Abstract

The image of the Italian politician from the postwar period was colourless until Berlusconi appeared on the TV screen in 1994. However, this novel figure was anticipated by the character of Giacinto Puppis in Lucio Fulci's film "All'onorevole piacciono le donne" (1972) in which a politician, with moderate habits and views, becomes sex-mad. What seemed to be a common erotic comedy was actually inspired by an animated controversy involving the magazine "il Borghese", accustomed to making fun of politicians' bodies. This article aims to show the cultural and ideological links between the movie and the magazine, and to illustrate, using Lando Buzzanca's body, how they both anticipate changes in the physical appearances of real-life politicians.