Gino Bechi Movies
In this 1968 filmed performance of Verdi's La Traviata, soprano Anna Moffo takes over the role of Violetta, backed by conductor Giuseppe Patanè and the orchestra and chorus of the Rome Opera House. Mario Lanfranchi directs. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anna Moffo, Franco Bonisolli, (more)
- 1952
Voice in Your Heart (Une Voce nel tuo Cuore) is purely and simply a showcase for the splendid
singing talents of Beniamino Gigli and Gino Bechi. The main plot concerns the romance between war-correspondent Paul (Vittorio Gassman) and cabaret-singer Helen (Fiorella C. Fionti). Paul encourages Helen to pursue an operatic career, which is how Gigli and Bechi figure into the proceedings. The course of true love is halted by Paul's faithless former girlfriend, played by American actress Constance Dowling. As can be seen, the plot of Voice in Your Heart is hardly new; and as previously mentioned, its principal raison d'etre is the superb operatic passages provided by Signors Gigli and Bechi. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
singing talents of Beniamino Gigli and Gino Bechi. The main plot concerns the romance between war-correspondent Paul (Vittorio Gassman) and cabaret-singer Helen (Fiorella C. Fionti). Paul encourages Helen to pursue an operatic career, which is how Gigli and Bechi figure into the proceedings. The course of true love is halted by Paul's faithless former girlfriend, played by American actress Constance Dowling. As can be seen, the plot of Voice in Your Heart is hardly new; and as previously mentioned, its principal raison d'etre is the superb operatic passages provided by Signors Gigli and Bechi. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Gino Bechi, (more)
Sophia Loren, complete with blackface and an Afro, came to international acclaim in this fairly literal version of the Giuseppe Verdi opera. Loren (with singing dubbed by Renata Tebaldi) portrays the title character, an Ethiopian slave owned by Amneris (Lois Maxwell), the daughter of the Egyptian king. Aida's romantic heart is her weakness, as she must choose between loyalty to her conquered race and romance with Radames (Luciano della Marra), an officer of the Egyptian army. Director Clemente Fracassi gets a bit carried away with epic splendor and the opulent color format, but fans of Loren and opera novices should find the film rewarding. Despite Loren's lauded performance, the role of Aida was originally intended for Gina Lollobrigida. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sophia Loren, Lois Maxwell, (more)
- 1950
The Voice of Love is primarily a showcase for the splendid singing of Italian musical favorite Gino Bechi. Sagaciously, Bechi is cast as a professional singer who loves Countess Luisa Diana (Annette Bach). He carries on a courtship by telephone, as logical a means as any to have the star burst into song at a moment's notice. In true operetta fashion, the story occasionally shifts to the backstairs romance between Bechi's butler (Carlo Campanini) and the countess' maid (Laura Gore). The fun really begins when circumstances dictate that the singer and countess impersonate their respective servants. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gino Bechi, Annette Bach, (more)
- 1948
Popular Italian singing star Gino Bechi tops the cast of When Love Calls. Bechi plays Claudio Tancredi, an effusive operatic baritone who can't keep his hands off the ladies. This gets him into plenty of hot water with his wife Anna (Silvana Pampanini), who could never be accused of being the patient or the demure type. The best scenes take place in a bandit camp where Tancredi briefly hides out; American viewers were quite astonished at the amount of feminine pulchritude on display in this extended sequence. The box-office appeal of When Love Calls assured the film an excellent response upon its first release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gino Bechi, Silvana Pampanini, (more)
The leading lady of the Italian Mad About Opera was billed in the English-language prints as Lollo Brigida. By the time the film was reissued in the mid-1950s, this gaffe had been corrected, and Gina Lollobrigida received proper screen credit. The story details the misadventures of a group of Italians living in London who hope to stage a musical concert. The proceeds will go to the restoration of a church which was destroyed during the Blitz. Spearheading the project is journalist Carlo Scala (Carlo Campanini), who must overcome some pretty formidable opposition to realize his goal. The final reels of Mad About Opera are given over to such powerhouse musical talents as Tito Gobbi, Gino Bechi, Beniamino Gigli, Maria Caniglia and the La Scala Corps de Ballet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carlo Campanini, Constance Dowling, (more)
- 1948
The Italian Arrivederci, Papa managed to land good bookings in the U.S. thanks to the patronage of Paramount Pictures. This lighthearted musical is based upon a novel premise. From the vantage point of heaven, children yet unborn are permitted to choose their parents. The next step is to make certain that the potential father and mother fall in love and marry. Once this notion is established, the film tends to drag a bit, except during the musical highlights. A variation on the storyline of Arrivederci, Papa can be found in the 1950 Clifton Webb vehicle For Heaven's Sake. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gino Bechi, Silvana Pampanini, (more)
- 1946
Gino Bechi and Annette Bach portray Allesandro and Ortensia, the Lovers in this Italian romantic melodrama. Warned by an astrologer that he will die violently at an early age, Allesandro avoids all romantic entanglements. He rises to fame as a musician, devoting all his love and energy to his art. And then he meets Ortensia, the daughter of an influential Venetian. At first resisting her attractions, Allesandro is emboldened when he discovers the astrologer who placed the malediction on him has died. But Allesandro has not taken into consideration the volatile temper of Ortensia's overprotective father (Gualtiero Tumiati). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gino Bechi, Annette Bach, (more)
