Dante Maggio Movies

This Dino De Laurentiis-produced re-creation of the decisive Italian military operation top-bills Robert Mitchum as a battle-weary war correspondent. Robert Ryan and Arthur Kennedy play generals, Peter Falk is the lovable Brooklynese corporal, and Earl Holliman is the country-boy sergeant. Anzio was based on the book by Wynford Vaughan Thomas. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this comedy, two Yankee con artists pose as tourists visiting scenic Naples. There they intend to rob an old church. Before pulling the caper, the two enlist the aid of a local criminal. The theft succeeds, but afterwards the crooks begin double-crossing each other. Murder and mayhem ensues as one American murders the other and then heads for the airport dressed as a nun. "Her" loot is, in turn, captured by the Italian crook and his friend. The local thief then heads for Switzerland accompanied by a bogus "cardinal" who protects him. Unfortunately for the crook, the cardinal turns out to be the real thing and takes the treasure back to its original home. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

This biblical epic chronicles the rocky relationship between David the giant-killer and Saul, King of the Israelites who listens to the subversive whispers of his jealous wife and ultimately loses his life. This is one of a series of Bible tales. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Ever since the original Rififi set up the postulate of a spectacular robbery, there have been cinematic "Rififis" in Amsterdam, Paris, Panama, and in this case, Tokyo. A band of thieves get together in Japan's capital to plan a major heist of only one single jewel -- a huge diamond stored in a vault in the Bank of Tokyo. Preparations for the heist are not without problems, and in the end only three of the thieves manage to get into the vault where the diamond is stored. Thanks to modern bank security, the next problem is how to get out of the vault. Directed by Jacques Deray, this melodramatic crime caper shines in the special technical effects department when the electronic gismos that protect bank vaults are highlighted, but the illumination does not extend to human characters in quite the same way. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

If Hollywood could put the names of Abbott and Costello in the titles of the team's pictures, why couldn't Italy honor its favorite actors in a similar fashion. Toto, Vittorio e la Dotoressa stars that matchless Italian comic actor Toto, matinee idol/director Vittorio De Sica, and, as Dotoressa, sultry American songstress Abbe Lane. The plot concerns the misadventures of Dotoressa, a Neopolitan doctor who is pursued by a pair of her wackiest patients (DeSica and German Cobos). Frantically, Dotoressa turns to private detective Toto for help--and that's her first mistake. Adding to the general hilarity is up-and-coming slapstick comedian Darry Cowl in a supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

An all-star cast graces this Italian "omnibus" feature. The film consists of eight short stories, each based on nostalgic literary efforts. Linking the various stories is bookseller Aldo Fabrizi, who passes the time by reading the works dramatized herein. In "The Excelsior Ball," dancer Alba Arnova arouses the libido of several observers. In "Less Than a Day," a three-hour train delay wreaks havoc on the romance between Arnova and Andrea Checchi. In "Sardinian Drummer Boy," the title character (Enzo Cerusico) becomes an unexpected hero on the battlefield. In "Matter of Interest," two farmers (Arnoldo Foa and Folco Lulli) quarrel over a compost pile. In "The Idyll," two very young people (Maurizio Di Nardo and Geraldina Pariniello) fall in love. "Potpourri of Songs" delivers on its title through the musical versatility of Barbara Florian and Elio Pandolfi. "The Trial of Frine" finds accused murderess Gina Lollobrigida being defended by colorful lawyer Vittorio De Sica. And in "The Trap," an accusatory husband (Amedeo Nazzari) drives his far-from-innocent wife (Elis Cegani) into an act of extreme desperation. Also known as In Olden Days, Altri Tempi was distributed worldwide by RKO Radio. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Italian director Mario Camerini's most creative years were behind him when he helmed Woman Trouble in 1948. Camerini adheres strictly to formula in this story of an impoverished family man (Massimo Girotti) who turns to thievery to keep food on the table. Despite its neorealist trappings, the film is a standard-issue comedy, with several mirth-provoking setpieces. The film was produced by Dino de Laurentiis, who hadn't yet adopted the theory that "bigger is better." Originally titled Molti Sogni per le Strade, Woman Trouble made it to the U.S. in 1949 on the name value of leading lady Anna Magnani. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi