)

Indiscretion of An American Wife

Starring: Jennifer Jones & Montgomery Clift Director: Vittorio De Sica

DVD Features:

Audio:

• Mono - English

Additional Release Material:

• Audio Commentary - 1. Leonard Leff - Film Scholar
• Trailers - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer

Product Description:

Director Vittorio de Sica's first English language film, INDISCRETION OF AN AMERICAN WIFE, examines the personal romantic crises of a woman caught between romantic love and her duties as a wife and mother. The film takes place over a few hours in Rome's Terminal Station, where Mary (Jennifer Jones) is preparing to leave her Italian lover Giovanni (Montgomery Clift), who begs her to stay with him. While considering her options, Mary and Giovanni sneak off to an empty railroad car for one last passionate fling, but are soon discovered by a railway worker and arrested for indecent conduct. Mary must escape the charges to catch her train--unless she'd prefer to stay in Rome and never return to her family. Jones plays the role deftly, showing the clear pain that either decision will bring upon her, while De Sica firmly plants her dilemma against the swirl of activity and life in the Roman train station.

Plot Synopsis:

In Rome's Terminal Station, an adulterous American housewife named Mary is saying her final goodbye to her young lover, Giovanni. But before Mary can board the train, she and Giovanni are arrested after being caught in a rather steamy embrace. Will Mary be set free in time to catch her train? Or will she decide that staying in Rome permanently with Giovanni is the best choice?

Plot Keywords:

Affairs | Drama | Infidelity | Italy | Love Story | Romance | Theatrical Release | Trains

Production Notes:

• Director de Sica came to the U.S. at the request of Howard Hughes, who promised to back De Sica in any project that he chose. The eccentric Hughes never bothered to meet with De Sica when he arrived in Los Angeles. Instead, famed producer David Selznick convinced De Sica to make INDISCRETION, with Selznick's own wife, Jennifer Jones, playing the lead role.
• Director De Sica didn't speak English. An Italian actor was hired as a go between for Clift and De Sica. The director would explain what he wanted to the Italian actor. Clift watched the actor, and then attempted to mimic his actions.
• The original version of the film was close to two hours long.
• Additional credit: Jean Barker (editor).
• Filmed entirely in Rome's Terminal Station.
• The American version has been edited from its foreign release running time of 87 minutes.

Cast and Crew: