''Girl of the Golden West'' (Italian: ''Una signora dell'ovest'') is a 1942 Italian

western film The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...

directed by Carl Koch and starring

Michel Simon Michel Simon (; 9 April 1895 – 30 May 1975) was a Swiss-French actor. He appeared in many notable French films, including ''La Chienne'' (1931), ''Boudu Saved from Drowning'' (1932), ''L'Atalante'' (1934), '' Port of Shadows'' (1938), '' The H ...

Isa Pola Isa Pola (19 December 1909 – 17 December 1984) was an Italian stage and film actress. Born Maria Luisa Betti di Montesano, she appeared in more than 30 films during her career. An early screen role was the female lead in ''Steel'' (1933), a ...

and

Rossano Brazzi Rossano Brazzi (18 September 1916 – 24 December 1994) was an Italian actor. Biography Brazzi was born in Bologna, Italy, the son of Maria Ghedini and Adelmo Brazzi, an employee of the Rizzoli shoe factory. He was named after Rossano Vene ...

. It is based on the novel, ''La Dame de l'Ouest'', by Pierre Benoit. It was made at the Scalera Studios in Rome, and on location in

Lazio it, Laziale , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , demographics1_title2 ...

countryside. The film's title alludes to the opera '' The Girl of the Golden West'' by

Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Puccini (Lucca, 22 December 1858Bruxelles, 29 November 1924) was an Italian composer known primarily for his operas. Regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi, he was descended from a long li ...

, but is not an adaptation of it. It was one of only a handful of Westerns to be made during the silent and Fascist eras, in a genre in which Italy later became famous.

Synopsis

Arianna, an Italian actress, joins a caravan heading into the

American West The Western United States (also called the American West, the Far West, and the West) is the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the meaning of the term ''the Wes ...

with her companion Diego. Diego is eventually killed by a local villain. Arianna falls in love with the villain without realising that he is the murderer.

Cast

as Butler *

as Arianna *

as William *

Valentina Cortese Valentina Cortese (1 January 1923 – 10 July 2019) was an Italian actress. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in François Truffaut's ''Day for Night'' (1973). Personal life Cortese was bor ...

as Madge * as Diego *

Carlo Duse Carlo Duse (5 January 1898 – 9 September 1956) Birth name: Carlo Artemio e Vittorio Duse. With mention in margin of his date and place of death. was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1916 and 1956. He was bor ...

as un dipendente di Butler *

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 ...

Cesare Fantoni Cesare Fantoni (1 January 1905 – 15 January 1963) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Biography Born in Bologna, Fantoni began his acting career in Luchino Visconti’s stage proses until making his first on-screen appearance in 1937. ...

Oreste Fares Oreste Fares (1885–1950) was an Italian stage and film actor.Landy p.155 Selected filmography * '' Before the Jury'' (1931) * ''Venus'' (1932) * '' Villafranca'' (1934) * '' Red Passport'' (1935) * '' Cavalry'' (1936) * '' To Live'' (1937) * '' ...

Nicola Maldacea Nicola Maldacea (29 October 1870 – 5 March 1945) was an Italian actor, comedian and singer.Augusto Marcacci Augusto Marcacci (4 June 1892 – 7 December 1969) was an Italian actor and voice actor.Mancini p.229 Selected filmography * '' Dimmed Lights'' (1934) * '' Lady of Paradise'' (1934) * '' Golden Arrow'' (1935) * ''Condottieri'' (1937) * '' The Cuc ...

Amina Pirani Maggi Amina Pirani Maggi (January 15, 1892 – November 10, 1979) was an Italian stage and film actress.Waldman p.162 Selected filmography * ''Television'' (1931) * ''Seconda B'' (1934) * '' Dimmed Lights'' (1934) * '' Like the Leaves'' (1935) * ''Depa ...

Corrado Racca Corrado Racca (November 14, 1889 – May 12, 1950) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Biography Corrado began his career on stage when he moved to Florence in 1908. He later worked alongside other stage actors such as Ruggero Ruggeri, Emma Gr ...

References

Bibliography

External links

* 1942 Western (genre) films 1942 films Films about actors Films based on French novels Films based on works by Pierre Benoit Films directed by Carl Koch Films scored by Mario Nascimbene Films set in the United States Films shot at Scalera Studios Films shot in Italy Italian Western (genre) films Italian black-and-white films 1940s Italian-language films 1940s Italian films {{1940s-Italy-film-stub