Anna Valle Movies
The life and times of Augustus Caesar are brought to the screen in this made-for-television historical epic. After assisting Julius Caesar in a string of military campaigns, Augustus is adopted by the Roman leader, and when Brutus and Cassius kill Julius, Augustus joins forces with Marc Antony to rid them and their associates of the Roman leadership. As Augustus becomes Rome's new and uncontested leader, he falls for the beautiful Livia and is forced to turn against Marc Antony on the field of battle. While Rome enjoys a period of wealth and progress, Livia becomes politically ambitious and Augustus finds he has become the center of an assassination plot. Augustus stars Peter O'Toole and Charlotte Rampling, who respectively portray the mature Augustus and Livia. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter O'Toole, Charlotte Rampling, (more)
- 1998
Actor-director Pino Quartullo shot this Italian comedy amid the natural splendors of the Abruzzo National Park. The screenplay, with some situations reminiscent of Bette Midler in Ruthless People (1986), is by Quartullo and Claudio Masenza, based on their play. Stefania Sandrelli repeats her role from the stage production. Former actress Federica Birki (Sandrelli), now reduced to hosting a trash TV gameshow sponsored by a furrier, generates gimmicks for the paparazzi in an effort to get back in the limelight. She's kidnapped by park ranger Marco (Quartullo) and his brother Ruggiero (Ricky Memphis), animal lovers who demand the sponsor close down his fur farm and free the animals. However, Federica's past history of staging stories for press coverage works against her this time, and the abductors' threats are ignored. As the brothers try to heighten her consciousness regarding animals, she begins devising new headline grabbers -- until the corrupt sponsor (Rocco Barbaro) steps in with a different spin. The film includes clips from Sandrelli's Seduced and Abandoned (1963). ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stefania Sandrelli, Pino Quartullo, (more)
