This is a very funny Italian comedy that makes light how patronizing way women were treated back in the day, making it clear that it's laughing at the misogyny of these characters with the absurdities of such behavior. In that sense, it's very much ahead of a it's time as it shows two completely different women, cousins played by Sophia Loren and Franca Valeri, with Loren victimized because she's a romantic at heart, continuously exploited by men, while feminist Valeri is a completely no nonsense woman who's still attractive to get the kind that men never noticed because of the fierce nature of her demeanor.
I could have watched this movie without even reading any of the subtitles and know exactly what was going on, laughing all the way at my sex, recognizing the best and worst qualities of a variety of men, particularly Loren and Valeri's employers and the handsome men played by Raf Vallone and Vittorio De Sica. Loren becomes tougher as a result of her experiences, and Valeri softens when she's suddenly getting male attention. There's also a very funny imperious landlady who is a bit of a cartoon character, making fun of that archetype as well. An attractive looking piece of fluff, certainly no Fellini type film, and very easy to watch especially for those who don't normally like films with subtitles.
I could have watched this movie without even reading any of the subtitles and know exactly what was going on, laughing all the way at my sex, recognizing the best and worst qualities of a variety of men, particularly Loren and Valeri's employers and the handsome men played by Raf Vallone and Vittorio De Sica. Loren becomes tougher as a result of her experiences, and Valeri softens when she's suddenly getting male attention. There's also a very funny imperious landlady who is a bit of a cartoon character, making fun of that archetype as well. An attractive looking piece of fluff, certainly no Fellini type film, and very easy to watch especially for those who don't normally like films with subtitles.