Giuseppe Rotunno Movies
Over his long career, Italian cinematographer Giuseppe Rotunno worked with some of Europe's finest filmmakers. Originally a still photographer, he started out operating the camera for legendary cinematographer G.R. Aldo. In 1955, Rotunno became a full-fledged lighting director and due to his versatility, became one of the most in-demand cinematographers of the '60s through the '90s. He is especially known for the creative camera work he did with Fellini and Visconti. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1956
The third entry in the Italian "Bread, Love and. . ." series, Pane, Amore e. . . was directed by Dino Risi, taking over from the auteur of the first two films, Luigi Comencini. Likewise, Sophia Loren substitutes for Gina Lollobrigida, the female star of the earlier films; only Vittorio De Sica returns for the third time. De Sica plays a retired village marshal who returns to his home town of Sorrento, where much against his will he is appointed chief of police. His first job is to evict Sophia Loren, the sexy fish peddler who has been living in his old apartment. By and by, De Sica falls in love with Loren, never realizing (at least until the last reel) that landlady Lea Padovani is the "right" girl for him. In America, Pane, Amore E. . . was released as Scandal in Sorrento. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vittorio De Sica, Sophia Loren, (more)
Puccini's famous opera gets a royal treatment, a few million dollars worth of it, in costumes and sets for this 1956 cinematic production. Although this is filmed opera performed on a stage, the singing and the performance, as well as the visuals, are excellent. Floria Tosca (sung by Maria Caniglia, performed by Franca Duval) has fallen in love with Mario (Franco Corelli), an artist who helped Floria's brother when he needed to escape the evil clutches of Scarpia (Afro Poli), the nasty local police chief. Scarpia gets his revenge -- and Floria -- when he arrests Mario and is willing to release him only on the condition that Floria complies with his amorous demands. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Franco Corelli, Vito de Taranto, (more)
- 1954
Italian director Luchino Visconti dishes up his usual blend of elegance and decadence in Senso. The international cast includes French film star Alida Valli as a Italian countess married to a Venetian nobleman, and English leading man Farley Granger as an Austrian military officer. The two are swept up in the Austrian empire's evacuation of Italy in 1866. Valli and Granger fall in love, but Valli ultimately realizes that the officer is interested only in her wealth and prestige, whereupon she gives him over to a firing squad. Visconti had wanted Ingrid Bergman and Marlon Brando for his leads, but when Bergman's husband Roberto Rossellini would not permit her to appear in the film, Brando also bowed out. Originally running 166 minutes, Senso was released in a radically cut version in the US in 1968, titled Summer Hurricane; yet another recut version popped up in England as The Wanton Contessa. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alida Valli, Farley Granger, (more)
