Silvana Pampanini Movies
Italian actress Silvana Pampanini was her country's reigning sex symbol during the early '50s. The curvaceous brunette got her start in 1947 after she was crowned Miss Italy in a national pageant. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1996
This historical biography chronicles the adventures of notorious highwayman Domenico Tiburzi as he deals with growing old and plying his rapidly vanishing trade. The story takes place in Maremma where the outlaw played a key role in enforcing the will of the powerful landowners. But as the regions of Italy gradually coalesce to form a unified country, the landowners have changed and now seek to stop Tiburzi. They hire Michele Giacheri, a specialist in outlaw extermination to do their deed and much of Tiburzi's story unfolds from Giacheri's perspective. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Limited in new routines and without a plot to speak of, this series of vignettes focuses primarily on the fares a cab driver (Alberto Sordi) picks up and what is said or done during their ride. Unfortunately, some of the fares are foreigners ridiculed or insulted in one way or another (Arabs at a dinner party throw mashed potatoes at guests), and some are Italian notables such as Giulio Andreotti or Federico Fellini who have nothing much to add to the film except their presence. All told, the cab does not provide a very good vehicle for comic relief. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Federico Fellini
- 1965
Courtroom tomfoolery provides the basis for this four-episode Italian anthology comedy. In the first segment "Adultery in 16mm," an angry wife attempts to sue her neglectful husband by charging him with abandonment. Meanwhile, he charges her with adultery and claims to have a few reels of home-movie footage to prove it. The films are shown and the courtroom gasps when they learn the identity of the woman's lover. The second "The Priest and the Prostitute," centers on a self-righteous clergyman who pursues the streetwalker who picked his pocket. The hunted and hunter end up in a pool hall. When she attempts to give her ill-gotten loot to her pimp, the priest pounces and a melee erupts. The police end up taking all of them to jail where more fun follows. In the third episode, "Indecent Exposure," an overly health-conscious fellow religiously swims naked in a Roman ditch every day. The trouble begins on the day in which his clothes are stolen. In the final episode, "The Lustful Lieutenant," an old hooker is charged with soliciting. The attending judge is struck by her resemblance to his old wartime love, but he isn't sure whether it is really her or not. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Maruchelli (Amedeo Nazzari) is an Italian expatriate who has made his fortune in Argentina. When he throws a lavish party to impress his Italian guests, his stone-faced friend Stefano (Nino Manfredi) feels the sting of not being as successful as his host. Vittorio Gassman co-stars with Silvana Pampanini in this contrasting social comedy drama. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Amedeo Nazzari, (more)
- 1961
In this romantic Italian swashbuckler, a tyrannical 17th-century Spanish governor of a small Carribbean island mercilessly slaughters all who refuse to grovel at his feet. Two brave young men manage to escape the island and take over a ship to become pirates. They name their new vessel the Black Witch and use her to get their revenge upon the cruel island ruler. During the battle, one of the pirates is injured while the other is captured. The injured pirate meets and falls in love with the governor's lovely daughter who helps him recover. Meanwhile, his imprisoned partner joins the governor's army and teams up with the vengeful woman his former buddy spurned to get rid of the pirates. A great final battle ensues until at long last, the village is vanquished. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don McGowan, Emma Danieli, (more)
- 1960
A gun-for-hire organizes a bandit ring to bring justice to some dictatorial Spanish-controlled territory. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1956
Racconti Romani (Roman Tales) is a fast-paced comedy based on the short stories of Alberto Moravia. Tying the various narratives together is a gang of young Romans who'll do anything to line their pockets with money. Unfortunately, most of their schemes are at odds with the Law, and most culminate with the schemers losing what little cash they already have. Still, the young protagonists don't learn their lesson until they become mixed up with a counterfeiting ring. The well-chosen cast includes Franco Fabrizi as the gang's leader, Silvana Pampanini as his ever-patient wife, and Vittorio de Sica and Toto in cameo roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvana Pampanini
- 1955
The French La Tour de Nesle (The Tower of Nesle) was the third Alexandre Dumas adaptation to be released in the first six weeks of 1955. Like the previous The Queen Margot, the film was scripted by the legendary Abel Gance, who also directed after a 12-year absence from the screen. The somewhat mystical story concerns a sensuous Queen (Silvana Pampani) who delights in luring noblemen to their doom. For this purpose, she has constructed a high tower, where she has imprisoned herself and two equally lovely lasses. Charmed by the naked trio, the noblemen are wined, dined, romanced--and then brutally murdered. Will Buridan (Pierre Brasseur), the film's nominal hero, escape this grisly fate? There's a surprising denouement in store for the wicked queen, not to mention the audience. Though not as innovative and elaborate as Gance's silent masterpiece Napoleon, La Tour de Nesle is nonetheless a lavish recreation of a long-past time and place. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Brasseur, Silvana Pampanini, (more)
- 1955
A Canary Islands' princess is the love interest of a 16th century Spanish sea captain who runs into island uprisings. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1955
Nannina (Silvana Pampanini) is planning to marry Mario (Antonio Cifariello), but the nuptials hit a snag when he's put in prison for hitting a policeman. She goes to work as a cashier in a bar owned by Oreste (Paolo Stoppa), an older man who falls in love with her. She wants to open a restaurant with him, but he severs contact with her once he realizes that she still loves Mario. Nevertheless, when Mario finally returns, Nannina is there as the proprietress of the restaurant. And she tells him that she sleeps safely at the convent until she's married! ~ Nicole Gagne, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvana Pampanini, Alberto Sordi, (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)
- 1953
This 1953 French historical melodrama was the fourth film version of Pierre Benoit's novel Koenigsmark. Jean-Pierre Aumont stars as a court historian named Vignerte, who comes to the titular duchy to do research. Instead, Vignerte spends his time romancing the Duchess Aurora (Sylvana Pampanini), then saving her from the diabolical intrigues of her former husband, Duke Frederic (Roldano Lupi). Along the way, our hero discovers that the Duke is not a man to be trifled with, especially since he has a habit of walling up his enemies in the dungeon. Will the lovers escape, or will they meet a horrible doom? It takes 90 minutes to find out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean-Pierre Aumont, Silvana Pampanini, (more)
- 1953
Anna Zaccheo (Silvana Pampanini) is desperate for true love. Alas, Anna is so gorgeous that true love is the last thing most men have on their minds. She manages to get by with the help of several wealthy male friends, until finally she meets the man of her dreams -- a poverty-stricken sailor (Massimo Girotti). Their relationship goes along swimmingly (literally, at one point), until the sailor learns about Anna's checkered past. Just when it looks like a happy ending is on the horizon, a miracle (the sort that happens in movies) comes to pass. Un Marito per Anna Zaccheo is a rare exercise in pure romanticism from Bitter Rice director Giuseppe DeSantis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvana Pampanini, Amedeo Nazzari, (more)
- 1953
Originally released as Trattedella Blanche, Girls Marked Danger offers a voyeuristic glimpse at the subrosa world of 20th century white slavery. Veteran Hollywood heavy Marc Lawrence plays a vice lord who recruits innocent young Italian ladies for his nefarious purposes, on the pretext of hiring them to be cabaret dancers in South America. Despite the fact that none of Lawrence's "girls" ever return home, the new candidates suspect nothing as they sign up for the tour. Since the plot and outcome of Girls Marked Danger are predictable, the film justifies its 78-minute length by concentrating on the backgrounds of some of the unfortunate lasses. The most tragic of the ladies is played by Eleanora Rossi Drago, who is not only brutally beaten and mishandled, but ends up dying in childbirth. The nominal romantic lead is played by Sophia Loren, who tends to be upstaged on this occasion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvana Pampanini, Sophia Loren, (more)
- 1952
OK Nerone stars Italian film favorites Walter Chiari and Cario Capanine as a pair of fun-loving American sailors. While on a sightseeing tour of Rome, the two tars imagine themselves back to the days of Emperor Nero (Gino Cervi). The rest of the film is in the fine tradition of such Eddie Cantor comedies as Roman Scandals and Ali Baba Goes to Town, with Chiari and Capanine introducing 1st-century Rome to the pleasures of 20th-century America. The climax takes place in the Colosseum, as our heroes stage a football game to rescue the Christians from the lions. OK Nerone exists strictly for laughs, and in this respect it succeeds admirably. English-language prints were radically trimmed to satisfy the censors of the early 1950s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Chiari, Silvana Pampanini, (more)
- 1952
Based loosely on fact, La Presidentress stars Silvana Pampanini as a sexy nightclub singer with loftier aspirations. Posing as the wife of a judge, the singer manages to bed a high-ranking government official (Carlo Dapporto). As a result, the nonplused judge (Luigi Pavese) is given all sorts of promotions and special perks. When he finds out about the girl's subterfuge, his first reaction is stark, raw terror: Wait till his real wife (Ave Ninchi) discovers what's going on! When the judge's former mistress (Marilyn Buferd) joins the fray, the fur really begins to fly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvana Pampanini, Carlo Dapporto, (more)
- 1951
The English-language title of this wacky comedy is It Was Him...Yes! Yes! "Him" Walter Milani, is played by Walter Chiari, a singular comic actor who was touted by American critics as a "new" star, even though he'd been successfully plugging away in European films since 1947. Chiari plays a meek-and-mild clerk in a department store who discovers that his boss (Carlo Campanini) is mortally afraid of him. It seems that the boss is plagued by nightmares, in which Malani appears as a "villain" who doles out ridicule and humiliation. With the help of a psychiatrist, the boss comes to grips with his inner fears, while the hapless Milani reacts in confusion as all sorts of favors and kindnesses are heaped upon him. The dream sequences are cleverly rendered send-ups of every Freudian symbol in the book. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Chiari, Carlo Campanini, (more)
