Mino Doro Movies

The old Sardou play Marcella was warmed up and modernized by director Guido Brignone. The title character, played by Caterina Boretto, will do anything to save her brother from being sent to prison. This includes co-habiting with the nobleman responsible for her brother's incarceration. Hoping to put her shame behind her, Marcella lands a job as a servant in an aristocratic household. Her idyllic romance with the son of her employer is shattered when her old nemesis, the amorous nobleman, makes a return appearance. Surprisingly, he offers to clear Marcella's name, permitting her a happy ending at long last. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Allegri Masnadieri (Jolly Pirates) is a dizzy mistaken-identity farce, dressed up as a lavish costume epic. While escaping from an undesirable suitor, the heroine and her two servants are captured by pirates. Fortunately, one of the servants is mistaken for the infamous buccaneer chieftain "The Black Feather." Taking advantage of the situation, the heroine and her true love commandeer the pirate vessel as a means of escape. Complicating matters is the fact that the pirates are holding hostage the nephew of the very man that the girl didn't want to marry. Before the mess is straightened out, the fickle heroine has fallen in love with the nephew! There are times in Allegri Masnadieri that the mercurial leading lady is more frightening than the pirates. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Filmed in 1946 as Il Bandido, The Bandit came to the U.S. in 1949 on the strength of the worldwide popularity of star Anna Magnani. The title character is Ernesto (Amadeo Nazzari), who turns to crime after suffering shell shock during WW II. Magnani plays Ernesto's faithful girlfriend Lydia. Their relationship is as foredoomed as Ernesto himself, who comes to grief through an extreme act of self-sacrifice. The Bandit was the third directorial effort of Alberto Lattuada. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this drama, set in Italy during 1889, a young doctor meets and falls for the daughter of a renowned medical professor. The professor does not approve of the affair and suggests that the young medic leave Rome. The physician then goes to Obetello, and there he discovers a radical, but successful treatment for malaria. Trouble ensues when he spurns the advances of an amorous neighbor. For revenge she begins blaming the current malaria epidemic upon him. As a result he is tried and sentenced to four years in prison for using unorthodox methods. His medical license is also revoked. In jail, he is promoted to orderly. He promptly inoculates himself against the dread disease using his own treatment. He soon proves his innocence and is acquitted of all crimes. He then returns to Rome to marry his true love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This 1959 version of Lew Wallace's best-selling novel, which had already seen screen versions in 1907 and 1926, went on to win 11 Academy Awards. Adapted by Karl Tunberg and a raft of uncredited writers including Gore Vidal and Maxwell Anderson, the film once more recounts the tale of Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), who lives in Judea with his family during the time that Jesus Christ was becoming known for his "radical" teachings. Ben-Hur's childhood friend Messala (Stephen Boyd) is now an ambitious Roman tribune; when Ben-Hur refuses to help Messala round up local dissidents on behalf of the emperor, Messala pounces on the first opportunity to exact revenge on his onetime friend. Tried on a trumped-up charge of attempting to kill the provincial governor (whose head was accidentally hit by a falling tile), Ben-Hur is condemned to the Roman galleys, while his mother (Martha Scott) and sister (Cathy O'Donnell) are imprisoned. But during a sea battle, Ben-Hur saves the life of commander Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins), who, in gratitude, adopts Ben-Hur as his son and gives him full control over his stable of racing horses. Ben-Hur never gives up trying to find his family or exact revenge on Messala. At crucial junctures in his life, he also crosses the path of Jesus, and each time he benefits from it. The highlight of the film's 212 minutes is its now-legendary chariot race, staged largely by stunt expert Yakima Canutt. Ben-Hur's Oscar haul included Best Picture, Best Director for the legendary William Wyler, Best Actor for Heston, and Best Supporting Actor for Welsh actor Hugh Griffith as an Arab sheik. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this war drama, a band of Italian soldiers, elated to hear that the war is finally over, promptly desert and head for home. Only two soldiers remain loyal to the army and they promptly begin heading back to the main forces. En route they are enticed by partisan soldiers who want the two to join them. Later they are joined by more soldiers. One of them is arrested by the Fascists for concealing an American paratrooper. When the two finally return, the Germans force them to work on a road gang. They are attacked by partisans, and one of the soldiers escapes. His partner is shot so the soldier joins the rebels. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Hercules (Reg Park) and King Androcles (Ettore Manni) are on an ocean expedition when Androcles is washed overboard during a storm near a mysterious island. Making landfall, Hercules finds that the island is the kingdom of Atlantis, ruled by a beautiful, cruel, and ambitious queen, Antinea (Fay Spain), who controls a mysterious source of power. She has transformed her personal guard into super-strong warriors -- each nearly a match for Hercules, put Androcles under her spell, and inflicted terrible wounds on her people, all in preparation for her plan to conquer the world. Hercules finds that her power stems from a source older than the gods on Olympus, one over which he has virtually no power. He must save his friend, release Antinea's people, and prevent her from carrying out her plans. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

Set in ancient Rome, this film follows the struggle of Roman triplets as they battle their Alban arch-enemies to prevent Rome from being annexed to Alba. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide