Decameron Nights

1953
Approved
1h 33m

IMDb RATING

5.3/10

302

YOUR RATING

Joan Fontaine and Louis Jourdan in Decameron Nights (1953)

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Adventure Drama Romance

The main story combines bits of Giovanni Boccaccio's own life (maybe and maybe not) with three of his most fabulous stories of love. It has Boccaccio following Fiametta to a country villa wh... Read allThe main story combines bits of Giovanni Boccaccio's own life (maybe and maybe not) with three of his most fabulous stories of love. It has Boccaccio following Fiametta to a country villa where she and five other women---The Contessa, Pampinea and three villa girls are hiding fol... Read allThe main story combines bits of Giovanni Boccaccio's own life (maybe and maybe not) with three of his most fabulous stories of love. It has Boccaccio following Fiametta to a country villa where she and five other women---The Contessa, Pampinea and three villa girls are hiding following the rape of their home city, Florance, Italy, by the Duke of Lorenzo. The recently-... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.3/10

302

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 2:02

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Photos6

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Sir Peter Ustinov was originally to co- star, and also apparently contributed to the script.

Goofs
As Boccaccio surveys the shore from his 14th century ship, a large white truck is visible on a road.

Quotes
Fiammetta: But is there no way to keep you with me?
Giovanni Boccaccio: Do you see this ring? When you wear this, and you bear me a child - then, and only then - will I become your husband in every sense of the contract.
Fiammetta: But how can I wear your ring if you won't give it to me? And how can I give you a child if you - don't stay with me?
Giovanni Boccaccio: You look like a resourceful woman.

User reviews7

Review

Featured review

4/10

Only three of the ten stories are in this rather dull film.

Boccaccio's novel, "The Decameron" was published in the 14th century. It consisted of 10 tales, some of which were critical of the Catholic church and had a lot of crude humor and sex in them. Yet, despite this, the book was a success. After all, it has resulted in many film adaptations...and for an over 600 year old book!

Because some of the stories are bawdy, the 1953 film does NOT have all 10 of the stories...only three. Additionally, they were heavily sanitized to suit the times when the film was made. After all, the USA (a huge film market) had the Production Code...meaning the original stories NEVER could have been filmed as they were written!

When the film begins, Boccaccio (Louis Jourdan) arrives in Florence which is filled with nasty soldiers who are sacking the town. He's there to see a woman he loves, Fiametta (Joan Fontaine), a widow who does NOT want to see him!

To amuse Fiametta and her friends, he tells a tale about a man who steals an old man's wife and holds her captive. There really isn't a good moral to the story and Fiametta responds by telling a tale about chastity and a woman with a birthmark. Boccaccio counters with a tale which, once again, is about infidelity.

At this point, Fiametta is angry with Boccaccio and the film ends, of course, with Boccaccio winning her heart despite her protestations.

As far as the film goes, the stories are pretty interesting BUT are done in a very dull and pedestrian manner. Although the film is in color, it lacks 'color' and the performances are surprisingly restrained. Overall, a skippable movie.