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Posted: |
Jan 20, 2023 - 10:19 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In WHERE THE HOT WIND BLOWS, Gina Lollobrigida plays “Marietta,” the gorgeous housekeeper to “Don Cesare” (Pierre Brasseur), the patriarch of a small Mediterranean coastal town. Lusted after by many men, including “Matteo Brigante” (Yves Montand), the son of a local crime boss, Marietta has her own desires, consisting of the poor “Enrico” (Marcello Mastroianni). Determined to secure the dowry that will enable her to marry Enrico, Marietta connives the men of the town by turning the tables on them using their own vicious drinking game which they call "The Law."
Marcello Mastroianni and Gina Lollobrigida in WHERE THE HOT WIND BLOWS
Jules Dassin directed the 1959 comedy-drama. Jacques Deray, who was assistant director on the set, said that co-star Melina Mercouri could not bear Gina Lollobrigida. But this did not present much of a problem, since they had no scenes together. MGM released an edited and English-dubbed version of the film in the U.S. in 1960. The dialogue for many of the actors was dubbed from various languages into English, including that of Gina Lollobrigida, who dubbed her own voice into English.
Roman Vlad’s score was released on one side of an Everest Records LP. (The other side contained Rene Cloerec’s score to the Bridgette Bardot film LOVE IS MY PROFESSION.) The LP has not had a CD re-issue. The film grossed $2.1 million in the U.S., resulting in a small loss for MGM.
In 1962, the film was re-released to American art house theaters in an uncut, subtitled version under its original Italian title THE LAW (La Legge). The re-release drew on the increased attention for Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni and Greek actress Melina Mercouri. Mercouri had recently gained international attention for 1960’s NEVER ON SUNDAY, which Dassin wrote, directed and co-starred in with Mercouri. The National Catholic Legion of Decency, which had originally rated WHERE THE HOT WIND BLOWS as "B—morally objectionable," changed the rating to "C—condemned" for the unedited re-release.
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Posted: |
Jan 21, 2023 - 11:17 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In GO NAKED IN THE WORLD, “Nick Stratton” (Tony Franciosa), the son of a successful Greek emigrant, is torn between the expectations of his father (Ernest Borgnine) and his passionate love affair with a beautiful prostitute (Gina Lollobrigida).
In late 1958, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer optioned screen rights to Tom T. Chamales’s not-yet-published novel, “The Rent in His Hand.” Months later, it was announced that the studio’s new policy was to decide the titles of optioned works that were still in galley form, if the author’s working title was deemed unsuitable “for subsequent promotion.” In accordance with the new policy, Metro changed the title of Chamales’s novel to the more exploitable “Go Naked in the World.” Scribner published the book under that name in late September 1959.
Gina Lollobrigida in GO NAKED IN THE WORLD
Ranald MacDougall wrote and directed the 1961 film, which has an unreleased score by Adolph Deutsch. Location shooting took place in San Francisco, Acapulco, and Mexico City. Principal photography ended on 3 June 1960. The following month, re-shoots were conducted on the MGM studio lot in Los Angeles, beginning on 19 July 1960. Gina Lollobrigida’s double, Martha Reynolds, stood in for the actress for re-shoots in Mexico City.
Le Monde gave the film a scathing review, which read, "There is nothing to write about this inept film, which […] has Gina Lollobrigida as its main performer. We can regret that this actress has thus lost, under the makeup and tics of Hollywood, her personality to the point of resembling any star in an illustrated magazine. Only commercial reasons could have drawn her into this enterprise, the foolishness of which is matched only by its vulgarity.”
The film grossed just $1.8 million in the U.S., and reportedly lost nearly $1.5 million for MGM. Adolph Deutsch’s score has not had a release.
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Posted: |
Jan 22, 2023 - 12:25 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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For the past six years, COME SEPTEMBER, American millionaire “Robert Talbot” (Rock Hudson) spends the month with his one-month-a-year mistress, “Lisa Fellini” (Gina Lollobrigida), at his villa in Portofino, Italy. This year he arrives unannounced in July, however, and discovers that his major-domo, “Maurice Clavell” (Walter Slezak), has been making a tidy profit eleven months of the year by converting the villa into an elegant hotel—La Dolce Vista. Outraged, Robert demands that the guests—six American teenaged girls and a chaperone—leave immediately. Before the eviction can be accomplished, however, the chaperone slips on a champagne cork and injures her back; and Robert is stuck with his "guests."
Gina Lollobrigida in COME SEPTEMBER
Robert Mulligan directed the 1961 comedy. Gina Lollobrigida was initially reluctant to appear in the film because she was not enthusiastic about returning to Italy, where the film was shot. In an interview, she explained her accepting the role because it allowed her to work with Rock Hudson and stated: "It's a comedy that can only be made in Italy." Lollobrigida received a Golden Globe Award as World Film Favorite – Female at the 1962 ceremonies.
In mid-July 1961, Trans World Airlines (TWA) launched its new program of in-flight film screenings. The “world premiere” of COME SEPTEMBER occurred on 23 July 1961 on a five-hour round-trip flight from Los Angeles, CA, to Seattle, WA, and back. The film was shown twice (once in each direction), guests were fed dinner, and returned to Los Angeles at the end of the evening. The film was released commercially in mid-August 1961.
Hans J. Salter’s score for the film has not been released, although two songs composed and sung by co-star Bobby Darin were released outside the U.S. COME SEPTEMBER was the #9 film at the U.S. box office in 1961, grossing $18.6 million.
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Posted: |
Jan 22, 2023 - 2:07 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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Working for the second time with director Jean Delannoy (THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE-DAME), Gina Lollobrigida stayed in Europe to appear with Stephen Boyd in the costume drama IMPERIAL VENUS. The film was a loose biopic relating the adult life of Paolina (Paulette), the sister of Napoleon Bonaparte (Raymond Pellegrin). She is portrayed by Lollobrigida as a willful, yet impulsive woman, through her marriages and scandals, through the heights and depths of Napoleon's life. More than a little promiscuous, Paulette seeks out a steady stream of affairs with other men, usually military officers. The man she finds herself attracted to early in the film is the charming and gentle “Colonel Jules de Canouville” (Boyd).
Gina Lollobrigida received a David di Donatello Award (Italian “Oscar”) as Best Actress. She also received the Nastro d'Argento (Silver Ribbon) award from Sindacato Nazionale dei Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani, the association of Italian film critics.
Angelo Francesco Lavagnino’s score for the 1962 film was released on a CAM LP, which they re-issued on CD in 1991. Digitmovies released the complete score on a two-CD set in 2012. IMPERIAL VENUS did not get a U.S. theatrical release until 1972.
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Posted: |
Jan 22, 2023 - 11:41 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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In the suspense drama WOMAN OF STRAW, tyrannical, but ailing, tycoon “Charles Richmond” (Ralph Richardson) becomes very fond of his attractive Italian nurse, “Maria” (Gina Lollobrigida). The nurse, in turn, falls in love with Charles' ne'er-do-well nephew “Anthony” (Sean Connery), who plots ways to gain control of his uncle's fortune.
Gina Lollobrigida and Sean Connery in WOMAN OF STRAW
Sean Connery was greatly impressed by Ralph Richardson, whom he later described as his favorite actor. On the other hand, Connery and Gina Lollobrigida did not get along during filming, and reportedly, Connery was annoyed at not receiving top billing for the movie.
Basil Dearden directed this 1964 release. Norman Percival scored the film. The main theme appeared on a couple of United Artists compilation LPs, but otherwise, the score remains unreleased.
WOMAN OF STRAW was a poor performer at the U.S. box office, with a gross of $2.9 million. In later years, Sean Connery expressed his disappointment at the film's critical and box office failure. The actor believed that the poor story let the film down.
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A real, classic film star has passed away. May she rest in peace.
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It takes a thread like this to realise- how much they did and what I have seen.
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Prince Damian should correct the spelling of Lollobrigida's name in the title of this thread.
He didn’t get his award for his spelling.
Just shows you how much I care. I didn't even notice. And anyway we all know who I was on about so ppff.
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Posted: |
Jan 23, 2023 - 12:04 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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Following the collaboration of writing partners Norman Panama and Melvin Frank on United Artists’ THE ROAD TO HONG KONG (1962), it was announced that the duo had agreed to develop a new story, STRANGE BEDFELLOWS, as part of a recent four-picture deal with the studio. By the following year, however, the project had moved to Universal Pictures. Although Panama and Frank first approached Cary Grant to play the leading role, Universal sanctioned the re-teaming of Rock Hudson and Gina Lollabrigida, who previously co-starred in COME SEPTEMBER.
In STRANGE BEDFELLOWS, “Carter Harrison” (Hudson) meets “Toni Vincente” (Lollobrigida) and impulsively marries her, only to find that they disagree on everything. They separate, and seven years later, on the eve before their divorce, they meet again and spend the night together.
Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida in STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
Norman Panama returned to his home in London after the early preparatory stages of the film, leaving Melvin Frank to continue as the solo producer-director. STRANGE BEDFELLOWS was the first motion picture to shoot on the Universal backlot’s “European street” after a $250,000 renovation, and the façade was decorated to resemble London’s Soho district. The production was shot in California to save money, avoid poor weather, and accommodate Hudson’s request to work stateside.
The picture premiered 10 February 1965 at Florida States theaters in the Miami area, preceded by an extensive promotional event with Gina Lollobrigida. The $3 million production wasn’t nearly as successful as the earlier Hudson-Lollobrigida pairing had been, grossing just $7.4 million domestically. Leigh Harline’s score for the film has not had a release.
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( smiley face to make sure youn don’t take it the wrong way