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Ossessione
''Ossessione'' (, English: ''Obsession'') is a 1943 Italian film based on the 1934 novel '' The Postman Always Rings Twice'' by James M. Cain. Luchino Visconti’s first feature film, it is considered by many to be the first Italian neorealist film, though there is some debate about whether such a categorization is accurate. It presents some typical elements of the calligrafismo style. Plot Gino Costa, a wandering tramp, stops at a small roadside tavern and petrol station run by Giovanna Bragana and her older husband, Giuseppe. Giovanna is disgusted by her husband, having married him only for his money, and is instantly drawn to the younger and more attractive Gino. Giovanna serves Gino a meal, but they are interrupted by Giuseppe, who throws Gino out. Giovanna claims Gino didn't pay, pocketing his money, as an excuse for him to return. Giuseppe chases after Gino, only to find that Gino has no money left, so Gino offers to fix Giuseppe’s vehicle as payment for the meal. When Giu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Luchino Visconti
Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo (; 2 November 1906 – 17 March 1976) was an Italian filmmaker, stage director, and screenwriter. A major figure of Italian art and culture in the mid-20th century, Visconti was one of the fathers of cinematic neorealism, but later moved towards luxurious, sweeping epics dealing with themes of beauty, decadence, death, and European history, especially the decay of the nobility and the bourgeoisie. He was the recipient of many accolades, including the Palme d'Or and the Golden Lion, and many of his works are regarded as highly-influential to future generations of filmmakers. Born to a Milanese noble family, Visconti explored artistic proclivities from an early age, working as an assistant director to Jean Renoir. His 1943 directorial debut, ''Ossessione,'' was condemned by the Fascist regime for its unvarnished depictions of working-class characters resorting to criminality, but is today renowned as a pioneering work of Ital ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Massimo Girotti
Massimo Girotti (18 May 1918 – 5 January 2003) was an Italian film actor whose career spanned seven decades. Born in Mogliano, in the province of Macerata, Girotti developed his athletic physique by swimming and playing polo. While studying engineering, he attracted the attention of Mario Soldati, who offered him a small part in the film '' Dora Nelson'' (1939), but it was not until later, in Alessandro Blasetti's '' La corona di ferro'' (''The Iron Crown'') (1941) and Roberto Rossellini's '' Un Pilota ritorna'' (''A Pilot Returns'') (1942), that he began to make an impression as a serious actor. In 1943 came a turning point in his career when Luchino Visconti cast him opposite the torrid Clara Calamai in ''Ossessione'' (''Obsession''), an earlier adaptation of the same novel on which Hollywood's '' The Postman Always Rings Twice'' is based. The film marked, in a sense, the birth of Italian neo-realism. Some of his notable post-war films include ''Caccia tragica'' (''The Tragic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clara Calamai
Clara Calamai (7 September 1909 – 21 September 1998) was an Italian actress. She was one of the most famous and popular Italian actresses in the 1930s and 1940s, sharing the limelight with actresses such as Alida Valli, Valentina Cortese, and rivals, Doris Duranti, Luisa Ferida and Isa Miranda. She was a charming and versatile actress who starred in both dramas and comedies of the telefoni bianchi style. Career Calamai's first acting role was in the 1938 war film ''Pietro Micca'', directed by Aldo Vergano. In ''The Jester's Supper'' (1942) an adaptation of a Sem Benelli's work, directed by Alessandro Blasetti) Calamai caused a sensation by appearing in a very brief topless scene. The scene is commonly credited with being the first time that an actress had appeared topless in an Italian sound film, although Vittoria Carpi showed a bare breast for a moment in the 1941 film ''La corona di ferro'' (''The Iron Crown''), which was also directed by Blasetti. Calamai stated in a la ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aldo Tonti
Aldo Tonti (2 March 1910 – 2 July 1988) was an Italian cinematographer. Born in Rome, Tonti started his career as photographer, then entered the industry of cinema as assistant camera operator. He debuted as cinematographer in 1939, with ''Piccoli naufraghi'' by Flavio Calzavara; his first important work was ''Ossessione'' by Luchino Visconti. His works include films by Federico Fellini, King Vidor, Richard Fleischer, Roberto Rossellini, John Huston, Alberto Lattuada, Mario Monicelli, Sergio Sollima, Pietro Germi, Dino Risi, Marco Ferreri. In 1961 he won a Silver Ribbon for best cinematography for Nicholas Ray's ''The Savage Innocents''. Tonti retired in 1982. Selected filmography * '' Odette'' (1934) * '' Under the Southern Cross'' (1938) * ''Cardinal Messias'' (1939) * ''Diamonds'' (1939) * ''Hurricane in the Tropics'' (1939) * '' The Cavalier from Kruja'' (1940) * '' The Pirate's Dream'' (1940) * '' Caravaggio'' (1941) * ''Blood Wedding'' (1941) *''Headlights in the Fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946 Film)
''The Postman Always Rings Twice'' is a 1946 American film noir based on the 1934 novel of the same name by James M. Cain. This adaptation of the novel features Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn, Leon Ames, and Audrey Totter. It was directed by Tay Garnett. The musical score was written by George Bassman and Erich Zeisl (the latter uncredited). This version was the third filming of ''The Postman Always Rings Twice'', but the first under the novel's original title and the first in English. Previously, the novel had been filmed as ''Le Dernier Tournant'' (''The Last Turning'') in France in 1939 and as ''Ossessione'' (''Obsession'') in Italy in 1943. Plot Frank Chambers is an amiable, restless drifter who has hitched a ride with local District Attorney Kyle Sackett. He drops Frank off at a rural diner/service station named "Twin Oaks", which is on a highway in the hills outside Los Angeles. Frank begins working there. The diner is operated by the stodgy N ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michele Riccardini
Michele Mario Alberto Riccardini (October 2, 1910 – July 24, 1978) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in around fifty films during his career as well as several television episodes. In 1943 he played the role of Don Remigio in Luchino Visconti's ''Ossessione''.Bacon p.248 Partial filmography * '' Like the Leaves'' (1935) - Il Bronzino * ''Come le foglie'' (1938) - Bernabei * ''Retroscena'' (1939) - (uncredited) * '' Dora Nelson'' (1939) - Sor Mario * ''Manon Lescaut'' (1940) * '' The Sinner'' (1940) - Un amico di Paolo e di Piero (uncredited) * '' Idyll in Budapest'' (1941) * ''La compagnia della teppa'' (1941) - Rossini * ''Pia de' Tolomei'' (1941) - Baldo * ''Se non son matti non li vogliamo'' (1941) - Un altro membro dei "Matti" * ''L'amore canta'' (1941) - (uncredited) * ''Giarabub'' (1942) - Il cuoco * ''Street of the Five Moons'' (1942) - Michele * ''Violette nei capelli'' (1942) - Il tirchio amico di Giuliano * ''La fabbrica dell'imprevisto'' (1942) - Il regista * ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Italian Neorealism
Italian neorealism ( it, Neorealismo), also known as the Golden Age, is a national film movement characterized by stories set amongst the poor and the working class. They are filmed on location, frequently with non-professional actors. They primarily address the difficult economic and moral conditions of post-World War II Italy, representing changes in the Italian psyche and conditions of everyday life, including poverty, oppression, injustice and desperation. History Italian neorealism came about as World War II ended and Benito Mussolini's government fell, causing the Italian film industry to lose its centre. Neorealism was a sign of cultural and social change in Italy. Its films presented contemporary stories and ideas and were often shot on location as the Cinecittà film studios had been damaged significantly during the war. The neorealist style was developed by a circle of film critics that revolved around the magazine ''Cinema'', including: * Luchino Visconti * Gia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vittorio Duse
Vittorio Duse (21 March 1916 – 2 June 2005) was an Italian actor, screenwriter and film director. Biography One of Duse's first roles was in Luchino Visconti's debut feature ''Ossessione'' (1942). Outside Italy, Duse is known for his role in ''The Godfather Part III'' as Don Tommasino in 1990, replacing Corrado Gaipa, who died one year prior to the film's release. Duse mostly starred in Italian films, although he also appeared in ''The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles'', ''The Sopranos'', and in '' When in Rome''. In 1989, Duse starred in the film ''Queen of Hearts'', and he won the Jury Distinction Award at the Montréal World Film Festival. Death Duse died on 2 June 2005 at the age of 89. Selected filmography * ''Il cavaliere senza nome'' (1941) * '' Girl of the Golden West'' (1942) * ''Il leone di Damasco'' (1942) * ''Giarabub'' (1942) - Un giocatore di carte * ''Redenzione'' (1943) * ''Il treno crociato'' (1943) - Sallustri (uncredited) * ''Ossessione'' (1943) - L'agen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Juan De Landa
Juan de Landa (1894–1968) was a Spanish film actor, who was born in the Basque Country. de Landa entered the film industry in 1930 following the arrival of sound film. He initially acted in Spanish-language versions of Hollywood films, but later worked mainly in the Spanish and Italian film industries. His best-known role is in Luchino Visconti's 1943 film ''Ossessione''.Bacon p.248 Partial filmography * ''El último de los Vargas'' (1930) - Capitán de los Rurales * ''El valiente'' (1930) - Sargento de policia * ''El presidio'' (1930) - Butch * ''De frente, marchen'' (1930) - El sargento Gruñón * ''La fruta amarga'' (1931) - Bill * ''Love in Every Port'' (1931) - Tripode * ''Su última noche'' (1931) - Aquiles Desano * ''The Trial of Mary Dugan'' (1931) - Insp. Hunt * ''Se ha fugado un preso'' (1935) * ''El secreto de Ana María'' (1936) * ''Al margen de la ley'' (1936) * ''Carmen fra i rossi'' (1939) - Amalio * ''The Sin of Rogelia Sanchez'' (1940) - Massimo * ''Saint Roge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mario Serandrei
Mario Serandrei (23 May 1907 – 17 April 1966) was an Italian film editor and screenwriter. Born in Naples, he started in the film industry in 1931 as an assistant director. He edited over two hundred films during his career, and worked steadily until his death in 1966. As an editor, Serandrei's credits included Federico Fellini's ''Il bidone'' (1955), Pietro Francisci's ''Hercules'' (1958) and ''Hercules Unchained'' (1959), Valerio Zurlini's ''Estate violenta'' (1959), ''La ragazza con la valigia'' (1961) and '' Cronaca familiare'' (1962), and the Robert Aldrich/Sergio Leone film of ''Sodom and Gomorrah'' (1963). He enjoyed a long working relationship with director Luchino Visconti, editing ''Ossessione'' (1943), '' Bellissima'' (1951), '' Senso'' (1954), ''Rocco and His Brothers'' (1960) and ''The Leopard'' (1963). At the end of his career, he edited many films directed by Mario Bava, including '' Black Sunday'' (1960) (which he also co-wrote), ''Black Sabbath'' (1963), and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Neorealism (art)
In art, neorealism refers to a few movements. In literature Portuguese neorealism was a Marxist literary movement that began slightly before Salazar's reign. It was mostly in line with socialist realism. In painting Neo-realism in painting was established by the ex-Camden Town Group painters Charles Ginner and Harold Gilman at the beginning of World War I. They set out to explore the spirit of their age through the shapes and colours of daily life. Their intentions were proclaimed in Ginner’s manifesto in ''New Age'' (1 January 1914), which was also used as the preface to Gilman and Ginner’s two-man exhibition of that year. It attacked the academic and warned against the ‘decorative’ aspect of imitators of Post-Impressionism. The best examples of neorealist work is that produced by these two artists; Howard Kanovitz and also Robert Bevan. For Robert Bevan he joined Cumberland Market Group in 1914. Artists * Howard Kanovitz - Vernissage, 1967 - Cologne, Museum Ludwig ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Postman Always Rings Twice (novel)
''The Postman Always Rings Twice'' is a 1934 crime novel by American writer James M. Cain. The novel was successful and notorious upon publication. It is considered one of the most outstanding crime novels of the 20th century. The novel's mix of sexuality and violence was startling in its time and caused it to be banned in Boston. It is included in Modern Library's list of 100 best novels, and it was published as an Armed Services Edition during WWII. The novel has been adapted for film seven times, of which the 1946 version is regarded as an important film noir. The story owes a clear debt to Emile Zola's 1868 novel ''Thérèse Raquin'', which has a similar plot. Plot The story is narrated in the first person by Frank Chambers, a young drifter who stops at a rural California diner for a meal and ends up working there. The diner is operated by a beautiful young woman, Cora, and her much older husband, Nick Papadakis, sometimes called "the Greek". Frank and Cora feel an immed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
