| Following in Riso Amaro footsteps, the 1948
masterwork directed by Giuseppe De santis and starring a beautiful
Silvana Mangano, come 2 Italian melodramas of the '50, La Donna
Del Fiume and La Risaia.
La Donna Del Fiume was directed by Mario Soldati, starring
a young and exuberant Sophia Loren.
La Donna Del Fiume is Sophia's first film to get American
producers' attention.
It is the film that convinces Stanley Kramer and MGM to sign
Sophia in The Pride and the Passion two years later.
Splendid Technicolor photography heightens Sophia's voluptuousness
who is billed in the USA as Sophia the Sizzler and the most
luscious female on the screen today.
La Risaia was directed by Raffaello Matarazzo, starring a
very young and charming Elsa Marineli, who later became a
sophisticated and smart actress in many Italian and American
Thrillers.
19 Tracks |
la donna del fiume
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!
Cast:
Sophia Loren, Rik Battaglia, Gérard Oury, Enrico Olivieri,
Lisa Bourdin
Director:
Mario Soldati
La risaia
In this heartwarming drama, an Italian rice farmer notices
a familiar-looking migrant in his field.
Upon following the girl, he discovers that she is his illegitimate
daughter.
To quietly make up for his past indiscretion, he begins giving
the girl gifts, but he does not tell her who he is.
Cast:
Elsa Martinelli, Folco Lulli, Rik Battaglia, Michel Auclair,
Lilla Brignone, Liliana Gerace, Gianni Santuccio, Vivi Gioi
Director:
Raffaello Matarazzo |
