''Red Moon'' (Italian: ''Luna rossa'') is a 1951 Italian

melodrama film 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 ...

directed by

Armando Fizzarotti Armando Fizzarotti (February 16, 1892 – February 15, 1966) was an Italian screenwriter and film director. Fizzarotti was a native of Naples, and his films are generally set in the city. He was specifically hired to direct '' Malaspina'' (1947) ...

and starring

Renato Baldini Renato Baldini (18 December 1921 – 5 July 1995) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 87 films between 1950 and 1983. He was born in Rome, Italy. Selected filmography * ''It's Forever Springtime'' (1950) - Un carabiniere al processo ...

Maria Frau Maria Frau (born 6 August 1930) is a retired Italian film actress.Ringgold & Bodeen p.167 She made her debut in 1950 when she played the title role in ''Margaret of Cortona''. After appearing in eighteen films she retired from acting in 1957, fol ...

and

Leda Gloria Leda may refer to: Mythology * Leda (mythology), queen of Sparta and mother of Helen of Troy in Greek mythology Places * Leda, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia * Leda makeshift settlement, Bangladesh, a refugee camp ...

. It takes its title from a popular song.Marlow-Mann p.44 It was shot on location in

Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adminis ...

Plot

Maria is engaged to Carlo, a handsome young man of large means, being the son of a well-known Naples merchant who owns a bar; Maria's brother, Paolo who emigrated to Argentina, is romantically linked to a very attractive young woman, Lucia, the daughter of an unscrupulous woman who manipulates her at will. Carlo meets Lucia and falls in love with her and Lucia's mother convinces her daughter to trick him to get money and gifts and both decide to keep it hidden from Carlo that Lucia is betrothed to the brother of her girlfriend. Maria, realizing that Carlo is no longer the same, asks him for explanations and Carlo confesses that he is in love with another woman whose identity, however, he is silent. Distraught Maria returns home and meets her doorkeeper who, having also lost a daughter seduced and abandoned by an unscrupulous man, decides to avenge Mary on her. Meanwhile, a stuttering man but good at singing wrote a letter to Paolo, about to return from Argentina, where he informs him of Lucia's betrayal; the man, however, regrets having written the letter and goes to the porter to be helped to repair the harm done. Meanwhile, Lucia, instructed by her mother, makes it clear to Carlo that she is willing to flee with him but before going to the hotel where Lucia is waiting for her, she learns that Maria has attempted suicide for him also because she is now dishonored and waiting for a son. Carlo rushes to Maria's house where he meets the janitor who has left the house just to kill Carlo but when the latter confesses that he is repentant and wants to ask for Mary's forgiveness, he accompanies him to the girl who forgives him. Meanwhile, Paolo has arrived and after reading the letter he meets Carlo at his home while he reconciles with his sister. The two have a clarification and Carlo tells him that Lucia never told him she was her girlfriend and that she was actually ready to run away with him. Paolo forces Carlo to reveal the meeting place and rushing to the hotel he finds Lucia and kills her blinded by her jealousy. The last shot shows the red moon which, as he himself said when getting off the ship, is a harbinger of bad luck and tragedy.

Cast

as Paolo Cassino *

as Maria Cassino * Aldo Landi as Carlo Sorrentino *

Barbara Florian Barbara Florian (born 1931) is a retired Swedish film actress known for her work in Italian cinema.Small p.129 Selected filmography * ''The Devil in the Convent'' (1950) * '' Carcerato'' (1951) * '' Rome-Paris-Rome'' (1951) * '' Red Moon'' (1951) ...

as Lucia Capuano *

Ugo D'Alessio Ugo D'Alessio (1909–1979) was an Italian film actor.Goble p.113 Selected filmography * '' Malaspina'' (1947) - Nicola * '' Madunnella'' (1948) - Il ragionere, padre di Maria * '' Assunta Spina'' (1948) - Epanimonda Pesce * '' Red Moon'' (1951 ...

as Gesualdo * Franco Gargìa as The Scrivener *

as Donna Amalia *

Diana Lante Diana most commonly refers to: * Diana (name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Diana (mythology), ancient Roman goddess of the hunt and wild animals; later associated with the Moon * Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997) ...

as The Hotel Owner *

Beniamino Maggio Beniamino Maggio (10 August 1907 - 6 September 1990) was an Italian actor. Born in Naples into a family of actors, Maggio debuted on stage as a child, as the sidekick of the comedian Serafino Mastracchio, and he slowly built a reputation in the ...

as Beniamino *

Gina Mascetti Gina Mascetti (1911-1995) was an Italian film actress. A character actress, she appeared in a number of comedy films notably as Alberto Sordi's wife in the ''The White Sheik'' (1952). The same year she also featured in the neorealist drama ''Two ...

as Clementina *

Natale Montillo Natale is a village in Central District of Botswana. The village is located 30 km west of Francistown Francistown is the second largest city in Botswana, with a population of about 103,417 and 147,122 inhabitants for its agglomeration ...

as Cavalier Sorrentino *

Emilio Petacci Emilio Petacci (1886–1965) was an Italian film actor.Goble p.74 Selected filmography * '' Love Everlasting'' (1913) * '' The Wedding March'' (1934) * ''The Joker King'' (1935) * ''Sette giorni all'altro mondo'' (1936) * ''Joe the Red'' (1936) ...

as The Baron *

Isa Querio Isa or ISA may refer to: Places * Isa, Amur Oblast, Russia * Isa, Kagoshima, Japan * Isa, Nigeria * Isa District, Kagoshima, former district in Japan * Isa Town, middle class town located in Bahrain * Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia * Mount I ...

as Donna

References

Bibliography

* Marlow-Mann, Alex. ''The New Neapolitan Cinema''. Edinburgh University Press, 2011.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Luna Rossa 1951 films 1950s Italian-language films Films directed by Armando Fizzarotti Italian drama films 1951 drama films Films shot in Naples Melodrama films Italian black-and-white films 1950s Italian films