Claretta (1984): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1984, Claretta is a history film directed by Pasquale Squitieri.

What it’s about. In this biography of Claretta Petacci, Benito Mussolini's mistress of 10 years, the Petacci family is a primary source of information -- which introduces a definite bias on how she is viewed. Claretta met Mussolini in the mid-'30s and remained with him after he was dismissed in 1943 by King Victor Emmanuel (American and Allied forces invaded Sicily and started north to Rome at that time). Claretta's family also fled to the north, where Mussolini was set up in a puppet dictatorship by the Germans until the end of the war. Photographs of Mussolini and Claretta hanging from a gas-station pole in 1945 while crowds stare at their bodies were disseminated worldwide, yet information on them has been kept in the classified files of the Italian government. In this docudrama, Claretta is played by Claudia Cardinale and Claretta's younger sister Miriam Petacci, still alive in 1984, plays herself as she "meets" with a television reporter at Claretta's tomb to talk about her famous sister's life.

Who’s in it. Claretta stars Claudia Cardinale as Miriam Petacci, Giuliano Gemma as Marcello Petacci, Caterina Boratto as Giuseppina Petacci and Fernando Briamo as Benito Mussolini, among others.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Claretta page.

If you liked it. Fans of Claretta tend to enjoy Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Hacksaw Ridge and Green Book.