Maria Denis Movies
- 1942
La Vie de Bohème is adapted from Henri Murger's libretto for Giacomo Puccini's opera La Bohème with the Puccini music relegated to the background. Louis Jourdan plays Rudolphe, the "starving artist" who falls in love with the beautiful but sickly Mimi (Maria Denis). As the tragic Rudolphe-Mimi romance plays itself out to its inevitable conclusion, director Marcel L'Herbier occasionally shifts focus to such supporting characters as painters Marcel (André Roussin), Schaunard (Alfred Adam), the philosophical Colline (Louis Salou), and the fun-loving Phemie (Suzy Delair). Some newly added scenes flesh out the character of Musette (Gisèle Pascal), tracing her progress from wealth to penury and wealth again. Perhaps the most famous filmization of this story is the 1926 La Bohème, starring Lillian Gish and John Gilbert. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Denis, Louis Jourdan, (more)
- 1941
Sin Novedad en el Alcazar (Siege of the Alcazar) is fascist propaganda in the guise of popular entertainment. Set during the Spanish Civil War, the story dramatizes the 70-day defense of the Alcazar of Toledo by Nationalist troops under the command of General Moscardo. At the end of the siege, it appears as though the Republican forces are triumphant, but the defenders have the last laugh. The film's dramatic high point is Moscardo's sacrifice of his own son, held hostage by the Republicans (according to the film, the younger Moscardo goes to his death willingly and with a smile on his lips). Somehow or other, Spanish dictator Francisco Franco emerges as the hero of the film, though he was but one of three generals fighting at the Alcazar. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fosco Giachetti, Mireille Balin, (more)
- 1940
Altoleto Palermi is both writer and director of the Italian domestic drama Le Due Madri (The Two Mothers). Vittorio De Sica plays Salvatore, a young aspiring artist who becomes an overnight success (after several years' worth of struggling!) Upon having fame and fortune thrust upon him, Salvatore makes a startling discovery: He is the long-lost son of celebrated musical star Kiki (Lydia Johnson). This revelation causes a brief rift between Salvatore and his adoptive mother Mammarosa (Bella Starace Sainari) until the hero realizes at last that blood isn't always thicker than water. Maria Denis received a great deal of critical attention for her performance as Salvatore's girlfriend, mostly on the strength of her curvaceous frame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio De Sica, Maria Denis, (more)
- 1940
This Italian comedy was originally released under the poetic title Belle O Brutte Si Sposen Tutte. Giuseppe Perelli plays Ruggero, the irresponsible nephew of wealthy American Matteo (Armando Magliari). Having convinced his uncle that he's been attending medical school, Ruggero has actually been spending his allowance on women and gambling and women and liquor and women. When unk shows up in town, Ruggero and his buddy Jojo (top-billed Umberto Melnati) strive to convince the old man that the two of them are operating a busy medical clinic. None of the ensuing complications come anywhere near to explaining the film's title: but then, the Marx Brothers' Horse Feathers and Duck Soup weren't terribly relevant titles either. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Umberto Melnati, Maria Denis, (more)
- 1938
Partire (Departure) was adapted by director Amleto Palermi from the stage play by Gherardo Gherardi. Vittorio de Sica stars as Paul, who convinces himself that fame and fortune will be his if only he can escape his provincial hometown. Unfortunately, he lacks the necessary funds for such a move. Anyone else would take a job to earn the money, but Paul is disinclined to lower himself to common labor. When he accidentally does land a job, our hero spends every waking hour trying to figure out a way to get fired so that he can return to his life of ease. Alas, every effort he makes to displease his boss turns out to be beneficial to the company, resulting in higher wages and increased responsibility. In a last-ditch effort to disgrace himself, Paul makes a play for the boss' daughter -- only to realize that he's fallen in love with her, and she with him. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Denis, Vittorio De Sica, (more)
- 1938
Its title translating as Naples of Former Days, this Italian musical romance takes an bittersweet backward glance at the 19th century. Vittorio de Sica plays Maestro Perla, who hopes to arise from poverty to become a renowned composer and symphony conductor. He is helped along by a mysterious benefactor (Emma Gramatica) who turns out to be his aunt. On the verge of fame and fortune, Perla is disappointed romantically when the family of his wealthy fiancee (Elisa Regard) opposes the impending marriage. Realizing that he'll be happier in his own back yard, Perla returns to his hardscrabble Neapolitan neighborhood and to his childhood sweetheart (Maria Dennis). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio De Sica, Emma Gramatica, (more)
- 1937
This Italian comedy charts the lives of two 19th-century misanthropes. Shutting themselves off from the world, Cosimo and Damiano live together in a huge mansion. It isn't long before the two confirmed bachelors are getting on each other's nerves: Cosimo with his compulsion for neatness, and Damiano with his fondness for clutter. Hmmmm?? didn't someone else tell this story with a couple of guys named Felix and Oscar? Whatever the case, the two misanthrope's solitude is interrupted when a cholera epidemic drives everyone else in the village into their mansion, which action eventually results in a double marriage when our heroes meet a couple of ladies who come up to their standards (maybe!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nino Besozzi, Sergio Tofano, (more)
- 1937
This Italian comedy satirically borrows its title from a passage in Dante's Inferno ("Abandon hope, all ye who enter here"). Based on a popular stage play, the film stars Antonio Gandusio as a young man who sees an image of the poet Dante in a dream. The long-departed Dante advises our hero to play a specific lottery number, which will bring him untold riches. But there's a catch: if Gandusio follows Dante's advice, his doom will be sealed -- and he'll know exactly the day on which he will die. Awakening from his dream, Gandusio impulsively plays the proscribed lottery number and of course wins big. He spends the rest of the picture trying to prevent the rest of Dante's prophecy from coming true. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Denis
- 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)
- 1936
Fiat Voluntas Dei translates as Your Troubles Are Mine. Comic actor Angelo Musco stars as Padre Attansio, everybody's father confessor in a small Italian village. The padre does his best to solves everyone's problems in a humorous but reverent fashion. Most of the story is conveyed in pantomime, which made the picture easier to export to non-Italian markets. Fiat Voluntas Dei has much in common with the later "Don Camillo" pictures starring Fernandel -- except that Angelo Musco is a much less demonstrative and far more gentle screen presence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Denis, Sarah Ferrati, (more)
