Introducing That Malicious Age (1975) – A Comprehensive Overview

A Provocative Italian Drama of Desire and Betrayal

That Malicious Age (Italian: Quell’età maliziosa), released in 1975, is an Italian drama directed by Silvio Amadio, known for his work in the provocative and sensual cinema of the 1970s. Starring Gloria Guida, Nino Castelnuovo, and Anita Sanders, the film explores themes of forbidden desire, psychological tension, and societal taboos within the idyllic yet deceptive setting of a Mediterranean island. A product of Italy’s commedia sexy all’italiana genre, That Malicious Age blends eroticism with emotional depth, making it a notable, if controversial, entry in 1970s European cinema. This article provides a comprehensive exploration of the film’s narrative, cast, production, themes, reception, and cultural significance, offering a complete introduction to its enduring legacy.

Synopsis: A Tale of Temptation and Turmoil

That Malicious Age is set on a sun-drenched Italian island, where Napoleone (Nino Castelnuovo), a struggling artist and gardener, arrives to work at a wealthy family’s villa. The household includes the enigmatic Paola (Anita Sanders), her husband, and their teenage daughter, Lisa (Gloria Guida), a free-spirited and provocative young woman. From the moment Napoleone steps onto the island, he is drawn into a web of emotional and sexual tension, primarily driven by Lisa’s bold flirtations and Paola’s subtle, conflicted allure.

As Napoleone navigates his duties, Lisa’s playful yet calculated advances—marked by teasing glances and suggestive encounters—ignite a dangerous attraction. Meanwhile, Paola, trapped in a strained marriage, grapples with her own desires, creating a complex triangle of longing and jealousy. The island’s serene beauty masks underlying dysfunction, with secrets about the family’s past and Napoleone’s own vulnerabilities surfacing. The narrative builds to a dramatic climax, where betrayals and revelations force each character to confront the consequences of their actions, leaving their relationships irrevocably altered.

Running at approximately 90 minutes, That Malicious Age is a slow-burn drama that balances sensuality with psychological intrigue, capturing the volatility of human desire against a picturesque yet claustrophobic backdrop.

Cast and Performances: A Charismatic Ensemble

The performances in That Malicious Age are central to its emotional and provocative impact, with a small but effective cast bringing nuance to complex characters. Gloria Guida, a star of Italy’s commedia sexy genre, delivers a captivating performance as Lisa. At 19, Guida embodies youthful allure and cunning, portraying Lisa as both naive and manipulative. Her ability to shift between innocence and seduction makes Lisa a compelling figure, driving the film’s central tension. Guida’s charisma, often showcased in revealing scenes, cemented her status as a 1970s icon, though her performance here hints at deeper emotional layers.

Nino Castelnuovo, known for The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964), plays Napoleone with a mix of rugged charm and quiet vulnerability. His portrayal captures the artist’s inner conflict—torn between duty, desire, and moral restraint—making him a sympathetic yet flawed protagonist. Anita Sanders, as Paola, brings understated intensity to a woman wrestling with loneliness and suppressed passion. Her restrained performance contrasts with Guida’s exuberance, highlighting the generational divide and emotional stakes of their rivalry.

Supporting roles, including minor characters like the villa’s staff and Lisa’s father, are less developed but add to the insular atmosphere. The trio of Guida, Castelnuovo, and Sanders carries the film, their chemistry—fraught with longing and suspicion—creating a palpable sense of unease that propels the narrative.

Production: Crafting a Sensual 1970s Aesthetic

Directed by Silvio Amadio, That Malicious Age was produced by C.P.M. Cinematografica, a small Italian studio specializing in genre films. Filmed in 1974 on location in Sardinia, the production leveraged the island’s stunning beaches, cliffs, and villas to create a paradisiacal yet isolating setting. Cinematographer Antonio Maccoppi used vibrant colors and soft lighting to emphasize the Mediterranean’s beauty, contrasting its idyllic surface with the characters’ inner turmoil. The camera often lingers on Guida’s form, a hallmark of the commedia sexy style, but also employs wide shots to capture the island’s vastness, enhancing the sense of entrapment.

The soundtrack, composed by Roberto Pregadio, features lush, romantic melodies with hints of melancholy, underscoring the film’s blend of sensuality and drama. Amadio’s direction leans into the era’s relaxed censorship, incorporating nudity and erotic scenes to appeal to adult audiences, though the film avoids the explicitness of hardcore cinema. The screenplay, co-written by Amadio and Piero Regnoli, draws on classic melodrama tropes—forbidden love, family secrets—while infusing them with a distinctly 1970s sensibility of sexual liberation and psychological exploration.

Production faced challenges typical of low-budget Italian cinema, including tight schedules and limited resources. The film’s estimated budget, under $500,000, is evident in its minimalist sets and small cast, but Amadio’s focus on atmosphere and character dynamics compensates for constraints. Released in Italy in March 1975, That Malicious Age was distributed internationally, often with cuts to meet regional censorship standards, and marketed as a risqué drama to capitalize on Guida’s growing fame.

Themes and Symbolism: Desire, Power, and Isolation

That Malicious Age explores themes of desire, power dynamics, and the clash between freedom and restraint, using the villa as a microcosm for societal tensions. Lisa’s provocative behavior challenges traditional notions of femininity, reflecting the 1970s’ shifting gender roles, though her sexualization raises questions about empowerment versus exploitation. Napoleone’s attraction to both Lisa and Paola underscores the conflict between instinct and morality, while Paola’s quiet rebellion against her marriage highlights the constraints of domesticity.

The film critiques class and generational divides, with Napoleone’s working-class status contrasting the family’s wealth, and Lisa’s youthful rebellion clashing with Paola’s resigned maturity. Isolation, both physical and emotional, permeates the narrative, as the island’s beauty masks the characters’ inability to connect authentically.

Symbolically, the sea surrounding the island represents both temptation and danger, luring characters toward forbidden desires while threatening to engulf them. The villa’s opulent yet cold interiors mirror the family’s emotional distance, while Lisa’s flowing dresses and bare skin symbolize unbridled freedom, contrasted with Paola’s structured attire. The title, That Malicious Age, evokes the liminal stage of adolescence—Lisa’s “malicious” age—where innocence and intent blur, inviting viewers to question morality and agency.

Reception and Controversy: A Polarizing Period Piece

That Malicious Age received mixed reactions, with contemporary reviews focusing on its erotic appeal rather than narrative depth. Italian critics, like those in Corriere della Sera, praised Guida’s “magnetic” presence and the film’s “lush visuals,” but dismissed its story as “melodramatic fluff.” International reviews, such as in Variety, noted its “exploitative charm” but criticized its thin plot, reflecting the genre’s niche appeal. The film’s explicit content—rated R-equivalent in most markets—drew scrutiny, with Common Sense Media later warning of “graphic nudity, sex, and mild violence” unsuitable for under 17s.

Audience reactions, gleaned from later cult film forums, were divided. Fans on IMDb and Letterboxd, like user @eurocinema72, lauded its “sultry atmosphere” and “Guida’s star power,” while others, like @retroviewer, found it “sleazy” and “morally murky.” The film performed modestly at the box office, primarily in Italy and European markets like France and Spain, where commedia sexy was popular. Its international release, often under titles like Malicious Age or The Sister of Ursula, was hampered by censorship, limiting its reach.

Controversy centered on the film’s sexualization of Guida, who was underage during early roles in similar films, though 19 here. Critics debated whether the film empowered its female characters or pandered to male gaze, a tension inherent in the commedia sexy genre. Retrospective reviews, like those in Cinephilia & Beyond, frame it as a “time capsule” of 1970s Italian cinema, valuing its aesthetic over its narrative.

Cultural Significance: A Snapshot of 1970s Italian Cinema

That Malicious Age emerged during a golden era for Italian genre cinema, alongside giallo thrillers and commedia sexy all’italiana films. The 1970s saw Italy grappling with social upheaval—feminism, sexual liberation, and economic disparity—reflected in the film’s exploration of desire and class. Guida’s rise as a commedia sexy star, alongside actresses like Edwige Fenech, capitalized on relaxed censorship post-1960s, catering to audiences seeking escapist yet provocative fare.

The film’s focus on a young woman’s sexuality tapped into cultural anxieties about youth and rebellion, paralleling global trends like the sexual revolution and women’s rights movements. Its Mediterranean setting, a staple of Italian cinema, evoked both exoticism and insularity, resonating with audiences in post-Franco Spain and beyond. Compared to What the Peeper Saw (1972), previously discussed, That Malicious Age shares a focus on psychological tension and taboo desire but leans into sensuality rather than horror, reflecting distinct European genre sensibilities.

The film influenced later Italian dramas and erotic thrillers, though its niche status limited mainstream impact. Guida’s iconic status endures, with fan communities on Reddit and X celebrating her as a symbol of 1970s allure.

Legacy and Availability

That Malicious Age remains a cult favorite among fans of Italian genre cinema, valued for its aesthetic and Guida’s performance, though overshadowed by more prominent 1970s classics. Its VHS and DVD releases, including a 2008 Severin Films restoration, revived interest, with Blu-ray editions offering uncut versions. Academic analyses, like those in Journal of Italian Cinema, explore its role in commedia sexy, while fan discussions on Letterboxd praise its “guilty pleasure” appeal.

As of May 15, 2025, That Malicious Age is available for streaming on platforms like Arrow Player, Tubi, and Mubi (subject to regional availability). Rental and purchase options exist on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Physical copies are available through specialty retailers like Severin Films and DiabolikDVD.

Conclusion: A Seductive, Troubling Time Capsule

That Malicious Age (1975) is a provocative, visually lush drama that captures the sensual and psychological complexities of 1970s Italian cinema. Silvio Amadio’s direction, paired with Gloria Guida’s magnetic performance, crafts a film that entices and unsettles, probing the intersections of desire, power, and betrayal. While its exploitative elements spark debate, its cultural resonance and evocative storytelling make it a compelling artifact for fans of vintage European cinema.

For those drawn to dramas of forbidden passion, commedia sexy, or the allure of 1970s Italy, That Malicious Age offers a sultry, unforgettable journey—one that burns with the heat of a Mediterranean summer and the sting of human folly.