Although not perhaps regarded as 'major' Risi this is a very pleasing and entertaining film with an excellent cast. Sophia Loren had just scored a hit in 'L'Oro di Napoli' under Vittorio de Sica's direction and by all accounts he is still the 'guiding hand' here. De Sica himself is as always immaculate whilst Sordi and Vallone never disappoint. It is the performance of Franca Valeri in probably her greatest role as the forlorn, luckless-in-love Cesira that steals the show. Valeri also had a hand in the script as the film was originally intended to be directed by Comencini and built around the character of the same name that she had created on radio and television. Comencini pulled out and the Risi-de Sica-Loren triumvirate moved in. Valeri still manages to come out best however. She was to excel in 'Il Vedovo' three years later for the same director.
The most striking and unusual credit is that of the Production Designer: a certain Carl Theodor Dreyer!
Review of The Sign of Venus
