Nelly Corradi Movies
- 1953
The time is 1860: the place, northern Italy. The hero (Massimo Serato) is a young nobleman by day, a masked bandit by night. He uses his ill-gotten gains to finance a revolution against the government (these were turbulent times in Italy's history). In addition, he is between two lovers: Laura di Cassano (Tina Lattanzi), who knows him only as the Count of St. Elmo, and Bianca Barbieri (Nelly Corradi), who knows him only as the bold-and-dashing bandit. Good performances and a particularly well-paced climax compensate for the film's occasional dead spots. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nelly Corradi, Massimo Serato, (more)
- 1949
Italian director Carmine Gallone, who previously brought the Giueseppe Verdi opera Il Trovatore to the screen, herein offers a cinemazation of Verdi's La Forza del Destino. With a less dynamic plot than Trovatore, this Verdi composition can be appreciated on the merits of its music alone. Famed opera star Tito Gobbi does his own singing (of course), while his co-stars Nelly Corradi and Gino Sinimberghi are dubbed by Caterina Mancini and Galliano Masino. The stars are backed up by the orchestra and chorus of the Rome Opera. Not quite as well filmed as Il Trovatore, La Forza del Destino is still a must for opera buffs. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nelly Corradi, Gino Sinimberghi, (more)
- 1948
Less than a week after the U.S. release of Rene Clair's Beauty and the Devil came another cinemazation of the Faust legend, this one produced in Italy. Faust and the Devil was directed by Carmine Gallone, whose career extended back to the dawn of the Italian film industry. Gallone proved that age hadn't withered his ability to entertain, as he adroitly combines Goethe's version of Faust with Gounod's operatic adaptation. Gino Mattera stars as Faust, an ageing pedant who sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for youth, knowledge, and love. Italo Tajo and Nelly Corradi co-star as Mephistopheles and Marguerite, respectively. While Mattera and Tajo do their own singing in the musical passages, Corradi merely lip-syncs while the voice of Onelia Finechi is heard on the soundtrack. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Italo Tajo, Nelly Corradi, (more)
- 1948
The Lost One is the English-language title for the 1948 adaptation of Giueseppe Verdi's opera La Traviata. Departing somewhat from the original plotline, the film accommodates a "framing story" involving Verdi (Nerio Bernardi) and Alexandre Dumas Jr. (Massimo Serato), author of the opera's source novel La Dame aux Camelias. Standing by the grave of legendary Parisian courtesan Alphonsine Plessis, who died of a broken heart after falling truly in love for the first time in her life, Verdi and Dumas are inspired to immortalize Plessis' story in print and on stage. The film then segues into the opera proper, as the tragically coquettish Violetta (Nelly Corradi) enters into a romance with handsome and wealthy young Alfredo (Gino Mattera), ultimately and sadly coming to the realization that their marriage will never take place due to her soiled reputation. For the benefit of English-speaking audiences, The Lost One was provided with a voiceover narration, in which the heroine records the events of her life in her diary. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Massimo Serato, Nerio Bernardi, (more)
- 1947
This Italian cinemazation of Rossinis comic opera The Barber of Seville is worth seeing if for no other reason than the presence of legendary tenor Tito Gobbi in the title role. The moment Gobbi launches the famous, tongue-twisting "Largo et Factotum," the audience is in the palm of his hand. The plot, of course, concerns the efforts of Count Almavina (Ferrucio Tagliavini) to woo and win the beautiful Rosina (Nelly Corradi) without arousing the suspicions of the heroine's overprotective guardian, but it's the music that remains in the memory. Mme. Corradi's rendition of "Une voce poco fa" is also to be cherished, though it isn't as impressive as Gobbi's solo numbers. For the benefit of English-speaking audiences, the plot is "explained" by music critic Deems Taylor, who performed a similar function in Disney's Fantasia (1940). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ferruccio Tagliavini, Tito Gobbi, (more)
- 1947
Lucia di Lammermoor is a filmed record of the Donizetti opera of the same name, which in turn was based on a novel by Sir Walter Scott. The story is the established scenario of a feud between two fiercely proud Scottish clans, and of the woman who further antagonizes the rival families by marrying her brother's bitterest enemy. Musical highlights include the heroine's "mad" aria, and of course the celebrated Sextet (so often lampooned by such comedians as the Three Stooges). The title role is sung by lyric soprano Nelly Corradi, who is quite a beauty in the bargain. Resisting temptations to "cinematize" the opera, director Pietro Ballerini filmed Lucia di Lammermoor as it appeared on stage -- a not terribly imaginative approach, but one that works quite well here. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nelly Corradi, Mario Filipeschi, (more)
- 1946
In this screen adaptation of Donizetti's comic opera, a flirtatious young girl loves teasing the boys. One young man is particularly enamored and goes to the local medicine man for a love potion. The strange brew works and romance ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tito Gobbi
- 1936
Luci Sommerse (Crooked Love) casts its spotlight upon the talented and versatile Nelly Corradi. Officially, however, the story revolves around a gentleman thief known as the Lord Spider (Fosco Giacchetti). Upon meeting banker's daughter Adriana (Corradi), the thief instinctively lifts her pearl necklace, but falls in love with her and gives it back. For Adriana's sake, the Lord Spider vows to "go straight," but it's not all that easy -- especially when the light-fingered hero's mobster pals muscle into the story. Even at 72 minutes, Luci Sommerse drags badly in spots, but the gorgeous Signorina Corradi makes it all worthwhile. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nelly Corradi
- 1936
Le Scarpo al Sole (Alpine Love) takes place during WWI. The events depicted herein are based on the diaries of Italian captain Paolo Monelli, whose opinion of his army's efficiency was somewhat higher than that of his Allies. In true Hemingway fashion, the war in the Alps provides a backdrop for the romance between conscript Giuseppe Faoro (Camillo Pilotto) and a pretty schoolteacher (Nelly Corradi). This subplot is cut short when Faoro sacrifices his life to save his comrades. After this, Le Scarpo al Sole really doesn't have anywhere to go dramatically, though the scenery is lovely. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Camillo Pilotto, Nelly Corradi, (more)
- 1934
Max Ophuls' La Signora di Tutti can be regarded today as a dress rehearsal for his 1955 masterpiece Lola Montes, though it comes nowhere near the brilliance of that later classic. Isa Miranda stars as a famous actress who, in the opening scenes, attempts suicide. A series of lavish flashbacks details the events leading up to her cataclysmic decision. In her heyday, the actress' haunting beauty was enough to drive men mad--and some to the point of killing themselves. Modern audiences may have trouble keeping a straight face during some of the more heated passages, but Ophuls' basic premise--that fame and celebrity are ultimately hollow entities--is not to be taken lightly. The director's fabled camera techniques help smooth over some of the rougher and more ludicrous passages. La Signora di Tutti represents Max Ophuls' sole participation in the fascist-dominated Italian film industry of the 1930s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Isa Miranda, Memo Benassi, (more)
