Vittorio De Sica

  • Mario Camerini – I grandi magazzini aka Department Store (1939)

    Italy1931-1940ComedyItalian Cinema under FascismMario CameriniRomance

    29f7c043f76a2bde437fd0d52a185152

    Romance between a saleswoman and a driver of the Department Store. Charged with a petty theft, she is blackmailed by the chief of staff to enjoy her favors, but the driver, after doubting her, discovers the real culprits.Read More »

  • Vittorio De Sica – Matrimonio all’italiana aka Marriage Italian Style (1964)

    1961-1970ClassicsItalyRomanceVittorio De Sica

    Synopsis:
    In flashback, Domenico (Marcello Mastroianni) recalls his wartime romance with Filumena (Sophia Loren). He is so enamored with her that he finances her escape from the bordello where she lives and sets her up with a good job in the restaurant that he owns, and later finds a place for her on his mother’s domestic staff. He is not, however, enamored enough to make their union legal, and expects Filumena to behave like a servant by day and his mistress by night. Years later, Filumena lies on her deathbed. The contrite Domenico finally consents to marry her. Not only does she make a full recovery, but she brings her three grown sons to live with the nonplused Domenico after the wedding. He tries to weasel out of the arrangement, but is mollified by Filumena’s insistence that all three boys are his sons.Read More »

  • Vittorio De Sica – Maddalena, zero in condotta AKA Maddalena, Zero for Conduct (1940)

    1931-1940ClassicsComedyItalian Cinema under FascismItalyVittorio De Sica

    Miss Elisa teaches commercial correspondence in a girls’ school, where, customarily, all the letters are sent to a certain Mr. Hartmann of Vienna, who actually does not exist, at an address just as non-existent. But Elisa is a true romantic, and she entrusts her dreams to the letters she writes to the phantasmal Hartman. And one of them is found by Maddalena Lenci, whose girlfriend, thinking to do well, mails it. But Carlo Hartman, who really exists at this address and so receives the letter, leaves for Rome to meet this Elisa…
    But in Rome there is also his cousin, who falls for Maddalena mistaking her for Elisa…Read More »

  • Vittorio De Sica – Sciuscià AKA Shoeshine (1946)

    1941-1950ClassicsDramaItalian Neo-RealismItalyVittorio De Sica

    At a track near Rome, shoeshine boys are watching horses run. Two of the boys Pasquale, an orphan, and Giuseppe, his younger friend are riding. The pair have been saving to buy a horse of their own to ride… The boys meet Attilio, Giuse’s much older brother, and his shady friend at a boat on the Tiber. In return for a commission, the boys agree to deliver black market goods to a fortune-teller. Once the woman has paid, Attilio’s gang suddenly arrives. Pretending to be cops, they shake the woman down. With a payoff from Attilio, the boys are able to make the final payment and stable their horse in Trastevere over the river… The fortune-teller identifies Pasqua and Giuse. Held at an overcrowded boys’ prison, they are separated. Giuse falls under the influence of an older lad in his cell, Arcangeli. During interrogation, Pasqua is tricked into betraying Giuse’s brother to the police. With their trial still in the future, the two friends are driven further apart… Read More »

  • Vittorio De Sica – Amanti (1968)

    Drama1961-1970ItalyVittorio De Sica

    Synopsis:
    Recently-divorced fashion designer Julia (Faye Dunaway) arrives in Venice from the U.S. and meets handsome race car driver Valerio (Marcello Mastroianni) at the airport. While she initially brushes off his advances, she soon has a change of heart and invites him to spend a few days with her at the villa where she’ll be staying. After several days divided between lovemaking and sightseeing, a party at Julia’s home turns into an orgy, and Valerio decides that he’s bitten off more than he can chew and leaves her. However, Valerio soon learns that there’s a reason for Julia’s reckless abandon — she is suffering from a terminal illness and has a very short time to live. Faye Dunaway and Marcello Mastroianni were romantically involved at the time Amanti was in production, though little of their personal chemistry appears onscreen. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie GuideRead More »

  • Mauro Bolognini, Vittorio De Sica, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Franco Rossi, Luchino Visconti – Le streghe (1967)

    1961-1970ClassicsComedyCommedia all'ItalianaFranco RossiItalyLuchino ViscontiMauro BologniniPier Paolo PasoliniVittorio De Sica

    29f7c043f76a2bde437fd0d52a185152

    Plot:
    A film of five separate comedy to drama segments–directed by Visconti, Bolognini, Pasolini, Franco Rossi and de Sica. The international cast includes Clint Eastwood, Annie Girardot and Alberto Sordi, and features Silvana Mangano. Important Note: This film has been manufactured from the best-quality video master currently available and has not been remastered or restored specifically for this DVD release. 16 x 9. Important Note: This film has been manufactured from the best-quality video master currently available and has not been remastered or restored specifically for this DVD release. From Warner Brothers Website!Read More »

  • Vittorio De Sica – Umberto D. (1952)

    1951-1960ClassicsDramaItalyVittorio De Sica

    Quote:
    Shot on location with a cast of nonprofessional actors, Vittorio De Sica’s neorealist masterpiece follows Umberto D., an elderly pensioner, as he struggles to make ends meet during Italy’s postwar economic boom. Alone except for his dog, Flike, Umberto strives to maintain his dignity while trying to survive in a city where traditional human kindness seems to have lost out to the forces of modernization. Umberto’s simple quest to fulfill the most fundamental human needs—food, shelter, companionship—is one of the most heartbreaking stories ever filmed and an essential classic of world cinema.Read More »

  • Mario Camerini – Gli Uomini, che mascalzoni! AKA What Scoundrels Men Are! (1932)

    Comedy1931-1940Italian Cinema under FascismItalyMario CameriniRomance

    This delightful romantic comedy, had it been made in America during this same period might have featured Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur and might have been directed by Gregory La Cava.
    It gives us a Vittorio De Sica as a chauffeur, Bruno, who passes himself off as a man of importance by offering Mariuccia (Lia Franca) a ride in the car which he passes off as his own. She is the daughter of taxi driver Cesare Zoppetti. From the city of Milan they go off to the country for, spending some time at an inn, enjoying each other’s company. Bruno romances her with the song “Parlami d’amore, Mariù” or “Talk Love to Me, Mariuccia” by Cesare A. Bixio, which made the Italian hit parade of the time.Read More »

  • Vittorio De Sica – Un Garibaldino al convento AKA A Garibaldian in the Convent (1942)

    1941-1950ComedyDramaItalian Cinema under FascismItalyVittorio De Sica

    http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/5267/4812099654b15e18023.jpg

    29f7c043f76a2bde437fd0d52a185152

    Summary:
    An old woman’s poignant reminiscence of her youth in a convent school, the happy moments and the sad, and her tragic love for a Garibaldian.Read More »

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