Mario Soldati Movies
Mario Soldati is perhaps best known as a novelist and non-fiction writer, but he is also a noted director. Following graduation from the University of Turin, he moved to the United States in the late '20s to continue his studies. Eventually he got a teaching position at Columbia University in New York. After an unsuccessful bid for American citizenship, Soldati returned to Italy in 1931 to join the production company Cines. He wasn't there long before he began working as a lead scriptwriter and an assistant director. As a scenarist, he provided screenplays for such noted directors as Blasetti, Walther Ruttmann, and Augusto Genina. He was also closely associated with Mario Camerini as both a scriptwriter and assistant director. In 1939, Soldati made his feature-film directorial debut with the comedy Dora Nelson. From then through the 1950s, Soldati became known for competently directing commercially oriented adventures and comedies. Eschewing the notion of cinema as high art, Soldati did not hide his motives for making movies -- they paid better than writing books. Still, some of his early films remain highly regarded, especially his literary adaptations of 19th century author Antonio Foazzaro's novels Piccolo mondo antico (Old Fashioned World) (1941) and Malombra (1942). In 1956, Soldati worked as a second-unit director on the American-Italian epic War and Peace. In 1959, he played the same role for Ben-Hur. After that, he focused more on writing novels and the occasional screenplay. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1962
Romance, sex, and marriage are the themes of this episodic Italian comedy. The first of the four vignettes, "The Women" tells the story of a bored adulterer who feels ignored by his gaggle of mistresses and decides to obsess upon seducing an old conquest one more time. He later inadvertently deflowers a virgin. In "The Serpent" an ignored wife endeavors to get her husband to pay attention to her while they are on a Sicilian holiday by faking an encounter with a poisonous snake. She later pretends that two helpful truck drivers, who picked her up after a breakdown, raped her causing their arrest. Later the husband arrives, explains his wife's behavior and promises to be more mindful of her. In "The Soldier" a soldier attempts to seduce a lovely widow during a train ride. She ignores him until all the other passengers leave then in utter silence makes passionate love. Later when the train reaches its destination, the soldier tries to follow her, but her relatives stop him. She gets into a car and disappears down the road. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudia Mori, Catherine Spaak, (more)
- 1959
Even though this period drama is leisurely to especially slow in parts, it tells an entertaining story about Policarpo (Renato Rascel), a sincere and honest, low-level clerk in the government bureaucracy. Policarpo, dissatisfied with his salary, is moving through the labyrinth of paperwork necessary to justify and obtain a raise. Even though he refuses to go outside the bounds of the complex system, he begins to take heart when his daughter finally makes a good choice between two suitors. She chooses his boss's son. Though as Policarpo soon finds out, that union may not help him after all. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renato Rascel, Peppino De Filippo, (more)
- 1957
This Italian drama is a four episode anthology based on the stories of Pirandello. The episodes were compiled from two Italian episodic films from the mid 1950s. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1956
France's Fernandel and Italy's Alberto Sordi provide an abundance of laughs in Sous le Ciel de Provence (Under Skies of Provence). Fernandal plays a travelling salesman who makes the mistake of his life when he offers to help his fellow bus passenger, a very pretty and very pregnant young lady (Tina Roca). For purposes of decorum, the girl begs the salesman to pose as her husband. He agrees, little realizing how inextricably he will be involved in her family's trials and tribulations. A remake of the 1943 Italian comedy Four Steps in the Clouds, Sous le Ciel de Provence was wittily scripted by the great Cesar Zavattini. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1955
In this drama, a young woman with a checkered past reforms and marries a good man. Unfortunately, her happiness is threatened by a blackmailer. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1955
Sophia Loren was still in the "Anna Magnani" phase of her career when she starred in La Donna del Flume (The River Girl). Sophia is cast as Nives, the girlfriend of capricious cigarette smuggler Gino Lodi (Rik Battaglia). When Gino deserts her, the impregnated Nives is soured on all men, including the "right" one, a likeable police guard (Gerald Oury). The first half of the film plays for laughs, while the second half evolves into a lachrymose soap opera. Through it all, Sophia Loren looks like a million lire--and she even gets to sing and dance! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sophia Loren, Rik Battaglia, (more)
- 1954
This mystery is adapted from a Graham Greene novel and begins as a British spy arranges a meeting with his son, whom he hasn't seen in four years. They are to meet in Venice, but unfortunately, the spy is unable to make the appointment. The boy then gets a mysterious call from his father breaking their date. Meanwhile, a compassionate hotel receptionist convinces her American lover to help the boy find his father. The boy friend investigates and discovers that the boy's father had found a fellow spy in trouble and was captured and drugged while trying help him. Both of the British spies are then placed on a boat and sent to Communist Europe where the police cannot catch them. Fortunately, the brave Yankee devises an ingenious plot to save them. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Trevor Howard, Alida Valli, (more)
- 1953
The ever-growing popularity of Gina Lollobrigida was a decided box-office asset when the Italian La Provinciale was distributed to the U.S. as The Wayward Wife. Lollobrigida acquits herself quite nicely in the tensely dramatic role of a much-put-upon small-town girl named Cemma. Seduced by a lad who turns out to be a relative, Cemma is tossed out of her home. Seeking security, she impulsively marries bookish science professor Franco Vagnuzzi (Gabriele Ferzetti). Bored by her marriage, Cemma doesn't realize the true value of her loving husband until it's almost too late. The original 118-minute run time was reduced for U.S. release. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gina Lollobrigida, Franco Interlenghi, (more)
- 1952
OK Nerone stars Italian film favorites Walter Chiari and Cario Capanine as a pair of fun-loving American sailors. While on a sightseeing tour of Rome, the two tars imagine themselves back to the days of Emperor Nero (Gino Cervi). The rest of the film is in the fine tradition of such Eddie Cantor comedies as Roman Scandals and Ali Baba Goes to Town, with Chiari and Capanine introducing 1st-century Rome to the pleasures of 20th-century America. The climax takes place in the Colosseum, as our heroes stage a football game to rescue the Christians from the lions. OK Nerone exists strictly for laughs, and in this respect it succeeds admirably. English-language prints were radically trimmed to satisfy the censors of the early 1950s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Chiari, Silvana Pampanini, (more)
- 1951
Donne e Briganti (Women and Bandits) was the second of two Mario Soldati-directed films released in Europe during the last week of June, 1951 (the first was Je Suis de la Revue). Set in the early 19th century, the film recounts the Robin Hood-like adventures of bandit Michele Pezza (Amedeo Nazzari), better known as Fra Diavolo. This same character was depicted along more villainous lines in the famous 1830 opera by Auber, which was filmed in 1933 as The Devil's Brother, with Dennis King in the title role and Laurel and Hardy as comic relief. In Donne e Briganti, Fra Diavolo is his own comic relief, his tongue firmly in cheek as he robs from the rich, gives to the poor, and takes time out to romance his wife Marietta (Maira Mauban) and mistress Flora (Jacqueline Pierreux). According to this film, Fra Diavolo was also something of a patriot, opposing the invading forces of France. Sumptuously produced, Donne e Briganti falters only in the indecisive camera work by Mario Montuori. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amedeo Nazzari, Maria Mauban, (more)
- 1951
Two Italian films directed by Mario Soldati were released in Europe within two days of each other. The first was the lighthearted musical comedy Je Suis de la Revue. The vivacious Suzy Delair, more or less playing herself, stars as a popular actress making a personal appearance in Rome. The actress needs a glamorous new outfit for the occasion, but her specially designed dress is stolen by a beautiful sneak thief. While the couturier searches all seven hills of Rome to retrieve the dress, the audience is treated to a series of specialty acts. Among the artists spotlighted are Gallic comedian Fernandel and African-American entertainers Louis Armstrong, Katherine Dunham and the Nicholas Brothers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fernandel, Suzy Delair, (more)
- 1949
Based on a play by Pepine de Felipe, Her Favorite Husband is a British comedy set in Italy. Housewife Jean Kent is bemused by her husband Robert Beatty, who is not quite himself these days. In truth, he is not himself at all: Jean's husband has been replaced by a lookalike gangster who is plotting a big bank robbery. Once she tumbles to the truth, Kent is alternately repulsed and fascinated by her "new" spouse. Not exactly Shakespeare, Her Favorite Husband is a genial romp distinguished by a sizeable supporting cast of familiar British players. The film was released in the U.S. as The Taming of Dorothy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Kent, Robert Beatty, (more)
- 1949
Botta e Rispota is Tales of Manhattan, Italian style. A modish dress gets lost while being shipped from Paris to Rome. This single incident unifies a series of specialty turns by a variety of the top acting and musical talent in the Free World. Fernandel, Nino Taranto, Isa Barzizza and Suzy Delair are featured in the framing story. The musical numbers are handled by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines, Katherine Dunham and Borra Minnevitch's Harmonica Rascals. The preponderance of black entertainers in Botta e Risposta unfortunately precluded its widespread distrubition in some areas including the southern part of the United States. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Suzy Delair
- 1948
Produced in 1945, Fuga in Francia was first released outside of Italy in 1949. Folco Lulli essays the difficult role of a war criminal who escapes prosecution by hiding out in France. Though there is nothing inherently likeable about his character, the Lulli manages to stir up a reasonable amount of sympathy for his plight. Only in the last scenes does the "hero" prove to be the scum that he truly is. Of the supporting cast, Pietro Germi stands out as an ardent anti-fascist who refuses to buy Lulli's protestations of innocence. Director Mario Soldati later became a prolific second-unit man, helming scenes for such spectaculars as War and Peace and Ben-Hur. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Folco Lulli, Pietro Germi, (more)
- 1946
Aldo Fabrizi is the star of -- and, artistically, the raison d'etre for -- the Italian Professor, My Son. Fabrizi plays Orazio, a humble porter working in a prestigious school. Orazio labors tirelessly day and night so that his son (Giorgio de Lullo) can attend the school. Once the son has matriculated into a professor, he turns his back on Orazio, who is now socially unacceptable. Despite the sobriety of the proceedings, the film is more satirical than sad. Filmed in 1945 as Mio Figlio Professore, Professor My Son was released in the U.S. in 1949. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aldo Fabrizi, Mario Soldati, (more)
- 1946
Adapted to the stage and screen several times since its inception in the 19th century, Honore de Balzac's romantic tragedy Eugenie Grandet was given another cinematic go-round by Italian filmmaker Mario Soldati in 1946. Alida Valli plays the title character, a naïve young woman who refuses to heed her father's advice in affairs of the heart. Eugenie believes that her beloved cousin Charles (Gualtiero Tumiati) is above reproach, insisting upon sending him money when his father commits suicide. Charles repays Eugenie's love and loyalty by betraying her at the first opportunity, leading to the story's doleful finale. Eugenie Grandet represented Alida Valli's final European production before her Hollywood debut in Hitchcock's The Paradine Case. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alida Valli, Gualtiero Tumiati, (more)
- 1945
His Young Wife is a genteel Italian comedy about the pitfalls of romance. Middle-aged clerk Travet (Carlo Campanini) is the husband of young and very pretty Rosa (Vera Carmi). When Rosa begins a harmless flirtation with Travet's boss (Gino Cervi), rumors begin flying. The upshot of this tempest in a teapot is a fistfight between Travet and his "rival," culminating in the clerk's dismissal. But salvation is at hand in the form of Travet's son-in-law (Domenico Gambino) whom the clerk had previously dismissed as a low-life. Realizing that he's been too hasty in all his judgments, Travet willingly accepts a job at his son-in-law's bakery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carlo Campanini, Vera Carmi, (more)
- 1939
Two powerhouse European talents -- Jules Berry and Dita Parlo -- head the cast of La Signora di Montecarlo. Berry plays a thief working the gambling houses of Monte Carlo, with Parlo acting as his accomplice. Hoping to go straight, Parlo gets the opportunity when she renews her acquaintance with ex-flame Claudio Lehmann, whose brother Berry has targeted for fleecing. The film's happy ending wouldn't have been possible under Hollywood's strict Hays Office regime, which demanded punishment of all criminals, even sympathetic ones. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jules Berry, Dita Parlo, (more)
