Beat the Devil 1953 N/R, 92 min. Genre: Adventure / Comedy / Drama / Romance
Director: John Huston Cast: Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida, Robert Morley, Peter Lorre, Edward Underdown, Ivor Barnard, Marco Tulli, Aldo Silvani, Bernard Lee, Mario Perrone, Giulio Donnini, Saro Urzi, Juan de Landa, Manuel Serano
A strange assortment of cohorts (Humphrey Bogart, Robert Morley, Peter Lorre, Edward Underdown, and Jennifer Jones) are plotting a swindle involving rights to uranium-rich land with plans to strike it rich. They board a steamer that breaks down and sinks on their way to Africa, and they are taken hostage by Arabian gunrunners. Now, as a result of their misadventure, their lives rest in the hands of the gunrunners.
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The Charterhouse of Parma 1948 N/R, 170 min. Genre: Foreign / Drama
Director: Christian-Jaque Cast: Renee Faure, Gerard Philipe, Maria Casares, Louis Salou, Lucien Coedel, Tullio Carminati, Aldo Silvani, Maria Michi, Claudio Gora, Louis Seigner
Romance is more important to Archbishop Fabrice del Dongo (Gerard Philipe) than his church, and problems lie ahead for him and his lover, Duchess Gina de San Severina (Maria Casares).
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La Strada 1954 N/R, 107 min. Genre: Foreign / Drama
Director: Federico Fellini Cast: Anthony Quinn, Giulietta Masina, Richard Basehart, Livia Venturini, Aldo Silvani, Marcella Rovere, Mario Passante, Gustavo Giorgi, Anna Primula, Yami Kamadeva
Circus strongman Zampano (Anthony Quinn) meets, buys, marries, and abuses young Gelsomina (Giulietta Masina) while using her as his assistant. Later, Gelsomina is influenced by the circus clown Il Matto (Richard Basehart) who becomes upset with the way Zampano treats her. Il Matto offers Gelsomina kindness and asks her to run away with him. But, when Gelsomina remains loyal to Zampano and refuses to leave, her decision will lead to tragedy. This picture won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film.
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The Nights of Cabiria 1957 N/R, 110 min. Genre: Foreign / Drama
Director: Federico Fellini Cast: Giulietta Masina, Franca Marzi, Amedeo Nazzari, Dorian Gray, Francois Perier, Aldo Silvani, Ennio Girolami, Mario Passante, Christian Tassou, Franco Fabrizi, Loretta Capitoli, Leo Cattozzo, Dominique Delouche, Giovanna Gattinoni, Pina Gualandri
A young prostitute, Cabiria (Giulietta Masina), lives and works in a working-class area in Rome but dreams of a better life. She suffers many humiliations–among them are being taken advantage of by movie star Alberto Lazzati (Amedeo Nazzari) and then again by an accountant, Oscar (Francois Perier). But, despite her situation in life, Cabiria remains optimistic about the future. This film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign film.
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Sodom and Gomorrah 1962 N/R, 154 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Robert Aldrich Cast: Stewart Granger, Pier Angeli, Stanley Baker, Rossana Podesta, Anouk Aimee, Claudia Mori, Rik Battaglia, Feodor Chaliapin Jr., Aldo Silvani, Gabriele Tinti
Good acting saves this very long version of the Bible story about God venting his wrath on the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
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When in Rome 1952 N/R, 78 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Clarence Brown Cast: Van Johnson, Paul Douglas, Joseph Calleia, Carlo Rizzo, Tudor Owen, Dino Nardi, Aldo Silvani, Mario Siletti, Argentina Brunetti, Mimi Aguglia, Emory Parnell
Joe Brewster (Paul Douglas) is on the lam from police when he runs across a priest, Father John (Van Johnson). Joe steals the priest's cloak and identification in hopes of eluding the police, but Father John tracks him down himself. Rather than turn Joe over to the police, Father John influences Joe to the extent of conversion to religion. Good acting by the stars and pictures of Rome and Venice add to this otherwise tame comedy/drama.
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| 1. Beat the Devil (1953)
2. The Charterhouse of Parma (1948)
3. La Strada (1954)
4. The Nights of Cabiria (1957)
5. Sodom and Gomorrah (1962)
6. When in Rome (1952)
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