Ugo Guerra Movies

Shakespeare is combined with the spaghetti western in this interesting offering. Though the language is modernized, the plot is basically the same as Hamlet. In this version, the hero does not die--instead he rides off into the sunset. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This focus of this unassuming war movie is the Italian youth whose loyalties are divided in the wake of the political turmoil that has fomented World War II. In particular, three provincial teens gravitate away from their close circle of friends to become thoroughly disillusioned by the present state of society. One young man joins the underground to fight fascism, while his sister falls in love with a veteran Italian pilot from the Spanish Civil War. After a heartbreaking series of events, she returns to the arms of the man who has always loved her, a childhood sweetheart. He is a young rebel who becomes alienated from his family and friends when he also takes a stand against the fascist regime. Flashbacks are used to give historical perspectives for the characters, a technique that occasionally leads to viewer confusion. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

A Confederate deserter battles a Mexican bandit when the deserter's child dies for lack of milk. Warner (George Hilton) receives word his girlfriend is dying and about to give birth to the couple's child. The woman is the daughter of Don Pedro Sandoval (Ernest Borgnine), who hates all gringos and Warner in particular. Warner sets out for Juarez, but is captured by a Confederate unit and jailed. He escapes with two other men when they flee from their grave-digging detail. Warner arrives in Juarez where he finds his lover has died of cholera after having given birth to a baby boy. Sandoval gives the squalling, sickly infant to Warner, but the locals refuse to help Warner find milk for the baby. One callous rancher drops a bottle of milk rather than help the hated gringo. The baby dies, and Warner and his men join a group of outlaw monks led by the Padre (Leo Anchoriz). Warner seeks revenge on those who would not help his cause. Staying one step ahead of the cholera epidemic and the Confederates. Warner returns to the rancher who dropped the bottle and drowns him in a bucket of milk while the townsfolk watch in horror. The gang continues to rob and pillage, taking refuge in a bar and pawing at the saloon girls. Warner then sets his sights on Sandoval. He tracks the bandit to a bull ring where the two fight with knives for the inevitable showdown. The film is plagued by poor English dubbing. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

An enterprising reporter takes along four willing adventurers to interview and photograph a young Sardinian criminal in hiding. Under intermittent gunfire, they make their way to the mountain hideout of the bandit. After a leisurely conversation and photo session, the encampment comes under fire from a group of armed citizens acting as police. Bullets fly and violence overtakes the criminal's two henchman, as the thrill-seeking group and the wanted criminal find themselves under attack. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

This film has two segments exploring relationships subjected to sudden trauma. In the first, "Violence," a young wife is gang-raped while her husband is forced to watch. Afterwards, neither one even acknowledges what happened. In "Love," a wife is hospitalized after attempting suicide, and her husband flirts innocently with a pretty young nurse. When the wife dies, the husband is consumed with guilt over his perceived unfaithfulness. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide

A group of starving Roman artists provides the focus of this episodic drama that tells the often tragic story of each of them. One commits suicide after learning that his only patron is his homosexual lover. Another, a female singer, is a nymphomaniac. A third member gives up art in favor of marrying a German woman who is two decades older than he. As the original group begins to diminish, it is replenished by new, more idealistic young artists. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

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

The focal point of this standard drama by director Mario Camerini is life in the Via Margutta, an artists' sector in Rome, the Italian equivalent of Montmartre in Paris. Stefano (Gerard Blain) is a talented painter, devoted to his art but not necessarily that adroit or interested in promoting himself. In contrast to Stefano, there are other artists more adept at selling their persona as an artist than creating art. Along with this mixed group of painters is a gay gallery owner who helps out some of the artists as best he can. Other characters that wander through the district range from a good-hearted woman to a self-serving parasite. These people interact in various ways, as Stefano eventually achieves his just recognition. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

An intentionally shocking drama about the down, often violent side of existence on the fringe, this story by Franco Rossi follows the same themes and attitudes found in the work of Pier Paolo Pasolini. Aldo (Gianni Garko) and Bruno (Spiros Fokas) grew up as close friends in the same neighborhood in Rome but as they got older they drifted apart. Aldo has turned to petty crime and his girlfriend, a hooker, is actually supporting him. Bruno is introduced back into the life of his friend though he himself is not a part of the shady, destructive world that surrounds Aldo. Ultimately, Bruno cannot resist the effect of Aldo and his low-life friends, leading to a few wrong decisions and eventual tragedy. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

This Italian crime melodrama may remind some viewers of the methodical American TV series Dragnet. In trailing a gang of counterfeiters, the authorities follow the trail of clues to a small town. Here the creation of "funny money" is the principal industry --and the job is made easier because the counterfeiters have been able to get their hands on the same type of paper used for legal tender. Police inspector Moroni (Fosco Giachetti) continues to dog the criminals' trail to Naples, where the film comes to a rousing conclusion. A few arbitrarily inserted dance sequences involving a sexy young girl were added to hype the film's box-office appeal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide