AllMovie

Dino Risi directed this bittersweet comedy about a 45-year-old man, Francesco Vincenzini (Vittorio Gassman), who becomes a grandfather for the first time and begins to fret about old age. When his son is rejected by the flirtatious Carolina (Ann-Margaret) and tries to kill himself, Francesco pays Carolina a visit to lambaste her for her treatment of his son. Carolina responds to his tongue-lashing by seducing him. Feeling young again, he plunges whole hog into an affair with Carolina, rejecting his job and his family and devoting all his attention to her. Finally, Carolina demands that he abandon his family and take off to Paris with her. While on the train to meet Carolina, Francesco has to decide whether he is using his best judgment leaving his family for Carolina.