The Magnificent Cuckold: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1964
Director: Antonio Pietrangeli
Writers: Diego Fabbri, Ruggero Maccari
Cast: Claudia Cardinale, Ugo Tognazzi, Bernard Blier, Michèle Girardon, Paul Guers, Philippe Nicaud, Gian Maria Volonté, Susy Andersen, José Luis de Vilallonga

Release Date: August 17th, 2026 (UK), September 1st, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 124 Minutes 42 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK), NR (USA)|
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"A happily married businessman (Ugo Tognazzi, Weak Spot) succumbs to the advances of one of his less square, more open-minded female friends. His eyes now open to the rampant adultery among his high-society acquaintances, he is amazed at the ease with which they lie to their loved ones. Soon, he begins to suspect his loving wife (Claudia Cardinale, Girl with a Suitcase) of infidelity – even as she guesses nothing of his own extramarital affair." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "The Magnificent Cuckold was restored in 4K by Cineteca di Bologna in collaboration with Compass Film, from original sound and camera megatives made available by Compass Film and preserved at the Studio One laboratory. The restoration was delivered to Radiance Films as a high-definition digital file.

The fantasy color sequence included as an extra on this Blu-ray comes from a positive print found in the Film Archives of Cineteca di Bologna-of a re-edited, shorter version of the film released in 1971."

The Magnificent Cuckold comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 43.8 GB

Feature: 33.9 GB

The source looks excellent; image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, an LPCM mono mix in Italian with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent; dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise ambient sounds are well-presented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an alternate color fantasy sequence (2 minutes 26 seconds, LPCM mono Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with Italian film expert Richard Dyer (42 minutes 37 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay by Italian cinema professor Rémi Fournier Lanzoni titled Under His Gaze: Women, Jealousy, and Power in 1960s Italy (17 minutes 33 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 36-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) cast & crew information, an essay titled This House is not a Home: Love in the Time of the Economic Boom written by Phuong Le, and information about the restoration.

Summary:

Antonio Pietrangeli directed The Magnificent Cuckold. He’s known for The Bachelor, Auda and Her Friends, Ghosts of Rome, The Girl from Parma, The Visit, and I Knew Her Well.

A man having an affair believes his wife is doing the same and his imagination fuels his jealousy.

The Magnificent Cuckold takes an easily identifiable subject, adultery, and imbues it with exaggerated farcical overtones. All of the humor derives from the husband's overactive imagination and the actions he takes as a result of it. What he believes and what is actually true drive the mounting tension. When he’s unable to get the answers he seeks, his fantasies about what his wife might have been doing with other men become more outlandish.

The opening setup does a phenomenal job setting the tone and fleshing out the husband character. While initially firmly grounded in reality, the narrative becomes more farcical as it propels toward its moment of truth. That said, when all is said and done, the husband's behavior and actions drive his wife into the arms of another man.

All around, the cast are excellent, especially Ugo Tognazzi’s (La Grande Bouffe) portrayal of Andrea Artusi, a philandering husband who becomes a cuckold. He delivers an outstanding performance that perfectly captures his character's madness. Another performance of note is Claudia Cardinale (Once Upon a Time in the West) in the role of Andrea’s wife Maria. She delivers an enchanting performance that shines brightest during the fantasy sequences. Other cast members of note are Michèle Girardon (Treasure of the Aztecs) and Gian Maria Volonté (For a Few Dollars More).

The Magnificent Cuckold is a film where everything effortlessly comes together and perfectly falls into place. The most surprising aspect of The Magnificent Cuckold is its visuals. While the fantasy scenes with Claudia Cardinale, notably a striptease, will draw the most attention, the visuals are often striking, and they greatly enhance the mood. Ultimately, The Magnificent Cuckold is an exemplary example of Commedia all'italiana, making it a must-see for fans of this genre.

The Magnificent Cuckold gets an exceptional release from Radiance Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer