Gino de Santis Movies
- 1962
This Italian drama tells the story of Christ's crucifixion from the viewpoint of the Roman emperor's procurator in Israel who must try to quell a Jewish revolt. In a bizarre twist, John Drew Barrymore plays both Jesus and Judas in the film. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1962
In this WW II actioner, an American paratrooper lands behind enemy lines and begins an espionage assignment. He ends up captured and imprisoned. With four Italian POWs, he manages to escape. He then talks them into helping him blow up a strategically important bridge. Mayhem ensues until the only people left are the hero and a lovely Italian hooker. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1962
This is an Italian-French period costume piece retelling the Zorro legend, convincingly set in 1600s Spain. Pierre Brice (Winnetou) stars as Don Diego, who makes daring masked raids on his tyrannical stepfather's troops and incites the locals to stage an uprising. Brice was also in Zorro contra Maciste (released in America as Samson and the Slave Queen) for director Umberto Lenzi around the same time. Lenzi directed films of every genre for decades, but is best known for the gory horror films Cannibal Ferox and Mangiati Vivi, as well as violent crime thrillers like Milano Odia: La Polizia non Puo Sparare. Daniele Vargas co-stars with Helene Chanel, Aldo Bufi Landi, and Massimo Serato. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Brice, Helene Chanel, (more)
A less-stylish variant on Franju's classic Les Yeux Sans Visage, this low-budget Italian production borrows heavily from that film's plot to tell the tale of a scientist who employs a radical new procedure to restore the beauty of a young hoochie-koochie dancer disfigured in a car accident. All goes well after the bandages come off... but after all, this is a horror film, and it's only a matter of time before the young lass begins transforming into a monster -- which, despite the title, is not really a vampire, but more like something resembling an overcooked pizza roll with eyes. In order to return her to normal, the loony doc sets out to "borrow" the faces of other young women without their permission. Released in its native country (where the dubbing might have been a bit less painful) as Seddock, L'Ereda de Satana or Seddock, Heir of Satan. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alberto Lupo, Susanne Loret, (more)
- 1961
Originally titled Lo Sceisso Rosso, the Italian-American The Red Shiek takes place in 19th century Morocco. A wicked sultan revels in making his subjects miserable, until the mysterious Red Shiek makes the scene. The audience knows that the Shiek is actually Ruiz (Channing Pollock), an outwardly meek carpenter. We also know that Ruiz has donned his disguise to avenge his father's murder. What we don't know is how long it will take the somewhat dense villains to catch on. Short on plot, Red Sheik is long on action, and that's all we can ask for. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Although this uninspired Italian adventure film is loosely based on Leo Tolstoy's tale about a 19th-century clash between Czarist Russia and several ethnic groups in the Caucasus, Tolstoy's original talent is buried. Ponderous and quickly put together, the story stars Steve Reeves as the muscular hero known as the "White Warrior" who leads the defence against the Russians. ("White" in this case refers to his warrior's garb.) His defence strategy would be an easier task if there were not political intrigue and romantic hurdles to overcome within his own camp, obstacles which provide grist for the narrative mill. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Giorgia Moll, Steve Reeves, (more)
- 1959
The search for the notorious German Field Marshal's legendary treasure forms the basis of this adventure that chronicles the efforts of a small group of people, each with a different design on the loot, to find it. One fellow wants to use the money to help the families of war veterans; another wants to get a scoop for his newspaper, and one wants to sell the treasure to enemy foreign powers. Though they eventually find it, all their efforts end up in vain. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1949
Italian film comedian Toto was usually better than his material. L'Imperator di Capri is one of a handful of films that is truly worthy of Toto's farcical skills. The plot is a familiar one for the star, involving mistaken identity, close shaves, and a dalliance with a beautiful woman. Forced to pose as a visiting Indian prince, Toto does his best to carry off the deception while visiting the island of Capri. This time, he must contend with the amorous advances of two well-proportioned ladies, played by Yvonne Sanson and Marisa Merlini. Writer/director Luigi Comencini manages to extract the best of Toto and his idyllic surroundings in this frantically funny film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Totò, Yvonne Sanson, (more)
