Roberto Villa Movies

Denied steady work in the U.S. because of his alleged left-wing political beliefs, Edward G. Robinson was obliged to seek out film roles elsewhere in 1950. My Daughter Joy stars Robinson as self-made businessman George Constantin, whose ruthlessness knows no bounds. In fact, Constantin hopes to control the economy of the world, thereby calling the shots for everything and everybody. Outside of his business activities, the only thing he cares about is his daughter Georgette (Peggy Cummins), known to everyone as Joy. As part of a scheme to gain a valuable material necessary for a top-secret project, Constantin arranges a marriage between Joy and the son of a Middle Eastern potentate. But Joy is in love with journalist Larry Boyd (Richard Greene), who has been conducting an investigation of Constantin's questionable business practices. Constantin has every intention of squelching his beloved daughter's happiness for the sake of megalomania -- until he is devastated by the revelation of a deep, dark secret long held by his wife (Nora Swinburne). My Daughter Joy was released in the U.S. as Operation X. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Filmed in 1940, This elaborate costume drama is based on a historical novel by Thomas Grossi. Carlo Ninchi stars as Marco Visconti, head of the Milanese militia during the Middle Ages. When not fighting for the liberty of his countrymen, Visconti is engaged in a rivalry over the love of beautiful aristocrat Rice del Balzo (Mariella Lotti). Since he'd once been in love with the girl's mother, Visconti feels that he has a proprietary right to the heroine, but his younger, handsomer cousin Ottorino (Roberto Villa) has other ideas. Surprisingly laid back for a historical epic, the film bursts into life during the action sequences, which include a lively jousting tournament. As he did for many foreign films in the late 1940s, film critic Herman G. Weinberg provided the English-language subtitles for Marco Visconti. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Also known as The Great Appeal and The Last Roll-Call, Il Grande Apello was the second of three films directed in 1936 by "man of the people" director Mario Camerini. This is the story of Giovanni Bertani, who has long since left his native Italy behind to go galavanting around the world. Landing in East Africa, Giovanni assumes control of an inn which serves as a magnet for the outcasts of Europe (and this was six years before Casablanca!) From one of his guests, Giovanni discovers that his illegitimate son is now a member of the Italian Army -- fortuitously stationed in East Africa. Hoping to stage a reconciliation with his son, our hero discovers that his long-dormant Italian patriotism has suddenly and miraculously been reborn. This leads Giovanni to turn his back on a gang of mercenary gun-runners with whom he has been associated, a last-act reformation that results in his spectacular and somehow ennobling demise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide