Gherardo Gherhardt Movies
- 1947
Though Italian opera star Ferruccio Tagliavini had proven himself a pleasing screen personality, only his voice is heard in Return, Most Beloved. Miming to Tagliavini's prerecorded singing is Claudio Gora, cast as legendary 19th-century Italian songwriter Francesco Paola Tosti. The screenplay concentrates as much on Tosti's amorous conquest as his musical accomplishments. Special attention is lavished upon Tosti's affair with ill-fated Polish countess Maria Wernoska (Laura Adami), for whose sake the composer abandons his longtime mistress Dionisia Tesseri (Germana Paclieri). It is suggested that the dying countess' decision to send Tosti back to Dionisia prompted him to write his greatest and most heartfelt compositions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laura Adani
A very early Vittorio De Sica effort, The Children Are Watching Us was originally released in Italy as I Bambini Ci Guardano. Director De Sica collaborated with another neorealist pioneer, Cesare Zavattini, on the screenplay. The film, a real tearjerker, concerns a young mother (Isa Pola) who can't stand the pressures exerted on her by family responsibilities. She deserts her husband (Emilio Cigoli) and her brood, permanently ruining the life of her four-year-old son, Prico (Luciano de Ambrosis). Avoiding the rococo gestures and dramatic overstatement that might have attended this film had it been made in Hollywood, De Sica fashions a subtle tale about real people caught up in a real situation. De Sica's sensitivity toward the younger cast members of The Children Are Watching Us would manifest itself in many of his formative films, notably Sciuscià and The Bicycle Thief. Made in 1942, the film was not released in Italy until 1944. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Emilio Cigoli, Isa Pola, (more)
- 1941
Doctor Beware was the U.S.-released title of Vittorio DeSica's 1941 effort Teresa Venerdi. DeSica not only directed, but played the leading role of orphanage official Dr. Vignali. The thinnish storyline finds the good doctor becoming romantically involved with three women. It is up to orphaned girl Teresa Venerdi (Adriana Benedetti) to untangle all the plot lines--and, as a bonus, to come to the financial rescue of the improvident Vignali. When the film was released to the U.S. in 1951, supporting actress Anna Magnani, cast in a secondary role as one of Dr. Vignali's amours, was given star billing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio De Sica, Anna Magnani, (more)
- 1938
Loud, prolonged laughter is the order of the day in the Italian Il Trionfo Dell'Amore (Triumph of Love). Vittorio de Sica and Paolo Barbara play Vincenzo and Giovanna, newlyweds who can't help but feel that their marriage may have been a mistake. While on their honeymoon at the villa of Vincenzo's Aunt Lucia (Giuditta Rissone), the couple remains apart, planning an annulment. They change their minds after observing Aunt Lucia's own romantic escapades with her "ideal" sweetheart and her more sensible hometown beau. Most of the laughs are generated by Enrico Viarisino as Giangiacomo, Vincenzo's accident-prone best friend. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio De Sica, Paola Barbara, (more)
- 1937
The time is the mid-19th century. Doctor Antonio (Ennio Ceriesi) falls in love with British girl Lucy (Maria Gambarelli) after tending to her broken ankle. Though he'd like to devote all his attentions to Lucy, he has more important fish to fry: Antonio is a member of a band of Sicilian patriots, dedicated to freeing Italy from the yoke of Austrian oppression. Though he eventually casts Lucy aside in favor of patriotism, she stubbornly remains by his side, insisting upon sharing his dangers. Lucy turns out to be a valuable ally for Antonio and his comrades when she persuades her father to use his yacht as a means of escape for the insurrectionists. Containing virtually all the "popular" elements, Il Dottor Antonio turned out to be one of Italy's biggest movie moneymakers of the 1937-38 season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Gambarelli, Mino Doro, (more)
