Claudio Gora Movies
Claudio Gora was a highly regarded, versatile Italian theatrical and film actor who also occasionally directed features. As a thespian, Gora reached the pinnacle of his popularity during Italy's so-called "Golden Age" of cinema during the '50s and '60s. Gora (born Emilio Giordana in Genoa) made his film debut with Trappola d'amore (1939), two years after he first appeared on stage. Quite handsome in youth, Gora spent the WWII years playing romantic leads in such dramas as Luigi Zamkpa's Signoirinette and often worked opposite some of his country's most alluring actresses. In 1950, Gora made his directorial debut with a neorealist drama, The Sky is Red. He subsequently helmed nine more films in a variety of genres ranging from comedies to violent westerns. His most famous film was Febbre di Vivere (1953) starring Marcello Mastroianni. During the '60s, Gora revitalized his acting career after he perfected his "middle-class Italian cynic" character. He played versions of the unscrupulous fellow in such films as Pietro Germi's The Facts of Murder (1960) and Il Medico della Mutua (1968). As an actor, Gora appeared in 130 films. He played his last role in Vacanze di Natali '91/Christmas Vacation '91 (1991). In addition to his eventful film career, Gora also had a busy career on stage and television. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1948
Preludio D'Amore (Love Prelude) is a minor Italian romantic drama with an impressive cast. The story, involving a romance between two budding juvenile delinquents, is nothing special. Nor is the perfunctory direction by workhorse Giovanni Paolucci. What really makes this thing percolate are its stars, including veteran "action" hero Massimo Girotti, frequent Roberto Rosselini collaborator Maria Michi, Hollywood-bound ingenue Marina Berti, and comparative newcomer Vittorio Gassman. The film was put together by Albatros Productions, one of the most ill-named companies in the history of the cinema. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Marina Berti, (more)
- 1949
The Italian The Sky is Red (Il Cielo e Rosso) details the romantic adventures of two postwar couples. Despite being confined to a quarantined zone (quarantined for political, rather than health reasons), love finds a way. The neorealistic elements are passable, but what really "sold" this film abroad was its graphic-for-its-times sexual content. The cast is headed by Jacques Sernas and Marina Berti, another step in the right direction box office-wise. One of the young romeos is played by Mischa Auer Jr., son of the famed Russian comic actor. Among the many screenwriters of The Sky is Red is frequent De Sica and Fellini collaborator Cesare Zavattini. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marina Berti, Jacques Sernas, (more)
- 1952
The Italian Island of Procida is set in a remote penal colony. Claudio Gora stars as Paul, a disillusioned surgeon who is serving a 20-year-sentence for the murder of his faithless fiancee. Vowing never again to do anything in the service of mankind, Paul changes his tune when a plane crash-lands near the prison. After saving the life of one of the passengers, a little girl, Paul's faith in humanity is restored by the love of the girl's older sister (Vera Carmi). The plot is complicated by a jailbreak, wherein Paul is forced to protect his new love from the lecherous advances of fellow prisoner Mania (Carlo Ninchi). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudio Gora, Carlo Ninchi, (more)
- 1953
Leopoldo Trieste's stage play Cronaca was the basis for the Italian drama Febbre di Vivere (Eager to Live). Though virtually every character in the film is tenuously connected with Italian high society, many of them can be classified as "low lifes." And none is lower than two-bit bookie Massico (Massimo Serato) who breaks at least three female hearts in the course of events. Coasting by on his charm, Massico manages to secure undying loyalty from all his women, even after casting them aside. But when he adds murder to his repertoire, his luck runs out. Marcello Mastrioanni is seen in a surprisingly passive role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Massimo Serato, Marcello Mastroianni, (more)
- 1953
The misleadingly titled Italian comedy Luxury Girls is set in an exclusive Swiss finishing school. Rambunctious American lass Lorna Whitmore Susan Stephan is enrolled in the school by her wealthy parents. Before long, Laura has set the institution on its ear with her precocious behavior. Her female partners-in-"crime" spend their waking hours thinking of men and how to trap them, rather than concentrating on their schoolwork. There are a few attempts along the way to inject a note of seriousness now and then, but for the most part Luxury Girls is a chucklesome romp. While the cast is largely comprised of unknowns, Jacques Sernas does box-office duty as a commoner passing himself off as an aristocrat. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Stephen, Anna Maria Ferrero, (more)
- 1956
Though nearly as lavish as the 1938 MGM film of the same name, the 1955 French historical epic Marie Antoinette is not nearly as coherent or entertaining. Michele Morgan stars as the Austrian princess who becomes the last Queen of France in waning years of the 18th century. Jacques Morel costars as King Louis XVIII, Antoinette's slow-witted, ineffectual husband, while Richard Todd is the dashing European ambassador who briefly brings romance into the heroine's life. The episodic screenplay seldom sticks to the point long enough to detail the reasons behind the fall of the French aristocracy and the ultimate execution of the royal family. In addition, Michele Morgan is a bit too frosty and distant to warrant audience sympathy. Marie Antoinette was filmed simulatenously in French- and English-language versions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michèle Morgan, Richard Todd, (more)
- 1957
Tormento D'Amore was the last film of Swedish actress Marta Toren, who died in 1957 at the age of 31. Also known as Torrent of Love, the film casts Toren as Sara, whose love for fiancé Luigi (Otello Toso) goes far beyond obsessive. Anxiously waiting a crucial letter from Luigi, Sara is driven to distraction -- and eventually desperation -- when the letter never arrives. Only after tragedy strikes is it revealed that Sara is a victim of a careless mistake. Based on a story by Juan Bardem, Tormento D'Amore was scripted by Marta Toren's husband, Leonardo Bercovici. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Otello Toso, Märta Torén, (more)
- 1958
British sex symbol Belinda Lee stars in the overheated Italian costume melodrama La Venere di Cheronea (The Venus of Cheronea). Lee is cast as Afrodite, the girl who allegedly inspired the greatest works of famed Greek sculptor Praxiletes (Massimo Girotti). According to the screenplay, Afrodite was also the romantic bone of contention between Praxiletes and fugitive warrior Claudio (Jacques Sernas). Naturally, the plotline requires the curvaceous Lee to disrobe at the slightest provocation, and just as naturally, the censors had a hissy-fit every time she bared her knee or shoulder. The principal attribute of La Venere di Cheronea is the excellent color cinematography of Arturo Galles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Belinda Lee, Massimo Girotti, (more)
- 1959
A puzzling crime case is methodically worked out to a solution in this excellent suspense drama by director (and lead actor) Pietro Germi. Inspector Ingravallo (Germi) is charged with an investigation into the murder of the wife of Remo Banducci (Claudio Gora). The good inspector is only human, and he lets his instincts, as well as his personal feelings about people, guide him in his unraveling of the mystery. This technique makes for a close observation of interpersonal relationships, and they dominate the story. In the end, both the murder mystery and the qualities and characteristics of the people involved in the drama share center stage. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pietro Germi, Claudia Cardinale, (more)
- 1960
The idle lives of the rich or famous or both are depicted from an aloof and uninvolved perspective in this standard though uneven drama by director Francesco Maselli. Claudia Cardinale appears in one of her early screen roles as Fedora, a member of the elite and privileged in a provincial Italian town. The seedy underside of illicit affairs, quick flings, betrayals and deceptions, and other, similar pasttimes of the "in" circle slowly become apparent when a young outsider tries to gain acceptance into the exclusive group. As the plot weaves in and out of the various liaisons in a cool and remote manner, the motivation for wanting to take part in it all is hard to fathom. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudia Cardinale, Gérard Blain, (more)
- 1960
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
- Starring:
- Alberto Sordi, Martin Balsam, (more)
- 1960
Four unemployed prostitutes attempt to open a restaurant in this comedy. They look all over Rome for a restaurant they can afford. When they find a ramshackle cafe. The landlord is willing to let them have it; they can even use his name to buy the food license, but he has one condition: they must also run a little cathouse upstairs. Their restaurant becomes quite successful, but when their personal lives intervene, the business threatens to fold. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simone Signoret, Gina Rovere, (more)
- 1961
Russian-born director Leonide Moguy who has worked both in the U.S. and in Europe, has almost single-handedly put together this routine anti-nuclear drama about atomic research getting out of hand. The story begins and ends with the same scene -- a man is calling the police -- and is told in flashbacks. The man is a French scientist who has come to the U.S. to do nuclear research. He is completely devoted to his job, even at the expense of his family, and will not leave his work for any of the most compelling personal reasons. His son dies, his wife leaves him, and a colleague quits because his conscience is bothering him. Then one day, the Frenchman discovers the key to making a "death ray" and gets caught in circumstances beyond his control -- his discovery is stolen. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudio Gora, John Justin, (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)
- 1962
While there is an element of science fiction to this political satire about Latin American dictatorships, that element is primarily used to promote the storyline and the message, and not as a value in itself. In a make-believe Spanish-speaking country of the Americas, a dictator (Zbigniew Cybulski) rules with the usual degree of corruption but as it turns out, his wife is the one who gives most of the orders. Two story strands are then woven together: a scientist has invented a way to replicate objects and, lo and behold, he discovers he can make a robotic duplicate of the dictator's wife. Meanwhile, an ardent, left-leaning revolutionary who happens to be a dead ringer for the dictator ends up taking over the tyrant's role when he is assassinated. So one has a robotic wife and a fake dictator now running a country which is none the wiser. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zbigniew Cybulski, Sonne Teal, (more)
- 1962
Regarded by many as Dino Risi's finest film, The Easy Life (Il Sorpasso) casts Vittorio Gassman as Bruno, a jaded, aging roue, who introduces young Roberto Mariani Jean-Louis Trintignant to his hedonistic lifestyle.. Previously a man with a purpose in life, Roberto soon becomes as wanton and wastrelly as Bruno. The older man is proud of his handiwork--until tragedy strikes. Risi sagaciously sets his moral fable against the beauties of the Riviera; we may not approve of Bruno's lifestyle, but we certainly understand why it appeals to him. Among the screenwriters of The Easy Life was Ettora Scola, a frequent Dino Risi and Vittorio de Sica collaborator and an excellent director in his own right. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Jean-Louis Trintignant, (more)
- 1962
Steve Reeves once again dons sandals and hoists a sword to come to the dashing rescue of the oppressed masses in this routine Roman tale of the good old days when men were unbelievably muscular, invulnerable fighting machines. Randus (Steve Reeves) is a centurion assigned to Rome's army in Egypt in the first century B.C. who finds out, one fine day, that he is actually the son of the legendary Spartacus. Inspired by this new identity, he decides to continue with his centurion's duties as a cover and dedicate himself to freeing the slaves that labor for the unjust and brutal Cesare Grassus (Claudio Gora). When not overcoming the forces that keep people enslaved, Randus has time for Clodia (Gianna Maria Canale) and some relief from all that fighting. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Reeves, Jacques Sernas, (more)
- 1962
This is a typical costume drama and adventure story with plenty of fencing, and swash and buckle but not much ingenuity. Based on a story by Anthony Marshall, a swordsman by the name of Thomas Stanwood (Stewart Granger) finds himself fending off a multitude of attackers before he is captured and realizes he was defending himself against the very duke, Don Carlos (Riccardo Garrone), that he is supposed to be helping. The Duke overlooks the mistake and puts Thomas to guard his intended spouse, Orietta Arconti (Sylvia Koscina). She is a cold, arrogant woman who immediately antagonizes Thomas -- until he begins to realize a few things. Orietta's father was killed by the Duke when he took over their city, so how could she really be on the side of Don Carlos? As certain as night follows day, Thomas and Orietta are going to make an unbeatable pair when it comes to righting the wrongs of the past. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stewart Granger, Sylva Koscina, (more)
- 1963
A group of starving Roman artists provides the focus of this episodic drama that tells the often tragic story of each of them. One commits suicide after learning that his only patron is his homosexual lover. Another, a female singer, is a nymphomaniac. A third member gives up art in favor of marrying a German woman who is two decades older than he. As the original group begins to diminish, it is replenished by new, more idealistic young artists. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Gidget Goes to Rome was the third film to be inspired by the beach-happy characters created by Frederick Kohner back in the mid-1950s. This time, surfer gal Francie "Gidget" Lawrence is played by newcomer Cindy Carol. Per the title, the film finds Gidget vacationing in the Eternal City with faithful boyfriend Jeff, aka Moondoggie (James Darren). Chaperoning the pair is Aunt Albertina (Jessie Royce Landis), but that doesn't stop Gidge and Jeff from experiencing brief extracurricular flirtations in Rome. The question: how do the producers get Cindy Carol into a bikini without diverting from the plotline? The answer: a slapstick setpiece during a fashion show. The last of the theatrical Gidget features, Gidget Goes to Rome was followed by a handful of TV-movie sequels and two separate weekly sitcoms. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cindy Carol, James Darren, (more)
- 1963
Based on a Jules Verne tale about a make-believe, 19th-century country in the throes of revolution, this routine costume drama by Georges Lampin has a slight storyline about Mathias (Louis Jourdan), a noble count whose innate sensibilities lead him to side with the rebelling masses and intellectuals in the nation. His problem is that his daughter has fallen in love with the leader of the military regime, causing an understandable split in the family. Mathias is then betrayed by some supposed friends, and his situation as well as that of the revolution reach a crisis point. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Louis Jourdan, Francisco Rabal, (more)
