''Aldebaran'' is a 1935 Italian

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Alessandro Blasetti Alessandro Blasetti (3 July 1900 – 1 February 1987) was an Italian film director and screenwriter who influenced Italian neorealism with the film ''Quattro passi fra le nuvole''. Blasetti was one of the leading figures in Italian cinema during ...

and starring

Gino Cervi Luigi Cervi (3 May 1901 – 3 January 1974), better known as Gino Cervi (), was an Italian actor. He was best known for portraying Peppone in a series of comedies based on the character ''Don Camillo'' (1952-1965), and police detective Jules M ...

Evi Maltagliati Evi Maltagliati (11 August 1908 – 27 April 1986) was an Italian stage, television and film actress. Life and career Born in Florence as Evelina Maltagliati, she started her career at debuted in the theater just 15 years old, in the Galli-Gua ...

and

Gianfranco Giachetti Gianfranco Giachetti (27 September 1888 – 29 November 1936) was an Italian stage and film actor. He played the role of Father Costanzo in Alessandro Blasetti's historical film ''1860''.Landy p.63 The same year he appeared in '' The Old Guard'' ...

. The film was a

naval A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...

melodrama A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or exces ...

, an attempt by Blasetti to make a more commercial film following the difficulties encountered with the

propagandist Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded ...

'' The Old Guard'' (1934).

Plot

After a couple of projects had either been postponed or fallen through for Blasetti, it was suggested that he should make a film about the navy in peacetime. The result is this strange film, which at the outset plays like a propaganda piece for the might of the Italian navy, only to veer off into high melodrama, as it zeroes in on Commander Corrado Valeri (Gino Cervi), and his conflict between duty and the jealousy of his wife. There are comedic asides, a visit to a North African club, affording Blasetti to contribute the first scenes of nudity in Italian film, and there are moments of heroism, including a mission to rescue the doomed crew of a wrecked submarine. As if all of that was not more than enough, the film features a star-studded cast including Evi Maltagliati, Gianfranco Giachetti, Doris Duranti, Elisa Cegani (in her debut), and even a brief cameo by Blasetti himself.

Cast

as Cmdr. Corrado Valeri *

as Anna Weiss *

as Adm. Claudio Valeri *

Egisto Olivieri Egisto Olivieri (1880–1962) was an Italian stage and film actor. He appeared in more than forty films during his career including '' The Little School Mistress'' (1934).Goble, Alan. ''The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film''. Walter de ...

as Cmdr. Stefano Devon *

Elisa Cegani Elisa Cegani (11 June 1911 – 23 February 1996) was an Italian actress. She appeared in 60 films between 1935 and 1983. Partial filmography * ''Aldebaran'' (1935) - Nora Bandi * ''Cavalry'' (1936) - Speranza di Frassineto * '' The Countes ...

as Nora Bandi * Gianpaolo Rosmino as Luigi Bandi *

Ugo Ceseri Ugo Ceseri (30 June 1893 – 3 December 1940) was an Italian stage and film actor. He appeared in forty two films between 1931 and his death in 1940. In 1934 he appeared in the play '' 18 BL'', an attempt to create a mass theatre by the Fascist ...

as Bertrame *

Franco Coop Franco Coop (27 September 1891 – 27 March 1962), was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 65 films between 1931 and 1960. He was born in Naples, Italy and died in Rome, Italy. Selected filmography * '' Before the Jury'' (1931) * '' Moth ...

as Chief quartermaster Gennarino *

Umberto Sacripante Umberto Sacripante (2 October 1904 – 14 January 1975) was an Italian film and stage actor. Life and career Born Umberto Sacripanti in Rome, Sacripante debuted on stage in 1921, and in 1926 he became first actor in the theatrical company Teat ...

as Seaman Stella *

Vittorio Vaser Vittorio Vaser (1904–1963) was an Italian stage and film actor. He appeared in Alessandro Blasetti's 1929 film ''Sun'' about the reclamation of the Pontine Marshes.Verdone p.63 He was the son of the actor Ernesto Vaser. Selected filmography ...

as Rocchi *

Doris Duranti Doris Duranti (25 April 1917 – 10 March 1995) was an Italian film actress. She appeared in 43 films between 1935 and 1975. She had a years-long affair with Alessandro Pavolini, a Fascist politician who in 1945 was executed by Italian parti ...

as Anna's friend *

Gemma Bolognesi Gemma Bolognesi (4 November 1894 – 26 March 1983) was an Italian actress. She appeared in more than thirty films from 1916 to 1954. Biography Bolognesi began acting at an early age and made her debut with the ensemble of the Teatro Manzoni in ...

as Giuditta *

Rosina Anselmi Rosina Anselmi ( 26 July 1880 – 23 May 1965) was an Italian stage, television and film actress. She was a prominent actress in the Sicilian language theater, especially in the province of Catania. Life and career Born in Caltagirone, Cata ...

as Orsolina *

Ermanno Roveri Ermanno Roveri (5 October 1903 – 28 December 1968) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 39 films between 1912 and 1965. Selected filmography * ''The Private Secretary'' (1931) * '' La segretaria per tutti'' (1933) * '' Full Speed'' ( ...

as Solinas *

Piero Pastore Pietro Mario Pastore, also known as Piero Pastore (3 April 1908, in Padua – 8 January 1968, in Rome) was an Italian professional footballer who played as a striker; he later became an actor. Football career Pastore was the youngest ever playe ...

as Sailor *

Aristide Garbini Aristide Garbini (1890–1950) was an Italian film actor.Verdone p.83 Selected filmography * '' The Crusaders'' (1918) * ''Messalina'' (1924) * '' Miryam'' (1929) * ''Five to Nil'' (1932) * '' Ragazzo'' (1934) * '' The Old Guard'' (1934) * ''Ald ...

as Assist. boatswain *

Vasco Creti Vasco Creti (7 December 1874 – 16 October 1945) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 110 films between 1915 and 1944. He was married to actress Valeria Creti. Selected filmography * '' Maschiaccio'' (1917) * '' Il siluram ...

as Captain of the Titan * as Young boy * Mario Steni as Lt. Silich *

Luigi Pavese Luigi Pavese (25 October 1897 – 13 December 1969) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Biography Born in Asti, Pavese started his career in 1916 working as a silent film actor at 19 years of age. He then began his theatrical debut in 192 ...

as Nora's friend * Tatiana Pavoni as Carlotta * Silvia Melandri as Elsa *

Dina Romano Dina Romano (born Geltrude Ricci; 16 February 1876 – 7 November 1957) was an Italian stage and film actress. She appeared in more than fifty films during her career including ''The Materassi Sisters'' (1944).Landy p.285 Selected filmography * ...

as Fortunato's mother *

Romolo Costa Romolo Costa (26 February 1897 - 1 January 1965) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Biography Costa appeared in more than seventy films and television series between 1934 and 1964 and he was a character actor who generally appeared in support ...

as Fortunato's brother *

as Radio operator

References

Bibliography

* Moliterno, Gino. ''Historical Dictionary of Italian Cinema''. Scarecrow Press, 2008.

External links

* 1935 films Italian drama films Italian black-and-white films 1935 drama films 1930s Italian-language films Films directed by Alessandro Blasetti Seafaring films Films set in the Mediterranean Sea 1930s Italian films {{1930s-Italy-film-stub