Edith Peters Movies
- 1980
This Taming of the Shrew in Italian is also a take off on the 1970 French film L'ours et la Poupee, and showcases the popular singer/comedian Adriano Celentano as an irascible country farmer named Elia, who locks horns with Lisa (Ornella Muti), a gorgeous society snob. Elia is a notoriously obnoxious, confirmed bachelor. The story begins as Lisa finds herself seeking help at Elia's farmhouse when her car breaks down on a rainy night. Elia's maid (Edith Peters) has been after Elia to marry a good woman and when she opens the door to Lisa, the action starts to head toward fulfillment of the maid's wishes. Lisa's beauty is not only ignored by Elia right away, he also treats her quite rudely -- a new experience for her. So Lisa decides to "conquer" him simply because the challenge presents itself. Much to her chagrin, nothing she attempts has the expected effect on Elia, who remains miraculously impervious to her very obvious charms. When Lisa accepts defeat and leaves for Milan, Elia undergoes a change of heart. His slow reaction time only leads to a deeper and more intensive longing for Lisa, and the second half of the film is involved with their involvement. There is one final accomplishment waiting for Elia just before the ending that shows his interests have not been completely subverted to the new pursuit of love and its pleasures. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Adriano Celentano, Ornella Muti, (more)
- 1966
A Civil War vet returns home to his home in the South and witnesses the outdated attitudes of his family--particularly those of his domineering father. This western drama was filmed on location in Argentina. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joseph Cotten, Gordon Scott, (more)
- 1966
An evil scientist attempts to use his newly designed satellite to sterlize everyone on earth. Fortunately two savvy secret agents are set on the case to stop him. Basically this is a low grade, low budget Italian mish-mash of comedy and spy films. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Connors, Dorothy Provine, (more)
- 1963
Don't try to make sense of the title: just sit back and enjoy this daffy German-Turkish farce. Oskar Sima plays a successful fruit merchant who is busily preparing for the wedding of his daughter (Ruth Stephan). At the same time, Sima is celebrating half a century in the fruit business. One of his biggest suppliers, a Turkish potentate, gratefully offers Sima an anniversary present: A collection of lovelies from his harem. The veiled, bewelled ladies cause no end of consternation for Sima, who tries to keep them hidden as the deadline for his daughter's wedding approaches. Originally released as Die Turkischen Gurken, Turkish Cucumber was distributed in the US by the redoubtable K. Gordon Murray under a variety of titles, including Wedding Present and Daddy's Delectable Dozen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Previously filmed in 1932 as Vampyr, Sheridan LeFanu's classic psychological horror tale was given a second go round in 1961 as Blood & Roses (Et Mourir de Plaisir). While Carl Theodor Dreyer concentrated on mood and suspense in Vampyr, Blood & Roses director Roger Vadim goes directly to the jugular, so to speak, with generous doses of eerie eroticism. Annette Vadim plays Carmilla, who upon learning that she had a vampire ancestor becomes obsessed with finding out even more. Soon Carmilla has succumbed to the siren song of vampirism, and cannot quench her insatiable thirst for human blood. The lesbian subtext in the LeFanu original is played out con brio by Vadim-though not in the heavily bowderlized version made available to American audiences in 1962. Blood & Roses was subsequently remade as The Vampire Lovers and The Blood-Spattered Bride. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mel Ferrer, Elsa Martinelli, (more)
- 1960
This costume drama with spectacular special effects but a less-than-adequate storyline was one of the last films by director Carmine Gallone. The tale is set in 200 BC when Rome and Carthage were going at it, sending warships into battle over control of Carthage. Against this backdrop of warfare is a romantic tangle between two women in love with the same warrior and two men in love with the same woman. As the romantic and military battles progress, it becomes clear that Carthage will burn and at least a few of the erstwhile lovers are going to get burnt as well, in more ways than one. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anne Heywood, José Suárez, (more)
