Black Hand 1950  N/R, 92 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Richard Thorpe
Cast: Gene Kelly, J. Carrol Naish, Teresa Celli, Marc Lawrence, Frank Puglia, Barry Kelley, Mario Siletti, Carl Milletaire, Peter Brocco, Bert Freed
An Italian immigrant, Johnny Colombo (Gene Kelly), avenges the murder of his parents by the Black Hand (early name for what was to become the Mafia) in this story based on early 20th-century gangster activity in the United States.
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Clash by Night 1952 N/R, 105 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Fritz Lang
Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Paul Douglas, Robert Ryan, Marilyn Monroe, J. Carrol Naish, Keith Andes, Silvio Minciotti, Julius Tannen, Mario Siletti
Mae (Barbara Stanwyck) returns to her hometown after an absence of 10 years and marries a fisherman, Jerry (Paul Douglas). She raises a family but cannot seem to stay away from a rough-around-the-edges projectionist (Robert Ryan) who seems to understand her restless unhappiness.
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The House on Telegraph Hill 1951  N/R, 93 min.
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Robert Wise
Cast: Richard Basehart, Valentina Cortese, William Lundigan, Fay Baker, Gordon Gebert, Kei Thin Chung, Steven Geray, Herbert Butterfield, John Burton, Katherine Meskill, Mario Siletti, Charles Wagenheim, David Clarke, Natasha Lytess
After surviving a Nazi concentration camp imprisonment during World War II, Victoria (Valentina Cortese) takes the identity of her friend, Karin (Natasha Lytess), who died in the camp. Victoria visits Karin's young son, Chris (Gordon Gebert), who lives in a mansion on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, and she pretends to be his mother. Events take a turn when Chris' aunt/guardian is murdered to obtain the family fortune, and Victoria is scheduled to be the next victim. Once again, money does not buy happiness, and dangers lie ahead.
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Kansas City Confidential 1952 N/R, 98 min.
Genre: Drama
aka: The Secret Four
Director: Phil Karlson
Cast: John Payne, Coleen Gray, Preston Foster, Lee Van Cleef, Neville Brand, Jack Elam, Dona Drake, Mario Siletti, Howard Negley, Carleton Young
Ex-cop Tim Foster (Preston Foster) sets up and executes the "perfect" heist using a trio of people who don't know each other and are sent to different countries. World War II veteran and ex-con Joe Rolfe (John Payne) is picked up by the police, since he is driving a similar van, but is let go when the real van is found. Joe, without a job, sets out to take care of the criminals himself. A tough crime caper that provides a good expose of the underworld scene.
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My Cousin Rachel 1952 N/R, 98 min.
Genre: Mystery
Director: Henry Koster
Cast: Olivia de Havilland, Richard Burton, Audrey Dalton, Ronald Squire, George Dolenz, John Sutton, Tudor Owen, J.M. Kerrigan, Argentina Brunetti, Mario Siletti
This is the film adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's Gothic novel about tragic Rachel (Olivia de Havilland) who is suspected of being a murderess. Richard Burton won the Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer for his role of Philip Ashley, Rachel's young cousin who loves and suspects her at the same time. Burton also received an Oscar nomination for Supporting Actor.
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Serenade 1956  N/R, 121 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Anthony Mann
Cast: Mario Lanza, Joan Fontaine, Sarita Montiel, Vincent Price, Joseph Calleia, Vince Edwards, Frank Puglia, Harry Bellaver, Edward Platt, Mario Siletti
A California vineyard worker, Damon Vincenti (Mario Lanza), becomes an opera star and women worship him.
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Thunder Bay 1953 N/R, 103 min.
Genre: Adventure
Director: Anthony Mann
Cast: James Stewart, Joanne Dru, Gilbert Roland, Dan Duryea, Jay C. Flippen, Harry Morgan, Marcia Henderson, Antonio Moreno, Fortunio Bonanova, Mario Siletti, Robert Monet, Ben Welden, Ted Mapes, Dale Van Sickel, Frank Chase
Ex-GIs Steve Martin and Johnny Gambi (James Stewart and Dan Duryea) become oil drillers off the gulf-coast of Louisiana and run into complications. The shrimp fishermen in the area fear that the drilling noise is scaring away the shrimp–and, thus, is a threat to their livelihoods. Matters heat up when Steve falls in love with Stella (Joanne Dru) who happens to be a fisherman's (Antonio Moreno) daughter, and Johnny falls for his other daughter Francesca (Marcia Henderson). Despite a hurricane brewing, Steve and Johnny strike it rich and are, finally, able to work out their problems with the fishermen.
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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. Black Hand (1950)
2. Clash by Night (1952)
3. The House on Telegraph Hill (1951)
4. Kansas City Confidential (1952)
aka: The Secret Four
5. My Cousin Rachel (1952)
6. Serenade (1956)
7. Thunder Bay (1953)
8. When in Rome (1952)
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