Tullio Carminatti Movies

Tom Tryon plays the title role in this Otto Preminger version of the Henry Morton Robinson novel. In his matriculation from Monsignor to the College of Cardinals, Stephen Fermoyle (Tom Tryon) must undergo several grueling life experiences: standing up to bigots in Georgia, defying Nazis in Austria, and so on. The film boasts cameo appearances by Dorothy Gish, Cecil Kellaway, John Saxon, John Huston, Robert Morse, Burgess Meredith, Raf Vallone, Ossie Davis. Incidentally, Tryon eventually quit acting and became a popular novelist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This is a typical costume drama and adventure story with plenty of fencing, and swash and buckle but not much ingenuity. Based on a story by Anthony Marshall, a swordsman by the name of Thomas Stanwood (Stewart Granger) finds himself fending off a multitude of attackers before he is captured and realizes he was defending himself against the very duke, Don Carlos (Riccardo Garrone), that he is supposed to be helping. The Duke overlooks the mistake and puts Thomas to guard his intended spouse, Orietta Arconti (Sylvia Koscina). She is a cold, arrogant woman who immediately antagonizes Thomas -- until he begins to realize a few things. Orietta's father was killed by the Duke when he took over their city, so how could she really be on the side of Don Carlos? As certain as night follows day, Thomas and Orietta are going to make an unbeatable pair when it comes to righting the wrongs of the past. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Based on the Ferenc Molnar play Olympia, A Breath of Scandal serves as an elegant vehicle for a ravishing Sophia Loren. The star plays Princess Olympia, who despite her station in life cannot resist the urge to satisfy her sexual appetites. Exiled to the countryside, Olympia falls in love with American millionaire Charlie Foster (John Gavin). Meanwhile, a marriage of state is arranged between the princess and Prince Ruprecht of Prussia (Carlo Hintermann). Jealous rival Countess Lina (Angela Lansbury) endangers this union by threatening to tell all about Olympia and Foster. A cute, continental plot twist brings this harmless confection to a close. Maurice Chevalier dispenses his usual all-knowing glances and sly smiles as Olympia's understanding father. A Breath of Scandal was directed by Michael Curtiz, who uncharacteristically allows the pace to lag at crucial junctures. Scriptwriter Sidney Howard was credited with the script posthumously, some 21 years after his death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It was once said of Ingrid Bergman that she'd played Joan of Arc so often that she wouldn't be satisfied until she was burned at the stake. Actually, nobody ever said that, but someone should have. Directed by Bergman's then-husband Roberto Rossellini, Joan at the Stake is a nonmusical adaptation of the oratorio by Paul Claudel and Arthur Honegger. Essentially a glorified monologue, the film makes no bones about its theatricality. Bergman is impressive as always, far more so than the presentation. While not nearly as bad as its reputation suggests, Joan at the Stake was a box-office flop, principally because the torrid Bergman-Rossellini romance was old news by 1954. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Henry Vidon stars as Pope Pius X in the Italian Secret Conclave. The film traces the Pope's early life as a village priest, then follows him directly to the Vatican. The Papal installation, seldom seen before on film, is recreated on location at the Sistine Chapel, with several genuine cardinals in attendance. Dramatic conflict occurs when the Pope-to-be nearly refuses the honor, feeling himself unworthy. Also adding bite to the proceedings are the WW I scenes, detailing Pius X's efforts to put an end to the carnage. Secret Conclave ends with Pius X's death during Mass, a scene handled as tastefully as the rest of the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Golden Madonna is a peppy romantic adventure, utilizing its tight budget to the utmost. British actress Phyllis Calvert plays an American girl who inherits an Italian villa. Part of the legacy is "The Golden Madonna", a valuable religious painting. When the painting is stolen, Calvert enlists the aid of English tourist Michael Rennie in tracking down the thieves. The Golden Madonna is a typical "runaway" production of the 1940s: British stars, Hungarian expatriate director, and Spanish/Italian production crew. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

One of several Anna Neagle-Tulio Carminatti vehicles of the 1930's, London Melody was one of five films directed in 1937 by Neagle's future husband Herbert Wilcox. This time around, Carminatti is cast as Marius Andreani, a cultured Italian diplomat. While in London on business, Marius makes the chance acquaintance of boisterous cockney street entertainer Jacqueline (Neagle). It's love at first sight, but hero and heroine must undergo a dizzying series of roadblocks and misunderstandings before the climactic clinch. Meanwhile, Jacqueline rises to the top of show-business success, never dreaming (until the end, at least) that it's all the secret handiwork of faithful Marius. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this romance, a street performer gets into an argument with an ambassador's chauffeur and ends up falling in love with the diplomat. Unfortunately, when government secrets are revealed, the finger of blame is pointed directly at her. But she is innocent. The real culprit is her ex-fiance whom the diplomat trusted with his secrets. The jilted lover told the secrets to get revenge upon her. With his political life in shambles the ambassador resigns. Fortunately, the devoted street singer stays right by his side. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Tulio Carminati, who was previously and felicitously teamed with Grace Moore in One Night of Love, co-stars with another splendid operatic singer, Mary Ellis, in Paris in Spring. Ellis plays Simone, who breaks up her long-standing engagement with Paul de Lille (Carminati) because she balks at the notion of marriage. Simultaneously, young lovers Mignon (Ida Lupino) and Albert (James Blakely) split up for the same reason. In desperation, Mignon heads to the Eiffel Tower, intending to leap to her death. She is dissuaded from doing away with herself by Paul, who'd come to the tower with the same thought in mind. The symbiotic relationship between the two couples is played to the hilt, especially when Mignon and Albert conspire to make Simone and Albert jealous. The distinctly American character actor Lynne Overman is bizarrely but effectively cast as a dry-witted French gendarme. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tullio Carminatti, fresh from a series of successful Broadway and film appearances, returned to Europe to star in La Marcia Nuziale (The Wedding March). Carminati plays the philandering husband of long-suffering Diana Lante. Upon his introduction to Lante's school-chum Kiki Palmer, who has recently shed herself of a dreary husband, Carminati wastes no time going "on the make" for Palmer. Unable to resist his charms, Palmer is on the verge of killing herself, but decides instead that she'd be better off with her dull but dependable ex-husband than with the overwhelmingly charming Carminatti. La Marcia Nuziale was based on a play by Henry Bataille. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ann Harding, one of screendom's finest sufferers, stars in Gregory LaCava's Gallant Lady. Left pregnant by her (apparently) deceased lover Dan (Clive Brook, cast against type as a drunken lout), Sally (Harding ) tearfully gives up her son Didi (Dickie Moore) for adoption and endeavors to start life anew. She enjoys success as an interior decorator, yet still she longs to be reunited with her son. Sally is ultimately able to marry Philip Lawrence (Otto Kruger), the man who adopted Didi, when Lawrence's first wife (Betty Lawford) conveniently expires? but what about Dan, who may not be dead after all? Filmed by Twentieth Century Pictures a year before that company's merger with Fox, Gallant Lady was remade in 1938 as Always Goodbye, with Barbara Stanwyck in the Ann Harding role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Baroness Gerda Wallentin (Pola Negri) walks out on her philandering husband Count Dietrich (Paul Lukas) and heads to Vienna. En route, she meets musician Raoul Stanislaw (Tullio Carminatti) and agrees to a romantic rendezvous during a stopover at a small village. In the throes of passion, Gerda and Raoul miss their train, which is subsequently involved in a terrible accident. Reported killed in the crash, Gerda, guilty over her indiscretion, decides to remain "dead" for her husband's sake. She dyes her hair, changes her name, and finds work at a gambling casino. Years pass: Count Dietrich inevitably pays a visit to the casino, and with equal inevitability falls in love with Gerda, whom he does not recognize. Our heroine is about to rekindle her romance with the Count but changes her mind when she discovers that he's still keeping company with his mistress. Telling the Count the truth, Gerda leaves him for good and departs for America, intending to start life over for a third time. Three Sinners was based on Das Zweitte Leben, a play by Bernauer Osterreicher. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Upon becoming a wife and mother, prima ballerina Mme. Lamphier (Virginia Valli) gives up her stellar career. But she can't get the theater out of her blood, and soon our heroine is training for a comeback. Violently opposed to this, Mme. Lamphier's tyrannical husband walks out on her, taking their infant daughter with him. Years and years later, Mme. Lamphier looks on tearfully as her now-grown daughter Dora (Virginia Bradford) literally follows in her mother's footstep. Stage Madness may well represent the best screen work of the highly variable Virginia Valli. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide