The Forbidden Room (1977 film)

The Forbidden Room (Anima persa) is a 1977 thriller film directed by Dino Risi. It is based on the novel Un'anima persa by Giovanni Arpino. The film was co-production between Italy and France by Dean Film and Les Productions Fox Europa.

Plot
Tino (Danilo Mattei) arrives as a guest in the large family home of the Stolz's, Fabio (Vittorio Gassman) and Elisa (Catherine Deneuve) in Venice, eager to take a painting class at art school. He immediately notices the uneasy atmosphere hovering over the huge, partially dilapidated house. His uncle turns out to be a surly and severe man who treats his wife, Elisa, with little respect. She, in turn, seems psychologically submissive and resigned to this controlled existence. To further disturb Tino's stay, there are strange noises coming from the attic, a place he is initially forbidden to visit, but which he then - thanks to the elderly housekeeper - discovers is the secret room where Berth, his uncle's brother, and ex-science professor. The man apparently went mad after the death of Elisa's ten-year-old daughter, Beba, born from her first marriage and to whom he was very attached. But more surprises lay in store.

Cast

 * Vittorio Gassman as Fabio Stolz
 * Catherine Deneuve as Elisa Stolz
 * Danilo Mattei as Tino
 * Anicée Alvina as Lucia
 * Ester Carloni as Annetta
 * Michele Capnist as Il Duca
 * Gino Cavalieri as Prof. Sattin

Production
The Forbidden Room was based on the novel L'anima persa written by Giovanni Arpino and published in 1966. Director Dino Risi had previously adapted Arpino's novel previously, as Profumo di donna.

Risi's adaptation of L'anima persa changed the novels location from Turin to Venice and changed the names, features and characteristics of some characters such as Tino's uncle and aunt Galla.

Release
The Forbidden Room was distributed theatrically in Italy by Fox/Dean Film on 20 January 1977. In Italy, the film grossed a total of 857,364,083 Italian lire domestically. The film was released in France on 23 March 1977 as Âmes perdues.