''The Laughing Woman'' (

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

: ''Femina ridens''), also known as ''The Frightened Woman'', is a 1969 Italian

erotic thriller The erotic thriller is a film subgenre defined as a thriller with a thematic basis in illicit romance or sexual fantasy. Though exact definitions of the erotic thriller can vary, it is generally agreed "bodily danger and pleasure must remain i ...

film directed by Piero Schivazappa.

Plot

Dr. Sayer, the director of a philanthropic foundation, spends his weekends at his luxurious villa outside of Rome toying with sadistic fantasies. His games are usually acted out with the help of a prostitute conversant with his desires. When his regular prostitute becomes unavailable at the last minute, Sayer substitutes Maria, a young journalist on his staff. After the drugged Maria regains consciousness at his villa, Sayer realizes that he now has a real victim on his hands. She is subjected to his unpleasant games but soon begins subverting him.

Cast

Philippe Leroy Philippe Marie Paul Leroy-Beaulieu (15 October 1930 – 1 June 2024) was a French actor. He appeared in over 150 films between 1960 and 2019, and worked extensively in Italian cinema, as well as in his native country. After an early career as ...

: Doctor Sayer *

Dagmar Lassander Dagmar Lassander (born as Dagmar Regine Hager on 16 June 1943) is a German actress. The character of Lassander Dagmar in the Italian-influenced 2015 horror film '' We Are Still Here'' is named after her. Early life and career She was born in ...

: Mary *

Lorenza Guerrieri Lorenza Guerrieri (born 18 April 1944) is an Italian actress. Born in Rome, Lorenza Guerrieri made her film debut in the mid-1960s in '' Le sedicenni'', and later appeared in films of any genre, mainly in secondary roles. She became popular wit ...

: Gida *

Varo Soleri Varo may refer to: People * Alberto Varo (born 1993), Spanish footballer * Francisco Varo (1627–1687), Spanish Dominican friar, missionary in China, linguist * Gala Varo, Mexican drag queen * Márton Váró (born 1943), Hungarian sculptor * R ...

: Administrator * Maria Cumani Quasimodo: Sayer's Secretary * Mirella Pamphili: Streetwalker

Soundtrack

The soundtrack to the film was composed by Stelvio Cipriani and released in 1969.

Track listing

References

External links

* 1960s erotic thriller films BDSM in films Italian erotic thriller films Films directed by Piero Schivazappa Films scored by Stelvio Cipriani 1960s Italian-language films 1960s Italian films Italian-language erotic thriller films {{1960s-thriller-film-stub