Rossana Podestà Movies

Gli Angeli del Quartiere (Angels of the District) concentrates on five lovable Italian war orphans. Living a hand-to-mouth existence, the children are elated to discover a bagful of money in a cellar. Wondering where best to spend their treasure, the kids are "advised" by adult thief Mario (Jacques Sernas), who intends to grab all the loot for himself. Ultimately, however, Mario is reformed by the quintet of urchins--though his old gang doesn't quite see things in this new light. Obviously aimed at the kiddie-matinee trade, Gli Angeli del Quartiere delivers a solid 78 minutes' worth of heartwarming entertainment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The title of this grim Emilio Fernandez-directed character study translates to The Net. On the lam from the police, Antonio (Crox Alvaredo) and Jose Luis (Armando Sylvestre) find refuge in a friendly seaside village. The two fugitives set up housekeeping with their mutual girlfriend Rossana (Rossana Podesta). This set-up can't possibly last, and it doesn't. When Rossana indicates that she prefers one of the men over the other, it's the beginning of the end for all three. Well-photographed on location, La Red was one of Mexico's entries at the 1953 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A novel by Valerio Zurlini was the basis of the Italian Le Ragazze di Sanfrediano (The Girls of San Frediano). The story deals with the amorous escapades of handsome garage mechanic Bob (Antonio Cifariello). The first name in Bob's little black book is the tempestuous Tosca (Rosanna Podesta, who that same year played the title role in Helen of Troy). Before long, our hero throws Tosca over for a chorus dancer (Giulia Robini), a schoolteacher (Luciana Liberati) and a dress designer (Corinne Calvet). Through it all, Gina (Marcella Miriani), a girl who lives in Bob's apartment building, silently carries a torch for the grease-monkey Lothario. Just guess who Bob eventually winds up with. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Set during Cuba's struggle to free itself from colonialist Spain, this exciting adventure chronicles the exploits of a tough, mercenary gun runner who learns about honor, sacrifice and caring for others when he ends up forced to smuggle his latest weapon's cache aboard a beat up stern wheeler bound for Cuba. There he meets a beautiful freedom fighter who has been in the States trying to rally her expatriot colleagues into returning to join in the battle. It is she, with her passionate idealism and unwavering courage, who turns the gunrunner's life around. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Maverick Mexican filmmaker Emilio Fernandez completed Nosotros Dos (We Two) in 1954. Thanks to the legal and political volatility of the director, however, the film was not released until 1957. Rosanna Podesta (on the verge of her Helen of Troy debacle) stars as a young woman trapped in the middle of a long-standing blood feud. She falls in love with Tito Junco, son of the family with which her parents are at odds. Their struggle to find happiness despite the hatred all around them forms the basis of the familiar but well-wrought plotline. Perhaps Rosanna Podesta was a bit too ladylike for the proceedings, but her fans didn't mind. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This Gallic costume farce is set in the 18th century. The plot concerns a group of fun-loving French soldiers who manage to circumvent a band of cutthroat pirates and win the undying loyalty of a tribal potentate. In so doing, our heroes secure possession of a group of unclaimed islands for the French Crown. Considering the ongoing problems in Indochina and Algeria, one would think that the history of French colonization would be the last subject any producer would pick for a film, let alone a comedy like La Bigorne, Caporal de France. For the record, the film's romantic throughline is carried by Francois Perier and Rosanna Podesta. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sixth-century Italy is the setting for Fury of the Pagans. Edmund Purdom plays Toryok, the peace-loving ruler of a tranquil Northern province. Pagan leader Kovo (Livio Lorenzon) wreaks havoc upon Toryok's domain, raping and pillaging to a fare-thee-well. Years later, Toryok gets his chance to avenge his people. He intends to slay Kovo and claim the Pagan's bride Lianora (Rosanna Podesta). This being an Italian sword-and-sandal epic, there's nothing one-on-one about the final showdown; in fact, there must be ten thousand extras on that wide screen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A Red Cross ship is sunk while sailing back from war torn Korean. The four survivors, a war journalist and three ladies, end up stranded on a lonely island. One of the women is criminally insane and was en route to the U.S. with her guard to stand trial for murder. She proves to be a major troublemaker. Meanwhile, another woman vainly tries to repair the lifeboat so she can sail off to find help. Three of the women fight for the journalist's affections. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this Italian sword and sandal spectacle, a band of Barbarian invaders wreak havoc upon an army of Roman centurions. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This 153-minute Biblical epic about salt and sin is directed by Robert Aldrich and has enough dynamic interactions between its chief protagonists to sustain interest in-between climactic scenes. Stewart Granger is Lot, the Hebrew leader who takes his people to camp in the Valley of Jordan only to find that they are caught between the Helamites on the one hand, and the wicked Queen Bera (Anouk Aimee) on the other. She rules over the twin cesspools of Sodom and Gomorrah and is beleaguered by a crafty brother who wants the scepter she now wields. The Queen makes a pact with Lot that he can stay with the Hebrews in the valley as long as he defends it -- she wants to use him and the Hebrews as a first line of defense against the Helamites. To seal the pact, she gives Lot her best slave Ildith (Pier Angeli) to be his wife. Adventures and excitement prevails as Lot and the Hebrews brave one challenge after the other -- until Lot realizes that his people are being corrupted by the environment of Sodom and Gomorrah and eventually receives a Divine vision and knows he has to lead the Hebrews away from here. Special effects are impressive and take much of the impact away from the fate of Ildith, as she turns one last time to look back at the crumbling cities. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide