Angelo Ferrari Movies
- 1937
While watching the frothy Germany comedy Meine Freundin Barbara (My Girl Friend, Barbara), one would never suspect that the Nazis had already been in power for five years. The delightful comedienne Grethe Weiser stars as Barbara, a theater usherette who eavesdrops on a spooning couple in the balcony. Knowing that the woman in question is married, Barbara reports the tete-a-tete to the woman's husband, advising him to come up with a plan to win his wife back. Part of the plan requires Barbara to pose as the husband's girl friend, so guess what happens next. Highlights include a pleasant lakeside romantic rendezvous and a chipper musical number. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Grethe Weiser
- 1937
The luminescent Lillian Harvey plays the title character in the historical drama Fanny Elssler. In hopes of preventing Napoleon's son, the Duke of Reichstadt (Rolf Moebius), from establishing another dynasty in France, Prince Metternich of Austria (Paul Hoffman) introduces the Duke to beautiful ballerina Fanny. The Prince hopes that Reichstadt will fall in love with Fanny, thereby forgetting his plans for conquest. But Metternich didn't intend for Fanny to fall in love with the Duke -- and when she does, she is deported. For the rest of the film, the lovers try to stage a reunion, only to be thwarted by Metternich's anti-royalist minions. In the film's lachrymose finale, Fanny Ellsler learns that her beloved Reichstadt has succumbed to tuberculosis, but she must fight back her tears and return to the ballet stage. It was a scene that Lillian Harvey had played on several different occasions in several different vehicles, but she always managed to make it seem as though it was happening for the first time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lilian Harvey, Rolf Moebius, (more)
- 1931
Originally released as Liebesexpress, Acht Tage Gluck (Eight Days Happiness) gets under way when heroine Annie (Dina Gralia) wins a huge cash award in a typewriting contest. She uses the money to go to Venice, where she hopes to start her life all over again. Placing an ad in the paper for a personal secretary, Annie is quite pleased when handsome Kurt (Georg Alexander) answers her request. She'll be even more pleased when she discovers that Kurt is an incognito millionaire. Robert Wiene, the man responsible for the surrealist classic Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, handled the directorial responsibilities. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Georg Alexander, Josef Schmidt, (more)
- 1931
This German crime drama was based on a true story. Willy Forst stars as a poverty-stricken Italian glazier who falls in love with French hotel maid Rosa Valletti. Struck by the girl's resemblance to Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Forst manages to steal the painting from the Louvre in hopes of impressing his sweetheart. But when the girl proves to be a fickle sort, the crestfallen hero confesses his crime and is carted off to jail. Unwilling to admit that he'd been led astray by a woman, Forst claims that he stole the Mona Lisa to restore it to his native Italy, and as a result is hailed as a national hero! Raub der Mona Lisa was distributed in the U.S. by RKO Radio, under the title The Theft of the Mona Lisa. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Willi Forst, Trude von Molo, (more)
- 1926
Celebrated German comedienne Henny Porten is top-billed in Wehe Wenn sie Losgelassen (Take Care When She Gets Started). The story concerns the bored wife (Porten) of a staid businessman (Bruno Kastner). Certain that her hubby does not appreciate or recognize her artistic talents, our heroine begins keeping time with a charming fortune-hunter (Curt Bois) who fills her living room with phonies and poseurs. When her husband shouts "Enough," the wife leaves home in a huff, determined to make her own living as an artist. After several failures, she decides to return home -- but, too ashamed to present herself in front of her husband, she disguises herself as one of the servants. Wehe Wenn Sie Losgelassen was remade in 1958. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This color film remained completely faithful to the play, down to its tragic ending. Being an Italian production, it was heavy on spectacle. Cyrano de Bergerac is one of the greatest swordsmen of 17th century Paris, but his courage, poetry, and wit can't make up for his grotesque nose. Although he is in love with his cousin, Roxanne (Linda Moglia), he keeps it a secret. The handsome Christian (Angelo Ferrari), however, is eager to declare his love for the fair Roxanne, but he doesn't have the gift for words that Cyrano does. So de Bergerac offers to help him out, and Christian wins her. Both men go to war, and Christian, who discovers that Cyrano loves Roxanne, allows himself to die in battle. Cyrano, however, still does not confess the truth. Roxanne herself finds out years later, after the former hero has been reduced to poverty. Cyrano dies of wounds he has received in a fight with his enemies. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Magnier, Angelo Ferrari, (more)
