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Italian DVDs available at Moviesunlimited.com8 1/2 [DVD] (1963)Federico Fellini's masterpiece centers on Marcello Mastroianni, a filmmaker overwhelmed by personal and career problems, who checks into a health spa in hopes of reinvigorating himself. But memories of his recent past and his childhood, troublesome producers and agents, and his lust for women keep getting in the way of his rehabilitation. Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimee, Barbara Steele and Sandra Milo also star. 8 1/2 (Special Edition) [DVD] (1963) Accattone! [DVD] (1961) A graphic slice of Italian street life, this documentary-styled drama by Pier Paolo Pasolini recounts a pimp's efforts to leave his past life behind him when he falls in love with a young woman. Fine crime film uses a non-professional cast. Amarcord [DVD] (1974) The title is from the Italian for "I remember," and that's what director Federico Fellini does in this heartfelt autobiographical drama. The life and times of a coastal village at the dawn of the Fascists' regime are chronicled through the eyes of an adolescent boy. Winner of the Best Foreign Film Academy Award; with Puppela Maggio, Magali Noel. And The Ship Sails On [DVD] (1984) Federico Fellini's look at the loss of personal and global innocence, set on a luxury liner in mid-1914. An odd lot of passengers finds themselves at odds with one another, as the ship serves as a metaphor for Europe at the dawn of World War I. Freddie Jones, Victor Poletti, Janet Suzman star. A Brief Vacation [DVD] (1973) Affecting drama focuses on an overworked factory employee (Florinda Bolkan) whose dreary life of caring for her husband and his family takes an unexpected turn when she's diagnosed with tuberculosis. Sent to a sanatorium in the Italian Alps, Bolkan finds comfort among the eclectic group of patients and a new lease on life with a potential new romance. With Renato Salvatori, Daniel Quenaud; Vittorio De Sica directs. Allegro Non Troppo [DVD] (1977) Director Bruno Bozzetto's pastiche of "Fantasia" is a witty, wonderful voyage for the imagination, as fabulous animated sequences set to classical works by Debussy, Ravel, Stravinsky and Vivaldi are mixed with comical live-action segments featuring Maurizio Nichetti ("The Icicle Thief"). All'Onorevole Piacciono Le Donne (The Senator Likes Women) [DVD] (1972) Years of suppressing his physical desires and devoting himself to his career catch up to a powerful Italian senator and presidential candidate, as he finds himself overwhelmed by the urge to grab and fondle women's buttocks. A monk thinks he can help the politician overcome his passion...but is a stay at a nunnery really the answer? Racy political satire from director Lucio Fulci stars Lando Buzzanca, Laura Antonelli, Lionel Stander. Almost Human [DVD] (1974) Desperate for money, a small-time Milanese crook abducts the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, and a world-weary detective must go beyond the law to bring the man to justice, in this explosive thriller. Tomas Milian, Henry Silva, Anita Strindberg star. AKA: "The Kidnapping of Mary Lou." A Man Called Magnum (Napoli Si Ribella) [DVD] (1977) Euro-stud Luc Merenda will make your day in this hard-hitting police action film from Italy. Merenda stars as a pistola-wielding cop in the middle of a bloody war between an old Mafioso and the rogue criminal challenging his authority. Giancarlo Badessi, Marianne Comtell also star. Berlinguer I Love You [DVD] (1977) Hilarious Italian comedy stars Roberto Benigni (in his feature film debut) as a hapless young man whose bizarre relationship with his mother puts his life in constant turmoil. Can he put his Oedipal complex aside before things get any more out of control? With Alida Valli, Carlo Monni. Big Deal On Madonna Street [DVD] (1957) A band of inept burglars and ne'er-do-wells attempts to break into a pawnshop and loot its safe, only to see their elaborate plan disintegrate in front of them. Hilarious Italian comedy, remade in 1984 as "Crackers" and 2002 as "Welcome to Collinwood," stars Vittorio Gassman, Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, and Toto too. Big Deal On Madonna Street: 20 Years Later (I Soliti Ignoti Vent'anni Dopo) [DVD] (1987) There's always "one last score," and in this sequel to the 1958 heist classic, Tiberio (Marcello Mastroianni) has just come out of prison, only to find himself again working with Peppe "The Panther" on a new job. A run of good luck appears to put them in the clear, but then a series of misunderstandings threatens to unravel the entire scheme. Vittorio Gassman, Tiberio Murgia and Clelia Rondinella also star. AKA: "Big Deal After 20 Years." Boccaccio '70 [DVD] (1962) Four of Italy's most renowned filmmakers contributed to this collection of hilariously racy shorts. In Vittorio De Sica's "The Raffle," Sophia Loren stars as a woman who stirs up quite a controversy when she puts herself up as first prize in a lottery; a young woman (Romy Schneider) falls for her lecherous employer (Tomas Milian) in Luchino Visconti's "The Job"; Anita Ekberg is a pin-up girl who comes to life, much to the delight of professor Peppino De Filippo, in Federico Fellini's "The Temptation of Dr. Antonio"; and Mario Monicelli's "Renzo & Luciana," originally cut from the American theatrical release, focuses on a young newlywed couple desperately trying to find the time to be alone together. Bread And Chocolate [DVD] (1974) A much-requested title at Movies Unlimited, director/co-scripter Franco Brusati's bittersweet comedy/drama stars Nino Manfredi as an Italian immigrant who moves to Switzerland in hopes of finding a job to support his family, but is caught in a clash of cultures and a series of misadventures. With Anna Karina, Johnny Dorelli. Bread & Tulips [DVD] (2001) Stranded in Venice when her family accidentally leaves without her, a bored housewife finds herself enchanted by the beauty of the city. Reinvigorated by freedom, she finds a job and strikes up a friendship with a charming waiter. But when her domineering husband gets wind of his wife's new life, he sends a detective to bring her home. Light-hearted romantic comedy stars Licia Maglietta, Bruno Ganz and Antonio Catania. But Forever In My Mind (Come Te Nessuno Mai) [DVD] (1999) As a student rebellion consumes his high school, Silvio fulfills his romantic fantasies by kissing beautiful classmate Valentina. While trying to cope with the tumult of teenage love, Silvio must also contend with his ex-revolutionary parents and offbeat siblings. But when word of the lip-locking spreads, he is forced to face Valentina's jealous boyfriend and a girl who has a secret crush on him. Poignant Italian comedy stars Silvio Muccino, Giuseppe Sanfelice, Giulia Steigerwalt. Caterina In The Big City (Caterina Va In Citta) [DVD] (2003) Caterina (Alice Teghil) searches for a place to "fit in" among the cliques dominating her new middle school in Rome. Her adjustment is made even more difficult when her father (Sergio Castellitto), transferred to the city because of work, appears to take advantage of Caterina's acquaintances to further his own maneuvering inside Italy's social strata. Margherita Buy, Antonio Carnevale also star. Cinema Paradiso: The New Version [DVD] (1989) A charming, bittersweet tribute to the power of movies which won 1989's Best Foreign Film Academy Award. A filmmaker returns to his Sicilian hometown for the first time in 30 years and looks back on his life, including the time he spent helping the projectionist at the local movie theatre. Philippe Noiret, Jacques Perrin and Marco Leonardi star. Special edition includes the original theatrical version and director Giuseppe Tornatore's extended 2002 re-release. City Of Women [DVD] (1980) A dreamlike exploration by Fellini into the mysterious realm of the female psyche. Marcello Mastroianni stars as the hapless dream traveller who finds himself trapped in a feminist convention and then is placed on the frontline of the battle of the sexes in a series of surrealistic images. Children Of Hannibal [DVD] (1998) A lively caper film about Domenico, a man from northern Italy who hopes robbing a bank and heading to Switzerland will change his life for the better. When the heist goes awry, he is forced to take Tommaso, an unhappily married businessman, hostage. Tommaso urges his captor to drive south to see a friend who will get him safely to Egypt, but Domenico soon discovers that the friend is not only a cop but also Tommaso's male lover. With Silvio Orlando, Diego Abatantuono. Christ Stopped At Eboli [DVD] (1979) Award-winning Italian drama based on the autobiography of Carlo Levi, a writer exiled to a small village in 1935 for his anti-fascist activities. There he learns valuable lessons about life, love and human courage. Gian Maria Volonte, Irene Papas star; directed by Francesco Rosi. 145 min. Standard; Soundtrack: Italian; Subtitles: English. Ciao, Professore! [DVD] (1994) A tender and often hilarious comedy from Lina Wertmuller centering on a teacher who is mistakenly assigned to a third-grade class in an impoverished town in Southern Italy. The teacher soon faces the Mafia, truancy and pupils with family problems while trying to steer his students in the right direction. Paolo Villaggio stars. Divorce - Italian Style [DVD] (1962) Marvelous, Oscar-winning farce starring Marcello Mastroianni as a man facing a mid-life crisis who falls for his beautiful cousin (Stefania Sandrelli). Unable to divorce his annoying wife (Daniela Rocca), Mastroianni hatches a scheme to make it appear she was unfaithful and then kill her. Pietro Germi directs. Death In Venice [DVD] (1971) Luchino Visconti's brilliant version of Thomas Mann's classic story. Dirk Bogarde stars as a jaded, middle-aged German composer on holiday in Venice who spots a handsome young boy on the beach. His doomed obsession with the youth renews his interest in living. With Silvana Mangano, Bjorn Andresen. Desert Of The Tartars [DVD] (1976) A French army recruit is stationed at an isolated desert fort whose inhabitants spend their time training in anticipation of an attack from Tartar warriors. As the days wear on, the soldiers' routine leads to cynicism, jealousy, and paranoia as they wait for an enemy that no one is even sure exists. Compelling drama stars Jacques Perrin, Vittorio Gassman, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Max von Sydow; music by Ennio Morricone. Devil In The Flesh [DVD] (1986) Erotic, controversial adaptation of the Radiguet novel that chronicles the sudden, all-consuming affair between an accused terrorist's fiancee and a handsome teenager. Striking, sexually explicit effort from director Marco Bellocchio stars Maruschka Detmers, Federico Pitzalis. Uncut, unrated version. Don't Move (Non Ti Muovere) [DVD](2004) Writer/director Sergio Castellitto stars as Timoteo, a surgeon whose daughter is brought to his hospital after a devastating accident. While she lays in a coma, the anguished Timoteo confesses to her a sordid and tragic affair from his past involving the destitute woman (Penelope Cruz) he impulsively raped and then continued to see after she became attracted to him. This visceral and controversial drama is based on the novel by Margaret Mazzantini; Claudia Gerini and Linda Bernardi also star. Don't Tell [DVD](2005) Following the death of her father, an Italian businesswoman becomes plagued by nightmares and discovers that she is pregnant. Suspecting that she is repressing information about her childhood, she decides to track down her brother in America with hopes that he can provide her with insight on her mysterious past. But when her search for clarity leads to the revelation of a shocking secret, she is forced to deal with the truth about her life. Explosive drama stars Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Alessio Boni, Stefania Rocca. AKA: "The Beast in the Heart." Double Game (Torino Violenta) [DVD](1977) Move over, Dirty Harry! Step aside, "Bad Lieutenant"! Here comes the Avenger! The fearsome nickname is the dual identity of police inspector Moretti (George Hilton), who, when the sun goes down, sheds his concern with protocol to wreak havoc on the underworld as a fearless vigilante. The rarely seen Italian crime thriller also stars Emanuel Cannarsa, Giuseppe Alotta, and Annarita Grapputo. Also includes the 1980 sequel, "Tony: Another Double Game." Elective Affinities (La Affinita Elettive) [DVD] (1996) Based on a novel by Goethe, this pastoral drama from the Taviani brothers examines stars Isabelle Huppert and Jean-Hughes Anglade as a married couple whose quiet life in a Tuscan villa is thrown into emotional disarray by the arrival of two guests: Anglade's handsome architect friend and Huppert's beautiful goddaughter. El Alamein [DVD] (2002) Told from the point of view of a group of ordinary Italian soldiers, this mesmerizing drama recounts World War II's epic Battle of El Alamein. As the men fight alongside of German troops to drive the Allied Forces out of North Africa, they discover the horror of life on the front lines while struggling to stay alive. Paolo Briguglia, Pierfrancesco Favino, Luciano Scarpa star. AKA: "El Alamein: The Line of Fire." Emergency Squad (Squadra Volante) [DVD] (1974) Interpol agent Ravelli (Tomas Milian) pursues a lawless brand of revenge when he discovers that the leader of a group of bank robbers may be connected to his wife's brutal murder. This scorching crime drama from Italy also stars Gastone Moschin, Ray Lovelock and Stefania Casini. Facing Windows (La Finestra Di Fronte) [DVD] (2003) Issues of unrequited love, responsibility and burgeoning desire are explored in this poetic Italian drama. Stuck in a loveless marriage and a dead-end job, Giovanna desperately yearns for a better life. After her husband brings home a disoriented Holocaust survivor, the mysterious stranger's arrival leads to Giovanna falling for her sexy neighbor. Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Massimo Girotti, Raoul Bova star. AKA: "The Window Opposite." Family Flaw (Un Difetto Di Famiglia) [DVD] (2002) The conservative Nicolo (Lino Banfi) prepares to celebrate the marriage of his daughter to a wealthy general. When his 103-year-old mother dies, her final wishes force her son to reunite with his estranged gay brother (Nino Manfredi) in order to transport their mother to her final resting place in the Italian countryside. Heartwarming and amusing film also stars Carlo Cascone, Elena D'Urso and Simone Corrente. Fellini's Roma [DVD] (1972) In this filmic salute to his beloved Eternal City, Fellini juxtaposes scenes of himself as an adult shooting a movie on the streets of Rome, with childhood memories of tenement life in WWII Italy, vaudeville performers, clerical fashion shows and his first visit to a bordello. Peter Gonzales and Stefano Mayore co-star as the young Fellini. Fellini Satyricon [DVD] (1970) A decade before "Caligula," Federico Fellini crafted this visually stunning look at the decadence and debauchery of Ancient Rome. Based on contemporary accounts, the succession of bizarre beings, orgiastic lifestyles and amoral attitudes reflect Fellini's views of '60s youth. With Martin Potter, Capucine, Hiram Keller. Fellini: I'm A Born Liar [DVD] (2003) An insightful study of the life and films of Federico Fellini, the maestro of Italian cinema, this documentary offers segments from an extensive interview with Fellini, as well as film clips from such works as "8 1/2," "La Dolce Vita," and "Amarcord," and remembrances from Donald Sutherland, Terence Stamp, and Roberto Benigni. trailers. Ferrari [DVD] (2003) He went from being a young race car driver in the early 1900s to a key member of the Alfa Romeo company, and would revolutionize the sports car world with the vehicles bearing his name. Sergio Castellitto stars as Italian auto mogul Enzo Ferrari, looking back on his life, in this fascinating biodrama; with Ed Stoppard, Pietro Ragusa. Fists In The Pocket (I Pugni In Tasca) [DVD] (1965) Family dysfunction has rarely been as bleak--or as memorable--as in this landmark of Italian cinema from writer/director Marco Bellocchio. Plagued with a blind mother and three epileptic brothers, a young man decides to rid himself of the burden of caring for his family by murdering them. Lou Castel, Paola Pitagora, Marino Mase star. Flight Of The Innocent [DVD] (1993) After witnessing his criminal family being slaughtered by merciless rival gangsters, a 10-year-old boy flees for his life, first to his cousin's home in Rome, then to the wealthy family of a boy kidnapped by his parents. Highly acclaimed directing debut of Carlo Carlei mixes raw violence and poignancy. With Manuel Colao. Girl With A Suitcase [DVD] (1961) Claudia Cardinale exudes lust as a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who finds romance with an ex-lover's teenage brother. The relationship brings trouble into both their lives, but will she leave him for a worldly musician? Jacques Perrin, Corrado Pani also star. Gambling City [DVD] (1975) Luke is a high-stakes gambler and free-wheeling ladies' man who works for a powerful crime syndicate. Trouble is in the cards, though, when he falls for the boss' son's girlfriend. Luc Merenda, Dayle Haddon and Corrado Pani star. AKA: "The Cheaters." Germany Year Zero [DVD] (1947) Roberto Rossellini's neo-realistic look at life amid the shambles that the once-proud city of Berlin had become. A stirring drama and a valuable document on the effects of war. With Franz Kruger and Edmund Moeschke. Ginger And Cinnamon (Dillo Con Parole Mie) [DVD](2003) While vacationing in Greece, a repressed 30-year-old reluctantly plays chaperone to her 15-year-old niece--unaware that the youth plans on losing her virginity during the trip. Over the course of the getaway, both women overcome their differences and learn to understand each other. Charming Italian dramedy stars Stefania Montorsi, Giampaolo Morelli, Martina Merlino. Man" (2003); theatrical trailers. In Italian with English subtitles. Good Morning, Night (Buongiorno, Notte) [DVD] (2003) The 1978 kidnapping and execution of Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro (Roberto Herlitzka) is the subject of this bracing drama. As a member of the far-left terrorist organization the Red Brigades, the young Chiara (Maya Sansa) participates in the conspiracy to overthrow the Italian government. But as the kidnapping progresses, she comes to doubt her own visions of revolutionary transformation. Luigi Lo Cascio, Pier Giorgio Bellocchio also star. Soundtrack: Italian stereo; Subtitles: English; filmographies; theatrical trailer. Henry IV [DVD] (1985) A towering performance by Marcello Mastroianni highlights this film adaptation of Pirandello's masterpiece of madness, the story of a man who believes himself to be the medieval French ruler. Claudia Cardinale, Leopoldo Trieste also star; directed by Marco Bellocchio. 84 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: Italian; Subtitles: English; scene access. How To Kill A Judge (Perche Si Uccide Un Magistrato?) [DVD] (1974) Hard-hitting political thriller from Italy stars Franco Nero as a provocative filmmaker whose latest opus becomes uncomfortably associated with real-life Mafia assassinations. Investigating the murder of a judge who served as the basis for his film, Nero must confront the possibility that his picture may be involved in a terrifying conspiracy as more bodies pile up. Marco Guglielmi, Mico Cundari also star. English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; interviews; theatrical trailers. I'm Not Scared [DVD] (2003) Gripping thriller from director Gabriele Salvatores ("Mediterraneo") centers on a 10-year-old Italian boy (Giuseppe Cristiano) who accidentally stumbles across another child being held captive in a hidden underground chamber. When his own parents tell him to ignore this startling discovery, Cristiano begins to wonder if they're somehow involved. Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, Dino Abbrescia, Mattia Di Pierro also star. English Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English, Spanish. I Fidanzati [DVD] (1962) The love of a young couple is put to the ultimate test when the man is forced to leave his home in Milan to start a new job in Sicily. Will the separation drive an immovable wedge between them or breathe new life into their ailing relationship? Stars Carlo Cabrini and Anna Canzi. AKA: "The Engagement," "The Fiances." I Vitelloni [DVD] (1953) Almost the foreign predecessor of "Diner," this early Fellini triumph follows a group of teenage boys as they face, with dreaded anticipation, their future in the small Italian coastal town they call home. Franco Interlenghi and Alberto Sordi star. Il Bidone (The Swindle) [DVD] (1955) A trio of swindlers preying on the local peasantry is the focus of Federico Fellini's engrossing drama. Broderick Crawford plays the cold-hearted gangleader, with Richard Basehart, Franco Fabrizi and Giulietta Masina. Il Grido [DVD] (1957) Michelangelo Antonioni's warm-up for his classic "L'Avventura" details the saga of an American working in a Po Valley sugar refinery who attempts to win the hand of a recent widow. Steve Cochran, Alida Valli and Betsy Blair star. AKA: "The Outcry." Il Postino (The Postman) [DVD] (1995) Lovely romance set in a small Italian town during the 1950s where exiled Chilean poet Pablo Nerudo has taken refuge. A shy mailman befriends the poet and uses his words--and, ultimately, the writer himself--to help him woo a woman with whom he has fallen in love. With Philippe Noiret and Massimo Troisi (who died a day after filming ended). Il Posto [DVD] (1961) Leaving his small-town home behind, young Domenico heads for the bright lights of Milan. But life in the big city proves to be decidedly less glamorous than expected, as he quickly becomes a cog in a corporate machine that threatens to crush his wide-eyed, optimistic spirit. Can a burgeoning romance with an alluring co-worker brighten his dreary daily slog? Sandro Panseri, Loredana Detto, Tullio Kezich star in Ermanno Olmi's heartfelt and funny coming-of-age tale. AKA: "The Job," "The Sound of Trumpets." Incantato (Il Cuore Altrove) [DVD](2003) Fearing his awkwardly mannered, academic son will not develop a healthy interest in the ladies, a womanizing tailor who stitches for the Pope sends his shy offspring to a teaching job in Bologna. Cupid meets with little success until a blind society girl enters the picture and causes romantic comedy of delightful proportions! This poignant film from Italy stars Giancarlo Giannini, Neri Marcore, and Vanessa Incontrada. Intervista [DVD] (1987) While making a film at Rome's famed Cinecitta Studios, Federico Fellini reminisces about his life and his work. His remembrances lead to sequences that mix reality and fantasy and appearances by the director's favorite performers, Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg. 116 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: Italian Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English; documentary; photo gallery; theatrical trailer. Iris Blond [DVD] (1996) Witty tale of a talented musician named Romeo who seeks help from a tarot card reader after his latest girlfriend dumps him. She sees a new love in his future, but that love does not come with the singer Romeo meets on a cruise ship, but rather with a waitress with whom he starts a musical lounge act. This quirky romantic comedy with an edge stars Carlo Verdone, Claudia Gerini. AKA: "I'm Crazy About Iris Blond." Italian Babes Of Yore [DVD] DVD Mamma mia! This spicy three-disc set spotlights Sophia Loren ("Too Bad She's Bad"), Gina Lollobrigida ("Wife for a Night"), and Claudia Cardinale ("Girl With a Suitcase"). Widescreen; Soundtrack: Italian mono; Subtitles: English. Juliet Of The Spirits [DVD] (1965) Director Federico Fellini's first color film is this dazzling, surrealistic portrait of sexual fantasies and neuroses. Stuck in an unhappy marriage, a beautiful woman becomes unable to cope with the reality of her life. Losing herself, she embarks on a hallucinatory journey to the world inside her own mind where she begins to discover the truth about her own needs and desires. Giulietta Masina, Mario Pisu, Sylva Koscina star. Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; interview; theatrical trailer. Keep Walking (Cammina, Cammina) [DVD] (1982) Italian maestro Ermanno Olmi ("The Tree of Wooden Clogs") tells the tale of the journey of the Magi in this lyrical odyssey. The film focuses on a wise man who interprets his sighting of a comet streaking through the sky as a spiritual message. Joined by two associates, soldiers, villagers and others, the Magi sets out on a journey that tests his beliefs and strength. With Alberto Fumagalli, Antonio Cucciarre. Life Is Beautiful [DVD] (1998) Alternately harrowing and funny, this Oscar-winning Holocaust story features writer/director/star Roberto Benigni as a Jewish innocent living in a small Italian village with his wife and son in 1939. When father and son are sent to a concentration camp, Benigni uses games and humor to shield the boy from the surrounding horrors. Nicoletta Braschi and Giorgio Cantarini also star. "making of" Subtitles: English; "making of" featurette; TV spots; theatrical trailer. L'Avventura [DVD] (1960) A scathing examination of Italy's aristocratic classes set within the framework of a mystery story, director Michelangelo Antonioni's groundbreaking film chronicles the disappearance of a wealthy woman. While searching for her, the woman's lover and best friend become romantically involved. Monica Vitti, Gabrielle Ferzetti star. featurette. Two-disc set. L'Eclisse (The Eclipse) [DVD] (1962) Completing the trilogy he began with "L'Avventura" and "La Notte," Michelangelo Antonioni follows heroine Vittoria (Monica Vitti) as she trades her older lover for a brash Rome stockbroker. A drama of occluded values in modern society, co-starring Alain Delon, Francisco Rabal. Lamerica [DVD] (1994) Amid the poverty and turmoil of post-Communist Albania, two con artists from Italy arrive with a scheme to get government money by setting up a fraudulent manufacturing plant. But when the native figurehead of their "company" vanishes, one of the men sets off to find him and winds up losing his money, clothing and very identity. Gianni Amelio's acclaimed comedy/drama stars Enrico Lo Verso, Michele Placido. La Commare Secca (The Grim Reaper) [DVD] (1962) Groundbreaking directorial debut by Bernardo Bertolucci (made at the age of 22) is a gripping, stark drama examining the brutal slaying of a prostitute in a Rome park. Co-scripted by Pier Paolo Pasolini; Francesco Ruiu, Marisa Solinas star. 93 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: Italian Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; interview; essay. La Dolce Vita [DVD] (1960) Federico Fellini's masterpiece boasts Marcello Mastroianni as a journalist who has put aside his serious career aspirations to report on the shallow, jet-setting denizens of Rome. While writing his tabloid stories, Mastroianni encounters prostitutes, buxom actresses, religious fervor and personal tragedy while trying make sense of the decadent lifestyle he has been seduced by. With Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimee, Lex Barker, Yvonne Furneaux; music by Nino Rota. La Dolce Vita (Deluxe Collector's Edition) [DVD] (1960) Federico Fellini's masterpiece boasts Marcello Mastroianni as a journalist who puts aside his serious career aspirations to report on the shallow, jet-setting denizens of Rome. While writing his stories, he encounters prostitutes, buxom actresses, religious fervor and personal tragedy while trying to make sense of the decadent lifestyle he has been seduced by. With Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimee, Lex Barker; music by Nino Rota. Packaged inside a leatherette box, this deluxe collector's edition includes postcards, a theatrical poster reproduction and a 40-page booklet. La Notte [DVD] (1961) As dark and moody as its title, this Antonioni drama chronicles one evening in the life of a couple (Marcello Mastroianni, Jeanne Moreau) who have tired of life together. Moreau leaves her husband at a party and wanders the streets, while Mastroianni tries to woo Monica Vitti, until fate brings the pair back together. La Scorta (Widescreen Version) [DVD] (1993) Set in Mafia-influenced Trapani, Sicily, this tightly wound political suspenser focuses on four honest men who are assigned to protect an investigating magistrate from corrupt killers who assassinated his predecessor. Claudio Amendola and Carlo Cecchi star in Ricky Tognazzi's film, which features music by Ennio Morricone. theatrical trailers. La Scorta [DVD] (1993) Set in Mafia-influenced Trapani, Sicily, this tightly wound political suspenser focuses on four honest men who are assigned to protect an investigating magistrate from corrupt killers who assassinated his predecessor. Claudio Amendola and Carlo Cecchi star in Ricky Tognazzi's film, which features music by Ennio Morricone. La Sorella Di Ursula (Ursula's Sister) [DVD] (1978) Dagmar and Ursula are two sisters who take a vacation at an Italian seaside resort. But their planned time of peace and quiet is disrupted by a series of murders in which the victims are all women and the murder weapon is a lethal dildo. Who is behind these disturbing incidents? Barbara Magnolfi and Stefania D'Amario star in this blood- and sex-splattered shocker. La Strada [DVD] (1954) Federico Fellini's Oscar-winning study of members of a travelling circus troupe, as a brutal strongman uses a simple-minded woman who loves him, forcing her to find solace with a good-hearted clown. With Anthony Quinn, Giulietta Masina, Richard Basehart. La Terra Trema [DVD] (1947) Although a financial misfire upon its initial Italian release, this Luchino Visconti drama has emerged as a classic of the neo-realistic movement. Non-professional actors tell the simple human tale of a small fishing village whose lifeblood is being drained by greedy northern entrepreneurs. Le Notti Bianche (White Nights) [DVD] (1957) A sentimental and uncharacteristically dreamlike Luchino Visconti drama, based on a story by Dostoyevsky. Shy clerk Marcello Mastroianni meets beautiful Maria Schell on a bridge where she waits for the return of her sailor lover. Smitten, Mastroianni tries to convince her that the sailor's never coming back and to go dancing with him. Jean Marais co-stars. more. Light Of My Eyes (Luce Dei Miei Occhi) [DVD](2001) In Rome, a lonely chauffeur who loves science-fiction novels finds himself unable to connect with other people. After meeting a beautiful but troubled single mother, he is drawn into her world of suffering and quickly dedicates himself to solving her problems. Together, the pair begins to overcome their shared solitude while they discover the impact they have had on each other's lives. Poetic drama stars Luigi Lo Cascio, Sandra Ceccarelli, Silvio Orlando. Little Cannon [DVD] (1958) Hilarious Italian comedy details the madcap misadventures of the crew of a small freighter in World War II. After the ship's diminutive cannon seemingly defeats an opponent, the captain becomes overwhelmed with misguided courage. But when he decides to take his tiny vessel on a search for enemy submarines, will he lead his men to victory or disaster? Vittorio De Sica, Nino Manfredi star. AKA: "Always Victorious," "Cannon Serenade." Love And Anger [DVD] (1969) Five top European directors--Marco Bellocchio, Bernardo Bertolucci, Jean-Luc Godard, Carlo Lizzani, and Pier Paolo Pasolini--come together for a quintet of stories of revolution and '60s youth culture in this acclaimed anthology. A woman is assaulted while her neighbors ignore her cries; a theatre group dramatizes the death of God; explosions erupt on a Rome street where a youth cavorts; two couples on a rooftop garden debate war and revolution; and a school debate on Vietnam devolves into bloodshed. Love Meetings [DVD] (1964) Pier Paolo Pasolini's humorous cinema-verite study of sexual habits in Italy, featuring appearances by author Alberto Moravia and psychologist Cesare Musatti. Experts and Everymen share their tales of love, homosexuality, prostitution, non-marital relationships and more. 90 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: Italian; Subtitles: English; featurette. Malena [DVD] (2000) From Giuseppe Tornatore ("Cinema Paradiso") comes this sexy and sensitive coming-of-age saga set in 1940s Sicily, where 13-year-old Renato (Giuseppe Sulfaro) becomes infatuated with Malena (Monica Bellucci), the luscious daughter of the town's Latin teacher. When Malena's husband dies at war, she is doggedly pursued by the area's men while Renato's interest becomes obsessive as he begins to spy on the newly widowed woman. Music by Ennio Morricone. Mamma Roma [DVD] (1962) Anna Magnani stars as an ex-prostitute trying to build a better life for herself and her teenage son, but the temptations of city life and a money-hungry former pimp may doom her efforts, in this emotional and often-censored drama from Pier Paolo Pasolini. 110 min. Standard; Soundtrack: Italian mono; Subtitles: English; interviews; documentary; theatrical trailer; poster gallery; Pasolini's "La Ricotta" (1963) from "RoGoPaG." Marcello Mastroianni: I Remember [DVD] (1999) Completed shortly before his death in 1996, this marvelous, clip-filled film memoir from one of the world's best-loved actors features Mastroianni looking back on his four-decade career of more than 170 movies. With characteristic grace and humor he dismisses his "Latin Lover" sobriquet, talks about the American actors who influenced him, and shares anecdotes about Fellini, De Sica and other colleagues. Medley [DVD] (2000) A high school campus becomes a slaughterhouse in this outrageous mix of violence, gore and black comedy from Italy, as chainsaw-wielding teachers and bloodthirsty students clash in a fatal "final exam" that makes "Blackboard Jungle" look like "Room 222." Gaia Candiollo, Paolo Lombardi star. AKA: "Medley: Brandelli de Scuola." Milano Rovente (Gang War In Milan) [DVD] (1973) The Italian city known as a global fashion center becomes a hotbed of violent mob action in this stylish Umberto Lenzi thriller, as the head of Milan's prostitution ring finds his empire under attack from a drug-running French rival and an American gangster who may be playing both sides against each other. Antonio Sabato, Philippe Leroy, Marisa Mell star. Miracle Of Marcellino [DVD] (1991) Director Luigi Comencini's moving remake of the beloved 1955 Spanish film is set in a 16th-century monastery whose brothers take in an abandoned infant and raise the child themselves. Years later, a wealthy count offers to adopt young Marcellino, but the child runs away to return to the monks. Didier Benureau, Alberto Cracco, Nicolo Paolucci star. AKA: "Marcellino," "Marcellino Pan y Vino." My Mother's Smile (L'Ora Di Religione [Il Sorriso Di Mia Madre]) [DVD](2002) A successful Roman painter experiences a crisis of faith when he learns that his mother, murdered at the hands of his disturbed brother, is being considered for sainthood by the Vatican. Discovering that all of his friends and relatives have self-serving reasons for wanting to see his mother venerated, the man must come to grips with his unresolved feelings about religious belief. Sergio Castellitto, Jacqueline Lustig star. Not Of This World [DVD] (1999) Director/co-scripter Giuseppe Piccioni's moving character study follows the effect an abandoned infant has on three people: the novice nun (Margherita Buy) who takes the baby to a hospital and finds maternal instincts that make her question her calling; the child's desperate young mother (Carolina Freschi); and a disassociated laundry owner (Silvio Orlando) who helps Buy look for Freschi and realizes he may be the infant's father. Nerolio [DVD] (1996) This intriguing film looks at the life of controversial filmmaker and poet Pier Paolo Pasolini before his death, focusing on his homosexual compulsions, his desire for young men and his need for unrestrained self-expression. Marco Cavicchioli and Vincenzo Crivello star. Night Sun [DVD] (1990) Based on Tolstoy's "Father Sergius," this lush drama by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani stars Julian Sands as an 18th-century Italian nobleman who, upon learning his fiancee was a courtesan to the king, leaves his aristocratic lifestyle behind and becomes a monk. Nastassja Kinski, Charlotte Gainsbourg also star; Sands' voice was dubbed by Giancarlo Giannini. AKA: "Il Sole Anche di Notte." Night Train To Milan (Il Criminale) [DVD] (1963) Unusual thriller stars Jack Palance as an ex-Nazi war criminal recognized by other passengers while on an overnight train to Milan. A clash with one of the camp survivors leads Palance to start taking hostages on the trip. Yvonne Furneaux and Salvo Randone also star in this intense tale from Italy. Nights Of Cabiria [DVD] (1957) The winner of 1957's Best Foreign Film Oscar, Fellini's moving drama stars Giulietta Masina as an impoverished prostitute who dreams of a better life. Full of poignancy and bittersweet revelations, the film inspired "Sweet Charity." Ossessione [DVD] (1942) Not seen in America for over 30 years, Italian filmmaker Luchino Visconti's first film is an unauthorized rendition of "The Postman Always Rings Twice" that closely follows the plot of James Cain's classic novel, while adding Visconti's distinctive neo-realist touches. Clara Calamai, Massimo Girotti star. Oedipus Rex [DVD] (1967) The classic Greek tragedy of a young man's dark destiny is brought to the screen by Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini, who sandwiches the tale within a modern-day prologue and epilogue. Silvana Mangano, Franco Citti, Alida Valli star. Deluxe, letterboxed print from the Pasolini Foundation and the Museum of Modern Art. Open City [DVD] (1945) Director Roberto Rossellini's moving drama follows a leader of the WWII Italian underground and his fight against the Nazi occupation of Rome. Much of the film shows actual scenes of people and their struggles in war-torn Italy. A brave achievement! 105 min. Standard; Soundtrack: Italian Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English. Open Letter To The Evening News [DVD](1970) Intensely controversial when first released, this dark comedy from Italy deals with the incendiary conflict in Vietnam as seen through the eyes of leftist radicals who send a phony letter to an Italian newspaper and threaten to join the fight against American forces. When the letter is shockingly printed, the provocateurs are put in the uneasy situation of choosing to either reveal the hoax or sign up with the Viet Cong and start firing. Francesco Maselli's explosive film stars Nanni Loy, Tanya Lopert, and Lorenza Guerrieri. Open My Heart (Aprimi Il Cuore) [DVD] (2003) Intriguing Italian drama chronicles the life of prostitute Maria as she acts as mother and lover for her 17-year-old sister Caterina. Sharing an apartment with her sibling, Caterina is only allowed to leave her home to attend dance classes where she secretly romances her handsome instructor. But when Maria learns of their affair, she becomes consumed by jealous rage. Giada Colagrande, Natalie Cristiani, Claudio Botosso star. Orchestra Rehearsal [DVD] (1979) Set in a decaying medieval chapel, this allegorical Federico Fellini drama chronicles the internal squabbles of the members of an orchestra as they prepare for an upcoming TV documentary, and how the musicians eventually unite to rebel against their German conductor's authoritarian manner. Balduin Baas, Clara Colosimo star; score by Nito Rota. Padre Padrone [DVD] (1977) Powerful study of a poor Sardinian boy who grows to manhood while learning to confront his dictatorial father. Paolo and Vittorio Taviani's drama stars Omero Antonutti, Saverio Marconi. 117 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: Italian Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; filmographies. Padre Pio [DVD](2000) The story of Francesco Forgione, believed to have manifested stigmata and reputed to possess miraculous powers of healing, is dramatized in this reverent Italian production. Joining the Friars in 1903, "Padre Pio" gains a reputation for miracle-making during his years of service, reportedly even predicting in 1962 that Karol Wojtyla--Pope John Paul II--would one day become pontiff. Sergio Castellitto, Andrea Buscemi star. Partner [DVD] (1968) This early Bernardo Bertolucci work freely adapts Dostoyevsky's "The Double." A young theater teacher's quiet and orderly life is thrown into chaos when he meets his doppelganger and slowly starts to lose his grip on his sanity and his very identity. Pierre Clementi, Tina Aumont star. 112 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: Italian Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; outtakes; interviews; bonus feature "La Sua Giornata di Gloria (His Day of Glory)" Pier Paolo Pasolini Collection, Vol. 1 [DVD] DVD Three-disc set includes "Love Meetings," "Oedipus Rex" and "Porcile." Pier Paolo Pasolini Collection, Vol. 2 [DVD] DVD Three-disc set includes "Accattone!," "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" and "The Hawks and the Sparrows." Pinocchio [DVD] (2002) "Life Is Beautiful" creator Roberto Benigni's masterful take on the beloved classic features the comic in a tour-de-force performance as the wooden puppet who yearns to be flesh and blood. Despite love and encouragement from his "father" Geppetto and the beautiful Blue Fairy, Pinocchio embarks on a wild and wondrous quest to become real. With Nicoletta Braschi, Carlo Giuffre. This dubbed-in-English version features voice work by James Belushi, John Cleese, Glenn Close, Eric Idle, Queen Latifah and others. Primo Amore [DVD] (2004) Hitchcock-style obsession meets the tough, brutal aesthetic of modern European cinema in this low-key domestic monster movie. An insecure artist's model (Michela Cescon) falls under the spell of a controlling lover (Vitaliano Trevisan) whose preoccupation with her weight leads to catastrophes of mutual self-destruction. A luxurious, perverse work of dark poetry and masochistic gamesmanship from director Matteo Garrone. Rocco And His Brothers [DVD] (1960) Heartfelt, controversial social drama by Luchino Visconti that follows a mother and her four sons as they move from rural Italy to the slums of Milan. Alain Delon and Renato Salvatori star as the two oldest sons, both in love with prostitute Annie Girardot. With Claudia Cardinale. Uncut version; 170 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: Italian Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English. Remember Me, My Love (Ricordati Di Me) [DVD] (2003) Director Gabriele Muccino ("But Forever in My Mind") presents a gripping look at the lives of an unhappy Italian family. As an aspiring novelist attempts to come to terms with his unfulfilled ambitions and flirts with an old flame, his wife dutifully raises their two troubled children. But when an accident changes their lives, can the once tight-knit clan learn to love each other again? Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Laura Morante, Monica Bellucci star. Respiro [DVD] (2002) In a fishing village on a small Mediterranean island, beautiful wife and mother Valeria Golino's mood swings and increasingly erratic behavior make her the target of gossiping neighbors, who convince husband Vincenzo Amato to send her to Milan for treatment. Fearing institutionalization, Golino runs away and hides in a seaside cave as the villagers search for her. Vibrant and poetic tale from writer/director Emanuele Crialese also stars Francesco Casisa. Roma Citta Libera [DVD](1946) Set in post-WWII Rome, four strangers take refuge in a tavern where American servicemen linger. One member of the group, who earlier attempted suicide over the loss of his girlfriend, meets up with the man who seduced her. The ensuing confrontations between the young man, his rival, and the others make for a poetic and intense neorealist drama. Andrea Checchi, Valentina Cortese, and Vittorio De Sica star. Story Of A Love Affair (Cronaca Di Un Amore) [DVD] (1950) For his first feature-length drama after making documentaries, Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni crafted this compelling drama about a beautiful woman, recently married to a successful businessman, who has a chance encounter with an old flame and is drawn into an illicit--and potentially deadly--affair. Lucia Bose, Massimo Girotti, Ferdinando Sarmi star. Saint Michael Had A Rooster [DVD] (1971) Freed after spending 10 years in jail for political crimes, a dedicated revolutionary in 19th-century Italy is told by a younger group of anarchists that the ideals that kept him going through his imprisonment have no place in their movement. Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy, this allegorical early drama from Paolo and Vittorio Taviani stars Giulio Brogi. Salvatore Giuliano [DVD] (1961) The intriguing life and brutal death of Sicilian mobster Salvatore Giuliano is explored in a gripping docudrama. As Italian society became consumed by social and political change in the aftermath of World War II, the gangster found himself involved with guerrilla activities that led to his shocking downfall. Salvo Randone, Frank Wolff star. Scarlet Diva [DVD] (2000) A stylized chronicle of a young woman's descent into disillusionment, decadence and despair, Asia Argento's ("XXX") debut as writer/director/star finds her in the semi-autobiographical role of a young actress whose success is tempered by a stormy family life, graphic episodes of sex and drugs, and a globe-hopping quest for true love. With Jean Shepard, Herbert Fritsch and, as her mother, Argento's real-life mother, Daria Nicolodi. Seven Beauties [DVD] (1976) Giancarlo Giannini stars in Lina Wertmuller's dark seriocomedy as a small-time hood in WWII Italy trying to support his sisters. His desperate attempts to stay alive take him from jail to a mental hospital, and eventually put him in the hands of an obese concentration camp commandant (Shirley Stoler). St. Francis (Francesco) [DVD](2002) Originally produced for Italian television, this powerful retelling of the life of Francesco Bernardone--later canonized as St. Francis of Assisi--follows the saint's progression from a rich youth who became a soldier to the divinely inspired leader who shed his material wealth and sought at every turn to better understand God's purposes. Raoul Bova, Amelie Daure star. Story Of A Cloistered Nun [DVD](1973) Sent to a convent after refusing to partake in an arranged marriage, a 16th-century woman finds herself at the mercy of the facility's sexually frustrated, lesbian mother superior in this erotically charged exploitation tale from Italy. Suzy Kendall, Catherine Spaak, Eleonora Giorgi star. Swept Away [DVD] (1974) Directed by Lina Wertmuller, this satire on class struggle chronicles the tumultuous role reversal romance between a well-to-do socialite (Mariangela Melato) and a communist-minded sailor (Giancarlo Giannini) stranded together on a deserted island after a shipwreck. The Best Of Youth [DVD] (2003) An engrossing and intimate epic originally produced as a miniseries for Italian television, the film follows the divergent paths taken by brothers Nicola (Luigi Lo Cascio) and Matteo Carati (Alessio Boni) over four decades of turbulent Italian history, beginning in the 1960s. Their various friends, occupations, and loves bring them together and apart through the years, a familial bond always present even in the face of political differences. Sonia Bergamasco, Adriana Asti also star. Teorema [DVD] (1969) Is wanderer Terence Stamp, who moves into a middle-class Milan household, a messenger from Heaven or Hell? Director Pier Paolo Pasolini isn't saying, letting the audience decide in this offbeat drama about how the stranger's presence affects those he meets. With Massimo Girotti, Silvana Mangano, Laura Betti. The Barbarians [DVD] (1953) In Renaissance Italy, the city of Rome faces an attack by armed invaders from Spain. The brutal onslaught and desperate defense is depicted in this thrilling costume actioner from Italy. Pierre Cressoy, Helene Remy star. AKA: "Il Sacco di Roma," "The Pagans." The Battle Of Algiers [DVD] (1965) Acclaimed drama of the Algerian struggle for independence from France in the 1950s. Focusing on one small band of rebels making its last stand, director Gillo Pontecorvo adopts a semi-documentary look while detailing the escalating violence from both sides. The Bicycle Thief [DVD] (1948) Many critics consider this Oscar-winning classic to be one of the greatest films ever made. Vittorio De Sica used non-professional actors to tell the simple, human tragedy of a working man whose bike, which he needs for his job, is stolen, sending him and his son on a harrowing search through the streets of Rome. The Damned [DVD] (1969) The decadence and perversion that accompanied the Nazis' rise to power in '30s Germany is graphically chronicled, via the slow degeneration of a wealthy weapons-building family, in Luchino Visconti's shocking drama. Dirk Bogarde, Ingrid Thulin, Helmut Berger, and Charlotte Rampling star. The Decameron [DVD] (1970) Eight ribald tales from Boccaccio's medieval literary classic are brought to the screen by Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini for the first entry in his "Trilogy of Life." The highlight: a man who poses as a deaf-mute in order to win the favors of a convent filled with sex-hungry nuns. The Embalmer [DVD] (2002) A quietly unsettling tale of obsession and desire, this Italian thriller follows a handsome young waiter named Valerio, who is offered a job by Peppino, a dwarfish, middle-aged taxidermist who aids the Mafia in disposing of corpses. Peppino plies his new charge with drinks and women, drawing Valerio into his world and beginning a contest for his new charge's affections with his girlfriend. Ernesto Mahieux, Valerio Foglia Manzillo star. The Flowers Of St. Francis (Francesco Giullare Di Dio) [DVD] (1950) Roberto Rossellini's neo-realist drama, co-scripted by Rossellini and Federico Fellini, recounts the life of St. Francis of Assisi. The director's trademark natural style is well served by a non-professional cast that includes monks from Italy's Nocere Inferiore monastery. AKA: "Francis, God's Jester." The Garden Of The Finzi-Continis [DVD] (1971) Director Vittorio De Sica's Oscar-winning drama centers around an upper-class Jewish family living in Fascist Italy, oblivious at first to the growing tide of anti-Semitism that soon threatens their existence. Dominique Sanda, Helmut Berger, Fabio Testi star. The Gospel According To Saint Matthew [DVD] (1964) A totally original filmic version of the story of Jesus. Director Pier Paolo Pasolini combines non-professional actors, magnificent Italian locales, and a stirring classical score for a moving and surprisingly reverent biographical drama. Deluxe, letterboxed print from the Pasolini Foundation and the Museum of Modern Art. The Hawks And The Sparrows [DVD] (1966) Comic Pier Paolo Pasolini fable about a man and his son's journey through life, and the magical crow that offers them advice. The film traces the duo from the year 1200, where they are monks under the guidance of St. Francis of Assisi, through modern times, where they come face to face with Communism. With Toto and Ninetto Davoli. The Keys To The House (Le Chiavi Di Casa) [DVD] (2004) Thought-provoking Italian drama chronicles the uneasy reunion between tortured Gianni and the 15-year-old son he abandoned at birth. When he learns that his disabled child requires physical therapy in Berlin, he reluctantly accompanies him on the journey from Milan. Along the way, the pair bonds while long-held secrets are revealed. But can Gianni escape from his past mistakes? Kim Rossi Stuart, Andrea Rossi, Charlotte Rampling star. AKA: "The House Keys." The Last Kiss (L'Ultimo Bacio) [DVD] (2001) Involving Italian import focuses on Carlo, a young man who, upon learning his girlfriend is pregnant, develops a sudden aversion to responsibility and commitment. Feeling like his life is being planned out for him, Carlo embarks on an ill-conceived affair with an 18-year-old girl and a series of thrill-seeking adventures with his college pals. But will they be enough to fend off impending adulthood? Stefano Accorsi, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Stefania Sandrelli star. AKA: "One Last Kiss." The Last Round (Il Conto Chiuso) [DVD] (1976) Hard-boiled Rico Manzetti (Luc Merenda) plays both sides of a violent dispute between rival gangs in this gritty Italian version of the often-adapted Dashiell Hammett novel "Red Harvest," the source material for classics including Kurosawa's "Yojimbo" and Sergio Leone's "A Fistful of Dollars." Carlos Monzon, Leonora Fani also star. The Leopard [DVD] (1963) Set in revolutionary Italy in the mid-1800s, director Luchino Visconti's masterful ode to a bygone age stars Burt Lancaster as a Sicilian prince who seeks to preserve his family's aristocratic way of life by marrying off nephew Alain Delon to beautiful Claudia Cardinale, daughter of a wealthy, boorish merchant. The lush drama culminates with an elaborate and memorable ballroom sequence. Rina Morelli, Paolo Stoppa also star. Special video edition includes the restored 185-min. version and the English-dubbed. The Lina Wertmuller Collection [DVD] DVD The Italian filmmaker, the first woman to be nominated for a Best Director Academy Award, is saluted with this six-disc boxed set. Included are "Swept Away" (1974), the social satire starring Mariangela Melato and Giancarlo Giannini as mismatched castaways on a desert island; "Seven Beauties" (1975), with Giannini as a small-time hood scrambling for survival in WWII Italy; "Summer Night" (1987), reuniting Melato and Giannini as, respectively, a wealthy industrialist and a terrorist kidnapper; "The Nymph" (1996), a coming-of-age tale in which title teenager Lucia Cara finds herself the reluctant object of men's eyes in her WWII village; "Fernando and Carolina" (1999), a lush historical romance starring Sergio Assisi as 19th-century Neapolitan The Master And Margarita (The Master And Margaret) [DVD] (1972) In 1920s Moscow, Russian writer Nikolai arouses the suspicions of the Soviet government while working on a play about Pontius Pilate. As two government agents and an expert on black magic begin watching every move Nikolai makes, tragedy strikes two of his closest friends. In the grip of paranoia, Nikolai believes everyone is out to get him, including his assistant Margaret, who may be his only chance for salvation. Ugo Tognazzi, Mimsy Farmer, Alain Cuny star. The Nanny (La Balia) [DVD] (1999) When his frigid wife is unable to care for their newborn, a professor hires an illiterate wet nurse to tend to the child. He begins teaching the nanny how to read and write, becoming entranced by her inner wisdom in the process. When the pair's relationship begins to deepen, the stage is set for an explosive love triangle. Understated and elegant Italian import stars Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Maya Sansa. The Night Of The Shooting Stars [DVD] (1982) A brilliant, magnificent film, winner of many international prizes, from Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. During the final days of World War II, a small town in Italy finds its residents divided into two factions--those who seek freedom and those who distrust the Allied liberators. Omero Antonutti, Margarita Lozano star. AKA: "La Notte di San Lorenzo." The Prince Of Homburg [DVD] (1997) A 17th-century German prince, eager to prove his military skills during a war with the Swedes, disobeys superiors and leads his troops into a costly battlefield victory. Facing a court-martial and possible execution, the prince is torn between his desire to live and his dedication to duty. Director Marco Bellocchio's filming of the Heinrich von Kleist play stars Andrea Di Stefano, Barbora Bobulova. The Queen Of Sheba [DVD] (1953) Set in the year 1000 B.C., this Biblical epic tells the story of King Solomon, the ruler of Israel, who finds his son, Prince Rehoboam, involved with the beautiful queen of the rival city of Sheba. Gino Cervi and Leonora Ruffo star in this grand-scale epic. 93 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English (dubbed) Dolby Digital stereo; filmographies; theatrical trailers. The Railroad Man [DVD] (1956) Classic Italian neo-realist drama from writer/director/star Pietro Germi ("Divorce--Italian Style") follows a veteran railroad worker beset by family and personal problems. When trying to forget his sorrows in drink leads to a serious train accident, Fermi must cross a picket line to keep his job, further alienating him from his friends. Luisa Della Noce, Sylva Koscina co-star. AKA: "Il Ferroviere," "Man of Iron." The Seduction Of Mimi [DVD] (1972) Sicilian laborer Giancarlo Giannini is the hapless man in the middle of struggles both political (between the Mafia and the Communists) and romantic (between his wife and a leftist mistress) in director Lina Wertmuller's acclaimed mix of social satire and bedroom farce. With Mariangela Melato, Turi Ferro. The Sky Is Falling (Il Cielo Cade) [DVD] (2000) Set in Italy during the throes of World War II, this powerful and moving drama focuses on two young sisters who go to live with their aunt (Isabella Rossellini) and her husband (Jeroen Krabbe), a German Jewish intellectual, after their parents are killed in a car accident. But just as the girls become accustomed to their new home, the arrival of the German army threatens to bring it all crashing down around them. With Veronica Niccolai, Lara Campoli. AKA: "The Sky Will Fall." The Son's Room [DVD] (2001) This critically acclaimed family drama from director Nanni Moretti ("Caro Diario") won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. The film looks at how a close-knit Italian family of a psychoanalyst (Moretti) is affected by a teenage son's death in a scuba-diving accident, and how the doctor, his wife and their daughter seek an outlet for their anger and grief. Laura Morante, Jasmine Trinca also star. The Star Maker [DVD] (1995) Affecting story from "Cinema Paradiso" director Giuseppe Tornatore about a con man from Rome who, posing as a Hollywood talent scout, travels with a movie camera to impoverished villages in 1950s Sicily, promising stardom--for a fee--to gullible townspeople. Sergio Castellitto and Tiziana Lodato star. AKA: "The Star Man." The Tenth Victim [DVD] (1965) Stylishly strange Italian look at a future where murder is not only legal, it's chic. Ursula Andress is the jet-setter out for fame and acceptance with her killer bra; Marcello Mastroianni is the reluctant title character. With Elsa Martinelli. The Tree Of Wooden Clogs [DVD] (1978) Ermanno Olmi's heartfelt look at peasant life in Lombardy, Italy, at the turn of the 20th century won the Golden Palm Award at Cannes. The story concerns the various generations of four families working as sharecroppers on an estate. Filled with moving moments and fascinating acting from non-professionals; Luigi Ornaghi, Francesca Moriggi star. The Way We Laughed [DVD] (1998) Affecting Italian drama chronicles six years in the lives of two Sicilian brothers who leave their home for the Northern Italian town of Turin. As the younger Pietro drifts aimlessly through life, wasting time and avoiding school, steadfast Giovanni struggles to provide a secure future for his wayward sibling. Enrico Lo Verso, Francesco Giuffrida, Rosaria Danze star. The White Sheik [DVD] (1952) The first solo turn as director for Federico Fellini is a wonderful romp that follows the misadventures of two mismatched newlyweds: the sensual wife who runs off to meet her favorite "photo strip" hero on a location shoot, and the stodgy husband who must cover for her indiscretions. Alberto Sordi, Brunella Bovo, Leopoldo Trieste star. The Wide Blue Road [DVD] (1957) Neo-realist drama and class struggle allegory mix in director Gillo Pontecorvo's debut feature, set in a small village on Italy's Adriatic coast. Fisherman Yves Montand manages to support his family by going out with his sons to deep waters, away from his fellow fishermen, and illegally using dynamite to bring his catches to the surface. But when Montand's ability to dodge the law is endangered, fateful decisions lead to tragedy. Alida Valli, Francisco Rabal also star. Three Brothers [DVD] (1981) After their father notifies them of their mother's death, three diverse brothers living in different areas of Italy leave their chaotic lives behind to reunite in their small hometown for her funeral. It is there where they must finally confront their personal demons and reconcile the conflicts they've had with each other. Philippe Noiret, Michele Placido and Vittorio Mezzogiorno star; directed by Francesco Rosi. Tickets [DVD](2005) Directors Abbas Kiarostami, Ken Loach, and Ermanno Olmi each helm segments of this fascinating drama, chronicling the thematically interlocking stories of characters journeying by rail from Central Europe to Rome. Entirely set onboard the traveling train, the film follows an elderly and nostalgic businessman, an overbearing (and overweight) woman, and three Scottish soccer players, all destined to see their lives change before reaching their destination. Carlo Delle Piane, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Silvana De Santis star. Traveling Companion [DVD] (1996) Shattering Italian drama stars Asia Argento as a beautiful but unstable teen hired to look after a rich woman's senile father. Following the old man as he aimlessly travels throughout Italy, Argento learns about herself while encountering a variety of fascinating men and attempting to foil her brother's plot to kidnap her ward. Michel Piccoli, Lino Capolicchio co-star. Umberto D. [DVD] (1952) Director Vittorio De Sica's touching drama follows a retired Italian civil servant determined to retain his independence and dignity while subsisting on a meager pension. Carlo Battisti, Maria Pia Casilio star. 89 min. Standard; Soundtrack: Italian Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English; documentary; interview; more. Uno Bianca [DVD](2001) "Follow that white Fiat Uno!" Originally broadcast on Italian television, this two-part action thriller tells the hard-boiled story of two detectives hot on the trail of terrorists wreaking havoc along the Rimini coast, each time making their escape in the conspicuous vehicle. A suspenseful actioner based on factual events, the film stars Kim Rossi-Stuart, Dino Abbrescia, and Giorgio Crisafi. Verdi: The King Of Melody [DVD] (1953) Outstanding biodrama of the 19th-century Italian composer features performances of his finest works. Tito Gobbi, Mario Del Monaco and Orietta Moscucci perform arias from "Rigoletto," "La Traviata," "Il Trovatore," "Otello" and more. Pierre Cressoy stars as Verdi. 118 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English and Italian Dolby Digital stereo; biography; trivia; more. Variety Lights [DVD] (1951) Federico Fellini's first directorial effort (with Alberto Lattuada) has all the familiar emblems of his private mythology--a tawdry circus, provincial villages and an attraction for the grotesque. A talented dancer charms a rundown travelling show before moving on to classier arenas. Carla Del Poggio, Peppino De Filippo, Giulietta Masina star. Wife For A Night [DVD] (1952) Gina Lollobrigida is a dazzler in this Italian comedy that inspired Billy Wilder's "Kiss Me, Stupid." Set in the 18th century, the story tells of a poor musician (Armando Francioli) who tries to gain financing from a wealthy count (Gino Cervi) by offering his spouse (Lollobrigida) for his sexual enjoyment. The musician attempts to trick the count by having a prostitute pose as his wife, but his plans eventually go awry. AKA: "Bride for a Night." Without Conscience (Verso Nord) [DVD] (2004) The solitary life of 50-year-old Italian nurse Mauro (Maurizio Mattioli) takes a dramatic turn when he agrees to transport an illegal immigrant child to the Swiss border. Another passenger on the journey, handsome younger man Rollo (Valerio Foglia Manzillo), develops a surprising relationship with Mauro that impacts the ultimate fate of the child in their care. This touching drama from Italy also stars Claudio Bigagli and Ana Papadopulu. You Laugh (Tu Ridi) [DVD] (1998) Two stories by Pirandello are brought to the screen by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. An opera singer, forced to retire by a heart condition, is haunted by strange dreams that have him laughing boisterously in his sleep and keeping his wife awake. Then, a pair of kidnappings in Sicily a century apart have some bizarre similarities. Antonio Albanese, Elena Ghiaurov, Turi Ferro star. |
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