Antonio Centa Movies
- 1969
A wealthy shipbuilding family falls apart in the wake of labor unrest and economic crisis. Lorenzo (Mathieu Carriere) is the son who returns home from college and falls in love with his mother, hates his father even more, and makes love to an older family friend Roberta (Joan Collins). After being rejected when he tries to join the student protest movement, he is seduced by the homosexual Crusich (Massimo Serato). As the dockworkers picket, one man (Frank Wolff) commits suicide by diving into an empty holding tank. The family sinks into further disarray as the labor strike continues and the family fortune is depleted. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Collins, Mathieu Carrière, (more)
- 1962
In this slow-starting but effective drama, comedian Alberto Sordi changes hats to play Silvio Magnozzi, a man so dedicated to his high moral standards that he loses out on most of the things he wants in life -including his wife. He watches while others march up the ladder of success way ahead of him, sometimes by hypocritically licking the boots of their superiors or doing just anything at all to attain advancement. After his death grip on his principles causes his wife to walk out, Silvio relents and starts to live like others. Now he is supposedly happily residing on Easy Street, his wife is back -- and so what is bugging him? ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alberto Sordi, Lea Massari, (more)
Together with Diabolique, The Wages of Fear (Le Salaire de la Peur) earned Henri-Georges Clouzot the reputation as a "French Hitchcock." In truth, Clouzot's ability to sustain suspense may have even exceeded Hitchcock's; when originally released, Wages ran 155 tension-filled minutes. Based on the much-imitated novel by Georges Arnaud, the film is set in Central America. The Southern Oil Company, which pretty much rules the roost in the impoverished village of Las Piedras, sends out a call for long-distance truck drivers. Southern Oil's wages of 2,000 dollars per man are, literally, to die for -- the drivers are obliged to transport highly volatile nitroglycerine shipments across some of the most treacherous terrain on earth. Through expository dialogue, tense interactions and flashbacks, we become intimately acquainted with the four drivers who sign up for this death-defying mission: Corsican Yves Montand, Italian Folco Lulli, German Peter Van Eyck, and Frenchman Charles Vanel. The first half of the film slowly, methodically introduces the characters and their motivations. The second half -- the drive itself -- is a relentless, goosebump-inducing assault on the audience's senses. The winner of the Grand Prix at the Cannes Festival, The Wages of Fear was remade by William Friedkin as Sorcerer (1977). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, (more)
- 1953
Henry Vidon stars as Pope Pius X in the Italian Secret Conclave. The film traces the Pope's early life as a village priest, then follows him directly to the Vatican. The Papal installation, seldom seen before on film, is recreated on location at the Sistine Chapel, with several genuine cardinals in attendance. Dramatic conflict occurs when the Pope-to-be nearly refuses the honor, feeling himself unworthy. Also adding bite to the proceedings are the WW I scenes, detailing Pius X's efforts to put an end to the carnage. Secret Conclave ends with Pius X's death during Mass, a scene handled as tastefully as the rest of the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Vidon, Tullio Carminatti, (more)
- 1950
Janis Paige stars as Fugitive Lady Barbara Clementi in this internationally produced melodrama. When Italian millionaire Ralph Clementi (Eduardo Cianelli) dies mysteriously, suspicion falls upon Clementi's admittedly mercenary American wife Barbara. Insurance investigator Jeff (Tony Centa) is hesitant to jump to the obvious conclusion, determining that Clementi's stepsister Esther (Binnie Barnes) and Barbara's lover Gene (Massimo Serato) also had motive and opportunity. The story concludes with a neat "Postman Always Rings Twice" twist. Released in the U.S. by Republic, Fugitive Lady was produced by future Columbia studio chief Mike Frankovich, the husband of co-star Binnie Barnes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Janis Paige, Binnie Barnes, (more)
- 1949
A composer discovers that the inspiration for his greatest work may come at the expense of his marriage in this romantic drama with music. Richard Wilder (Michael Dennison) was a pilot with the RAF during World War II and was shot down over the Dolomite Mountains of Italy during a mission. Wilder's life was saved by Alida (Valentina Cortese), a beautiful woman working with the anti-fascist resistance who rescued him after his crash. After the war comes to a close, Wilder returns home to England and his wife Ann (Dulcie Gray), where he begins writing an opera based on the legends of Dolemite, as passed along by the peasants of the region. However, his home in England does not prove to be a conducive creative environment, so he travels back to Italy, where he spends time with Alida and is able to complete his work. However, he begins to fall in love with Alida, and he soon finds that he must choose between his muse and his spouse. Acclaimed classical vocalist Tito Gobbi appears as himself and sings several selections. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dulcie Gray, Michael Denison, (more)
- 1949
This Italian concoction can best be described as a musical mystery. Set in the rarefied atmosphere of the Roman art world, the story concerns a murder, a missing objet d'art, and a beautiful girl. Singer Mario del Monico comes off rather better than most of the film's "official" actors. Though no genius, director Camino Mastronicque was an efficient traffic cop, as his popular films of the 1940s and 1950s bear out. The film's title translates to The Man with the Grey Glove. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Annette Bach, Roldano Lupi, (more)
- 1948
Assunta Spina, the popular stage drama by Salvatore Di Giacomo, was first filmed in 1913. This pioneering Italian feature has been hailed as a precursor to the postwar neorealist movement, so it stands to reason that the 1947 remake would star the queen of neorealism, Anna Magnani. The original story about a young woman caught in the middle of a deadly Neapolitan vendetta had hardly dated one iota in the intervening three decades. Critics found fault only with leading man Eduardo Di Fillipo, who was considered too old for the part of Magnani's headstrong, hot-blooded lover. Assunta Spina was released in the U.S. as Scarred. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anna Magnani, Eduardo de Filippo, (more)
- 1939
Several years before she was "discovered" by Hollywood, Alida Valli headed the cast of the minor comedy-fantasy Ballo al Castello (Ball at the Castle). While on her way to dance class, ballerina Greta Larsen (Valli) is given a ride by the handsome Crown Prince Giorgio (Carlo Lombardi). Though it's all very innocent, gossiping tongues begin wagging and before long Greta has been identified as the Prince's latest love. As a result, Greta, who was about to be dropped from her ballet troupe because of her habitual tardiness, is suddenly elevated to prima ballerina status. When she finds out that her promotion has nothing to do with her rather minimal talent, Greta is sorely disappointed, but she determines to keep her job by pretending that she is, indeed, the Prince's lady. Not surprisingly, Greta and Giorgio have fallen in love for real by the time the "End" title (or "Fin" title) flashes on the screen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alida Valli, Antonio Centa, (more)
- 1937
La Contessa di Parma was the sole directorial contribution by Allesandro Blasetti in 1937. The first of several expensive costume dramas upon which the director established his international reputation, the film stars Elisa Cegani as Marcella, a model in the dress shop owned by enterprising Umberto Melnati. To improve his business, the owner instructs his models to dress up as society ladies and attend all the best parties. And that's how humble little Marcella comes to be mistaken for the popular Duchess of Parma -- and by extension, how our heroine wins the love of football hero Gino Vanni (Antonio Centa). A little wanting in the way of plot or logic, La Constessa di Parma is at least consistently good to look at. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elisa Cegani, Maria Denis, (more)
- 1937
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
- Starring:
- Emma Gramatica, Caterina Boratto, (more)
- 1936
Squadrone Bianco (The White Squadron) was the last of three films completed in 1936 by versatile Italian director Augusto Genina. The story concerns a young cavalry officer (Fosco Giachetti) who voluntarily transfers to a godforsaken outpost in Africa. He has done this to get over an unhappy romance but now finds he is twice as unhappy in solitude. Eventually his inbred sense of duty resurfaces and he becomes a "model" officer, successfully fending off a band of rebellious natives. And as icing on the cake, he wins back the love of his sweetheart (Fulvia Giachetti). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Antonio Centa, Fosco Giachetti, (more)
