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
- 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)
- 1966
In this comedy, a hapless fellow's life changes dramatically after he is accidentally (a computer malfunctioned) "playboy of the year," by an international men's journal. The publisher's know it's all a mistake, but decide to turn this regular joe into every woman's fantasy. In true "pygmalion" fashion, the suddenly suave finds himself paraded across Europe and getting his picture taken with the most beautiful women around. Trouble brews when a female reporter learns the truth and tries to decide whether or not to publish the story. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Alexander, Renato Salvatori, (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)
- 1964
Psychological study of the guests at a birthday party in German-occupied France. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- 1968
The Roman Emperor Trajan has just murdered all the local men of Dacia and holds a military stronghold in what will later become Rumania. He places a Roman centurion in his place to occupy his latest conquest. After lopping off the head of the Dacian warlord, the soldier uses his blood-stained hands to dine on cheese and bread, unable to suppress his laughter. The centurion has a change of heart when he is put in charge of the region, freely dispensing justice and forgiveness to the conquered inhabitants. When the peace is threatened by marauding barbarians in masks of fur, the locals help the Romans fend off the invasion. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Johnson, Antonella Lualdi, (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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 1963
Cult icon Lucio Fulci directed this anthology set in a courtroom, where four cases of fraud and confidence are presented. Raimondo Vianello and pretty Dominique Boschero star in the first, a tale of a wealthy businessman accused of fraud. Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia, who starred in ten of their "Franco and Ciccio" comedies for Fulci, play conmen who convince people that they've discovered archaeological treasures and Antonella Lualdi highlights a tale of crooked nuns. Finally, a doctor (Walter Chiari) is implicated in meedical misdeeds. Margaret Lee, Umberto d'Orsi, and horror director Camillo Mastrocinque also appear. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- 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)
- 1967
This post-war romantic drama is set in the city of Hong Kong. ~ All Movie Guide
- 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)
- 1961
Cast in the epic tragedy mold, this is the story of a thirteenth century romance. Jack Palance is the son of Genghis Khan and Anita Ekberg is his mistress. Battle between Khan's forces and those of the rebels rages around them but, when peace is finally achieved, Ekberg kills Khan so that her lover, his son, can become the new ruler. He must then lead the Mongol forces into battle himself. A classic case of a romance begetting a murder with greed, tragedy and war all thrown in to make this minor historical adventure. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- 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)
- 1962
Disorder was a French/Italian co-production, released as Le Desordre in France and Il Disordine in Italy (somebody was in a rut). This leisurely paced modern fable stars Renato Salvatore as a poor young man, struggling to pay for his mother's medical bills. Virtually everyone whom Salvatore approaches for help fails him: An industrialist reneges on a promise, a well-to-do friend laughs in his face, and a priest is defrocked before he can do any good. When the young man is finally able to raise the necessary money, he discovers that the ex-priest has sold all his possessions in order to help Salvatore's mother. Thus it is the film's one Good Samaritan whose life ends up in "disorder." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renato Salvatori, Louis Jourdan, (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)
- 1976
In this crime drama a mobster kills a cop during a robbery. He finds himself pursued by the police, his gang, and the media. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
