Italian

  • Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia – Violette nei capelli (1942)

    1941-1950Carlo Ludovico BragagliaComedyDramaItalian Cinema under FascismItaly

    Quote:
    Lilia Silvi stars as Carina, an orphaned little seamstress, who is in the habit of sneaking out of her window at night, and go to the theater. Once back in her small chamber, she will act out all the parts of the play she has just witnessed.
    Her longing is to be on the stage, and then she meets Oliva and Mirella, two sisters who share her ambition to enter the world of dance and drama. The three girls become inseparable friends, and we follow them in their aspirations to make it to the stage.

    2 small roles for Steno (still an assistant director of C.L. Bragaglia) and Marino Girolami (Fugitive lady).Read More »

  • Enzo G. Castellari – Quella sporca storia nel west AKA Johnny Hamlet (1968)

    1961-1970DramaEnzo G. CastellariEuro WesternsItalyWestern

    Back from the Civil War, Johnny Hamilton learns that his father was murdered by Santana the bandit and that his mother Gertrude married his uncle Claude but Johnny is determined to find out the truth.Read More »

  • Giuseppe M. Gaudino – Giro di lune tra terra e mare AKA Round the Moons Between Earth and Sea (1997)

    Drama1991-2000Giuseppe M. GaudinoItaly

    Plot Synopsis by Bhob Stewart on AllMovie
    Giuseppe M. Gaudino made his directorial debut with this experimental film portrait contrasting the ancient Roman empire with poverty in present-day Naples. The film’s narrator introduces the ancient town of Pozzuloi, home to Nero, his mother Agrippina, the Sibyl of Cumae, and Christian martyr Artema. This historical drama is intertwined with a modern-day story of a poverty-stricken family, forced by earthquakes during the ’70s to move to the country, a devastating blow to the close-knit family. After a 1997 Venice Film Festival screening at 125 minutes, the filmmakers announced their plans to re-edit to a shorter running time. Also known as Moonspins Between Land and Sea.Read More »

  • Luigi Zampa – Processo alla città aka The City Stands Trial (1952)

    1951-1960CrimeDramaItalyLuigi Zampa

    IMDB PLOT
    Turn-of-the-century Naples. Salvatore Ruotolo and his wife are murdered and their bodies are found in different locations. Since the evidence points to a crime by the Neapolitan crime organization, the Camorra, fear and corruption cause serious hindrances to the investigation by police authorities. In charge is a young and courageous judge who, using evidence discovered by chance, tries to reconstruct the story of the double murder. The plot that the judge must unravel is very complicated. Many people are questioned, even those apparently above suspicion. Deciding to get to the bottom of the matter, the judge keeps all the suspects under arrest, causing a backlash of public opinion.Read More »

  • Dino Risi – Teresa (1987)

    1981-1990ComedyDino RisiDramaItaly

    When Teresa’s husband dies she only inherits debts. In order to pay them she must assume her husband’s place as a truck driver.
    She will have to avoid the moves fellow male drivers make on her, for she is still a very attractive woman. While working, she begins a steamy love affair with an experienced driver that helped her with her new job. But the debts are too big and the truck owner demands her to marry him to settle them. Things will settle at the altar, but not in the expected way!Read More »

  • Valerio Zurlini – La ragazza con la valigia AKA Girl with a Suitcase (1961)

    1961-1970DramaItalyRomanceValerio Zurlini

    Quote:
    Lorenzo’s older brother Marcello is a playboy who has broke the heart of a cabaret singer named Aida (Claudia Cardinale). When she shows up one evening at their home Marcello unable to handle his own dirty business sends Lorenzo (Jacques Perrin) out to get rid of her. Lorenzo fails in love Aida the moment he lays he eyes upon her. Feeling guilty about the way his brother treated her he does his best to help her out.Read More »

  • Carmine Gallone – Casta diva (1954)

    1951-1960Carmine GalloneDramaItalyRomance

    Just graduated from the Conservatory of Naples, Vincenzo Bellini meets Maddalena Fumaroli and immediately falls in love with her.
    To make a musical portrait for her, he writes the romanza “Casta Diva”, of which he makes her homage.
    Bellini is the most promising student of the Conservatory, but he only wants to return to Sicily and live with Maddalena. He thus refuses the offer of famous singer Giuditta Pasta to go to Milan with her.
    Maddalena, however, doesn’t want that Vincenzo renounces to fame, and leaves.
    Bellini hence goes to Milan with Giuditta, where he’s successful with the opera “Il Pirata”, and where he meets – and clashes with – Donizetti.
    Maddalena, however, is always in his heart, so he leaves Giuditta and writes a harsh opera, “Norma”, which has no success. Maddalena, upon learning this, takes to Giuditta the romanza “Casta Diva”, which is added to the opera and leads it to success…Read More »

  • Damiano Damiani – Perché si uccide un magistrato? AKA How to Kill a Judge (1974)

    1971-1980CrimeDamiano DamianiItalyThriller

    International superstar Franco Nero (of DJANGO and DIE HARD 2 fame) stars as Giacomo Solaris, a director whose latest film depicts a prominent Sicilian judge as being on the Mafia’s payroll. But when the actual judge is found murdered, Solaris begins his own investigation. Has the Mob found a way to corrupt the nation’s top prosecutors? Should Solaris’ movie bear some responsibility for the killing? Or will a string of brutal assassinations lead to the most shocking conspiracy of all?Read More »

  • Marco Bellocchio – Enrico IV (1984)

    1981-1990ItalyMarco BellocchioPolitics

    The story begins at a medieval dressing party. A man, dressed as the King Enrico IV, falls from his horse and hits his head. This causes him serious lesions and gets insane, believing he is really the KingRead More »

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