Luigi Giuliani Movies
Released in the US by 20th Century-Fox, Boccaccio '70 is a compendium of short subjects directed by three of Italy's top filmmakers. Each story is written in the style of the famed Italian essayist Boccaccio, albeit told in contemporary terms. First up is "The Raffle", written by Cesare Zavattini and directed by Vittorio De Sica: Sophia Loren (wife of Boccaccio '70 producer Carlo Ponti) plays the sexy operator of a shooting gallery, who offers herself as first prize to the best shot. In "The Job", written by Suso Cecchi D'Amico and directed by Luchino Visconti, Romy Schneider carries a torch for her philandering boss Tomas Milian. The final segment is "The Temptation of Dr. Antonio", directed by Federico Fellini and scripted by Fellini, Ennio Flaiano and Tullio Pinelli; in this one, Anita Ekberg is an image on a poster who comes to life for the benefit of a drooling middle-aged professor (Peppino De Filippo). A fourth episode, "Renzo and Luciana", directed by Mario Monicelli, was cut from U.S. release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sophia Loren, Luigi Giuliani, (more)
- 1963
An early melodrama from director Damiano Damiani, this overheated coming-of-age story concerns a neglected teenager (Vanni De Maigret) living on an island in the Bay of Naples. Arturo's widowed father (Reginald Kernan) shows up one day with an attractive new wife (Kay Meersman), and leaves them together when he goes off on one of his frequent trips. Alone with his beautiful stepmother and his nascent desires, Arturo falls deeply in love. As viewers of Damiani's overwrought Amityville II: The Possession can probably guess, Elsa Morante's bittersweet romantic novel is left by the wayside in favor of almost comical heavy-breathing and repressed sexuality. Damiani's heavy-handed direction makes such similar films as Luna and Spanking the Monkey look relatively restrained by comparison, and only a relatively restrained performance by Meersman keeps the film from degenerating into abject farce. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kay Meersman, Vanni de Maigret, (more)
- 1964
Horst Bucholz plays Dino, a painter who realizes he has no artistic vision and decides to move back into his wealthy mother's (Betty Davis) home. Just before he does this, however, he falls in love with beautiful and self-serving Cecilia (Catherine Spaak). Though Dino diligently attempts to convince her to marry him, she refuses, but offers to be his lover until someone better strikes her fancy. When that becomes an actuality, Dino does not fare well under the emotional trauma and has a nervous breakdown. With the help of his mother, Dino recovers to find he may not be completely devoid of talent after all. Based on La Noia, an Italian novel by Alberto Moravia. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bette Davis, Horst Buchholz, (more)
