Rosanna Rory Movies
In this challenging drama by Michelangelo Antonioni, his characteristic long, significant periods of silence punctuate the message that people just cannot seem to communicate with each other. Capping off Antonioni's previous two films (L'avventura and La Notte) in much the same style, this tale involves a woman, Vittoria (Monica Vitti), who has just suffered the break-up of an imperfect relationship with a staunch intellectual (Francisco Rabal). Piero (Alain Delon), a stockbroker, casts his romantic gaze in Vittoria's direction and the woman gradually relents and they begin a tentative affair. There is much to appreciate in this man who is not overly intellectual and is blessedly free of complications, and the same can be said of Vittoria. Yet their innermost fears play upon both of them in ways that go against an honest expression of their love -- and against a lasting relationship. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Monica Vitti, Alain Delon, (more)
- 1962
Based on Flora Sandstrom's novel The Midwife of Pont Clery, this lightweight sexual farce involves the effect that Jessica (Angie Dickinson), a voluptuous midwife, has on the small Sicilian town in which she currently resides. Jessica is an American whose intentions may be charitable but whose physical attractions raise the libido of the men in town. Potential moms decide it is better to forego pregnancy by foregoing sex (this is a Catholic town) rather than have Jessica show up to deliver a baby. Meanwhile, the town priest (Maurice Chevalier), in his wisdom, directs Jessica's attention to the handsome widowed Marquis who lives in a charming castle, all alone -- anything to bring normal marital relations back on track. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angie Dickinson, Maurice Chevalier, (more)
Rock Hudson stars in this frothy romantic comedy as filthy-rich American Robert Talbot. Talbot owns an Italian villa, where he traditionally stays only one month out of the year (September), but when Talbot suddenly decides to show up in July, Talbot's major overseer Maurice (Walter Slezak) is shocked out of his skin to see him -- it seems that Maurice has turned Talbot's villa into a hotel for the remaining eleven months of the year. But it's July in Italy, and love is in the air, and Talbot becomes distracted by the beautiful Lisa (Gina Lollobrigida) and soon he is trying to prevent her from marrying another man. Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin (in his first screen role) play young guests of the villa. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, (more)
- 1960
Former Tarzan Lex Barker plays Robin Hood in this Italian actioner. What's it about? Look at the title. Robin Hood takes on a gang of invading pirates-honest he does. Anything can happen in one of these here movin' pitcher shows. The lissome Jackie Lane costars as Robin's sweetie Karin (Maid Marian must have been seasick). At the risk of redundancy, we note that the original Italian title of Robin Hood and the Pirates was Robin Hood e i pirati. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1960
This is an indecisive, ultimately unconvincing wartime drama set in the 1930s when Spain was caught in a bloody civil war, a situation that is never clearly delineated in that the story supports the fascists without specifically saying so. The hero is a voluntarily defrocked priest, Arturo Carrera (Dirk Bogarde) who is being hunted by the leftist, anti-clerical, and anti-fascist forces. While on the run himself, he encounters a beautiful prostitute, Soledad (Ava Gardner) and as sure as the sun rises, the two fall in love and stay together. Eventually, they are both caught by the anti-Franco fighters who are trying to get their hands on a precious holy relic. The ex-priest is trapped into making a no-win decision between his love for Soledad and his love for the church while she has a similar but more tragic decision to make on her own. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ava Gardner, Dirk Bogarde, (more)
Mario Monicelli's classic crime comedy Big Deal on Madonna Street (I Soliti Ignoti) features Vittorio Gassman and Marcello Mastroianni as a pair of thieves who head a group of criminals in a break-in attempt. Their plan involves digging an underground tunnel from an apartment that leads to a neighboring business and drilling their way inside. In addition to each of the burglars struggling with individual personal problems, the group must reassess their plans after they find themselves not in the store, but a different room of the apartment from which they started. Big Deal on Madonna Street is a spoof of Jules Dassin's caper classic Rififi. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio Gassman, Marcello Mastroianni, (more)
- 1958
American film actor Lex Barker spent the bulk of his professional career hunting up jobs in Europe. In Captain Falcon, Barker plays the title character, a do-gooding high seas swashbuckler. Rossana Rory is the heroine, whose tiny country is threatened by a gang of marauders headed by Massimo Serato. Captain Falcon saves the day, and a few nights as well. Captain Falcon was directed by Italian sword 'n' sandal director Carlo Campogalliani, who several decades earlier had helped put the Argentine film industry on its feet (though not with films like this one). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1957
In this western, a sheriff attempts to exact his revenge against the desperadoes who cost him his job. The former lawman successfully gets rid of the bad hombres and clears his name. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Errol Flynn looks pretty "wasted" during most of The Big Boodle, though he delivers the goods in the film's action climax. Set in Havana, the film stars Flynn as casino croupier Ned Sherwood, who finds himself in possession of a fortune in counterfeit money. The police are convinced that Sherwood knows where the counterfeit plates are hidden, prompting our hero to conduct his own investigation. Things come to a head during a last-reel gun battle in and around the historic Morro Castle. The Big Boodle was one of the last American films to be lensed in Cuba before the Castro takeover; Flynn later returned to the same stamping grounds for his execrable final feature, Cuban Rebel Girls (1958). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Errol Flynn, Pedro Armendáriz, (more)
- 1956
Owen Crump, the documentary filmmaker whose short subjects on the Korean conflict earned a great deal of critical praise, served as producer/director for the fictional anti-Red melodrama The River Changes. The scene is a peaceful village in a mythical European country. When the nearby river changes course, the villagers suddenly find themselves under communist rule. Unable to tolerate the despotism of their new "people's government" rulers, the villagers make plans to escape across the heavily-guarded river. A subplot involves the Romeo-Juliet romance between Eastern-Bloc border guard Kurus (Harald Marsech) and lovely village lass Mayram (Rosanna Rory). During the 1960s, The River Changes was a mainstay of American television; today, it has apparently completely disappeared. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rosanna Rory, Harald Maresch, (more)
