Antonella Lualdi Movies
The luminescent beauty of actress Antonella Lualdi graced many Italian and French films during the '50s and '60s. She is the daughter of an Italian and a Greek and was born in Lebanon. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1950
Two masters of Italian neorealism--screenwriter Cesare Zavattini and director Luigi Zampa--collaborated on It is Easier for a Camel. As indicated by the film's title, a measure of religiosity figures into the proceedings. Recently deceased Carlo Bacchi (Jean Gabin), on the verge of being sent to Hell, is given 12 extra hours' life to redeem himself. Returning to earth, Bacchi tries to buy his way into the good graces of God. This, of course, has no effect on his ultimate fate--but an extreme act of self-sacrifice does. The film works best when it sticks to the story at hand, instead of going off on satirical tangents aimed at hypocrisy and conspicuous consumption. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Gabin, Elena Altieri, (more)
- 1952
The tragic collapse of a stairwell in Rome, costing the lives of several female job aspirants, had previously served as the basis of It Happened in Roma (1951). The same real-life disaster provides the springboard for Tre Storie Proibite (Three Forbidden Stories). While recuperating from their injuries in a hospital, three young women flash back to the events leading up to the catastrophe. Remata (Lia Amando) has spent her entire life trying to overcome a childhood rape. Annamaria (Antonella Lualdi) has recently come out of an unfortunate marriage to a wealthy but insensitive boor. And Gianna (Eleanore Rossi Drago), the daughter of a college professor, has ruined her life with narcotics. The "dope element" of Tre Storie Proibite caused some censor troubles when the film was released to the U.S. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lia Amanda, Antonella Lualdi, (more)
- 1952
Newly married Daniel Gelin spends most of Adorable Creatures reflecting longingly on his previous amours. One of his past conquests was unhappy housewife Danielle Darrieux. Another was insatiable widow Edwige Feuillere. And yet another was avaricious Martine Carol (then married to director Christian-Jacque). Originally released in France in 1952, Adorable Creatures didn't get theatrical play in the US in 1956, and then only in a heavily bowdlerized addition. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danielle Darrieux, Daniel Gélin, (more)
- 1952
The classic Nicolas Gogal fable The Overcoat is given a European flavor by Italian filmmaker Alberto Lattuada; some consider the film to be Lattuada's best "psychological study." Comedian Renato Rascel plays a nebbishy nobody who spends his life-savings on a fancy overcoat. Suddenly, the nobody becomes a somebody, proving beyond doubt that clothes make the man. And then one day, the overcoat is stolen...Fleshing out the short-but-bittersweet Gogol original are several colorful new characters, including a publicity-hungry small-town mayor, played by Giulio Stival. The background music was composed by director Lattuada's wife Felice. American prints of Il Cappato are missing a so-called "naughty" telephone exchange between the mayor and his silken mistress. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renato Rascel, Yvonne Sanson, (more)
- 1954
Cronaca di Poveri Amani (Chronicle of Poor Lovers) was based on the novel of the same name by Vasco Pratolini. The scene is the Vico de Corno, a well-populated alleyway in the low-rent district of Florence. Set in the 1920s, the film recalls the tinderbox political climate of the era. The eponymous "poor lovers" include Milena (Antonella Lualdi), whose husband dies at the hands of the fascists; cynical prostitute Elisa (Cosetta Greco); and lonely but comparatively well-off invalid Gesuina (Anna Maria Ferrero). Marcello Mastrioanni also appears, though the emphasis is clearly on the women of the piece. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anna Maria Ferrero, Cosetta Greco, (more)
- 1954
Stendhal's brilliant but difficult novel Le Rouge et le Noir all but defies transfer to film, but adaptor/director Claude Autant-Lara comes within shouting distance of full success. Stripped to essentials, the plot concerns Julien Sorel (Gerard Philipe), a carpenter's son who becomes a tutor. While his duties do not include the seduction of his employer's wife (Danielle Darrieux), Sorel offers this service free of charge. After this episode, Sorel becomes a priest...and the story isn't over yet. Though the director is too doggedly literal in his adaptation at times, and despite the fact that Gerard Philipe was about ten years too old for the part of Jean Sorel, Le Rouge et le Noir manages to hold the audience in its thrall for 2 hours and 50 minutes (most American prints, retitled The Red and the Black, run only 140 minutes). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gérard Philipe, Danielle Darrieux, (more)
- 1954
The title of this Italian musical extravaganza promises "Half a Century of Songs," and that's just what it delivers. What plot there is contrives to encapsulate seven crucial moments in modern Italian history, as represented by the popular songs of each era. Jam-packed with star power, the film offers such Mediterranean luminaries as Silvana Pampini, Renato Rascel, Maria Fiore and Franco Interleghi. Many of the performers play two or three different roles, with amusing results. Aimed directly and almost exclusively at Italian-language markets, Canzoni di Mezzo Secolo was not exactly a smash hit in the U.S. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvana Pampanini, Cosetta Greco, (more)
- 1955
Despite of (or perhaps because of ) its sparse production values and unpretentiousness, the Italian Gli Innamorati was feted at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. The bulk of the story takes place in a single Roman neighborhood. In the manner of the 1925 German classic A Joyless Street, director Mauro Bolognini studies the hopes, dreams, successes and failures of the neighborhood's various and sundry denizens. No one subplot dominates the proceedings, though a bit of extra time is afforded the story of a fickle seamstress and her seemingly meek-and-mild boyfriend. The cast is dotted with such reassuringly familiar faces as Nino Manfredi and Gino Cervi. Released in the US as Wild Love, Gli Innamorati was instrumental in bringing international fame to director Bolognini, whose career soon shifted into high drive. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Franco Interlenghi, Antonella Lualdi, (more)
- 1957
This complex effort from French filmmaker Yves Allégret was distributed in English-speaking countries as Young Girls Beware and Look Out Girls. The cautionary title should have been heeded by heroine Fan (Michèle Cordoue). Having had the bad luck to witness a gangland murder, Fan is promptly kidnapped by the killers' cohorts. She is then abducted by a rival gang, only to be re-kidnapped by her original captors. Held hostage to allow the murderer to escape, Fan's ordeal is compounded when the police begin closing in. Only the fact that the killer (Robert Hossein) falls in love with her saves the girl from further outrages -- but she's still not out of the woods as the picture draws to a close. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Antonella Lualdi, Robert Hossein, (more)
- 1957
The title of this Italian slice-of-life drama translates to Young Husbands. The husbands in question rather casually enter into marriage, never intending true fidelity to their spouses. When they realize that they're committed for life, our immature heroes return to their home town for one last fling. In the course of their final hours of bachelorhood, they come to the sobering conclusion that their carefree youth is not only past, it's already long past. Somewhat reminiscent of Fellini's I Vitelloni, Giovani Mariti boasts excellent performances from all concerned. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylva Koscina, Antonella Lualdi, (more)
- 1958
Mon Coquin de Pere translates approximately as My Darned Father. The father in question, played by Claude Dauphin, falls in love with pretty young mademoiselle Gaby Morlay. Trouble is, Dauphin's son Philipe Lamaire has also set his cap for the beauteous Morlay. The film's most enjoyable scene is an extended flashback sequence, consisting of footage from the 1938 French romantic comedy We are No Longer Children -- which also featured Claude Dauphin. While the 1938 film was directed by Auguste Genina, Mon Coquin de Pere was helmed by Georges Lacombe, whose next-to-last film this was. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gaby Morlay, Antonella Lualdi, (more)
- 1958
A Life is based on a novel by Guy De Mauppasant. Maria Schell plays Jeanne, who enters into a loveless marriage with impoverished Julien (Christian Marquand). Having married Jeanne only for her money, Julien has no qualms about carrying on an affair with Gilberte (Antonella Lualdi), the family maid. Even after Gilberte gives birth to Julien's child, Jeanne forgives her husband, but he fails to learn his lesson and suffers spectacularly as a result. The physical and psychological isolation of the long-suffering heroine is emphasized by director Alexandre Astruc's decision to film Un Vie almost exclusively in a remote, sterile country mansion. Un Vie was released in the U.S. as End of Desire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Schell, Christian Marquand, (more)
- 1959
The exploits of three young Roman criminals are chronicled in this socially conscious drama. The young men commit petty crimes all day begin with arms theft, and culminating with a night with three streetwalkers. After their pleasure, the boys try to cheat the hookers, but they ladies are smarter than that and have stolen their cash ahead of time. The punks then return to the city for more crimes. Exploits include the harassment of three homosexuals, and attempts to seduce some women. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurent Terzieff, Jean-Claude Brialy, (more)
- 1959
Miscegenation, murder and revenge are the themes of this French crime drama set in the steamy American south. Joe Grant is a vengeful light-skinned black who leaves Memphis and moves to a small town after his brother is brutally lynched for attempting to marry a white woman. Joe's skin is so light that he is able to pass himself off as Caucasian and find work in a local bookstore. To get revenge on white society, Joe seduces a rich young white girl and then plots her death. At the same time, Joe discovers that the bookstore where he works is a front for an extortion ring. A short time passes and he finds himself falling in love with the girl. She too loves him until she learns that he is of African descent. Knowing this complicates matters (she is engaged to another), but loving him just the same, she suggests they run away together to avoid the blackmailers. After Joe is beaten by the blackmailers, he decides this is a good idea and together the lovers flee. Back in town, the girls enraged fiance organizes a posse loudly claiming that Joe has abducted the girl and plans to rape her. Tragedy ensues just as the fugitive lovers are about to cross the Mason-Dixon Line. This film is not to be confused with the disgusting mid '70s exploitation film of the same title. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Antonella Lualdi, Christian Marquand, (more)
New Wave director Claude Chabrol employs an aloof perspective in this tale of murder and a dysfunctional family. The paterfamilias Henri Marcoux (Jacques Dacqmine) is having a fling with the neighbor woman Leda (Antonella Lualdi). When she turns up murdered, police suspect the milkman, a friend of the Marcoux's sultry maid Julie. But Laszlo (Jean-Paul Belmondo) the non-conformist Hungarian boyfriend of Henri's daughter Elisabeth (Jeanne Valerie) thinks not. Was the killer Henri's unbalanced son Richard? His wife Therese (Madeleine Robinson) is a regular harridan; is she guilty? Robinson won the "Best Actress" award at the 1959 Venice Film Festival for her portrayal of Therese. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Antonella Lualdi, (more)
- 1959
A stock, provincial crime drama by Hollywood's glamorous standards, Delit de Fuite tells the story of Fred (Felix Marten) an unfortunate journalist who becomes attracted to and then enamored of, the young wife of an older business tycoon. Fred's involvement with her parallels a bit of nasty skulduggery, as both a murder and blackmail make their way into the story. How they are resolved takes some time, some long time, in the telling. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Antonella Lualdi, Felix Marten, (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)
