During the dizzy spells of COVID-19, I sought something to zone out to. All I needed to know was that this is a sexy all-Italiana Commedia with Joan Collins—already 41 and too old for Hollywood and yet not at her full sex symbol status yet—as a woman tempting a married soccer referee. Could a movie be more ready for me to watch?

Carmelo Lo Cascio (Lando Buzzanca) is based on famous soccer — football, right? — ref Concetto Lo Bello, but here he’s a ref in small town games who has the fantastic opportunity to be in charge of one of the biggest games in the sport. Along the way — and set to a score by Guido and Maurizio De Angelis, who we know as Oliver Onions, as well as the song “(I’m) Football Crazy” sung by soccer player Giorgio Chinaglia, we see how driven this man is, even putting his marriage to Laura (Gabriella Pallotta) off to the side, giving everything to the game, ruining his heart by taking amphetamines.

But you know, it’s a comedy.

That means that sportswriter Elena Sperani (Collins) is all over him, yet the man tries to remain chaste. A short-haired, super-stylish 1970s Joan Collins? A man is only as pure as his options, you know? What could keep him even carrying about anything other than this creature of carnal perfection?

Also appearing: Elisabeth Turner (Beyond the Door, Cannibals In the Streets), Marisa Solinas and, you knew it, Carla Mancini. Director Luigi Filippo D’Amico also wrote the script.

Thanks to White Slaves of Chinatown for posting this.