Awful Story of the Nun of Monza (1969) UK Quad Poster

 Luchino Visconti had wanted to make this story with Sophia Loren, but the project passed to his nephew Eriprando, who tended to self-fund his films independently. Anne Heywood stars as Sister Virginia Maria, a nun (forced to become one at 13 years old) whose two children by Count Osio - himself an accused murderer - resulted in a cover-up and murder of a nun, privy to the affair. When discovered, Sister Maria claimed - under torture - that diabolical possession drove her to her acts.

A graduate of the Rank charm school, Heywood left cosy English comedies and dramas for Canada and a fine adaptation of D H Lawrence's The Fox (1967). Its sensational elements of nudity and lesbianism changed the direction of Heywood's career, moving towards more exploitative fare. Often working with her producer husband Raymond Stross, she returned to Italy for The Killer is on the Phone (1972), The Nun and the Devil (1973) and Ring of Darkness (1979). After Stross's death in 1988, she retired from acting.

Condition: FINE / VERY FINE

Aka: The Nun of Monza / The Lady of Monza

Cast: Hardy Kruger, Antonio Sabato, Carla Gravina, Tino Carraro, Laura Belli