Lucio De Caro's Manu il Contrabbandiere is a French/Italian co-production from 1948, notable for being shot twice - once in French and once in Italian. The French version, with the title, Les Dessous Des Cartes, is credited to Andrè Cayatte. The cast changes from one version to another although most of the key players remain … Continue reading Manu the Smuggler/Manu il Contrabbandiere (1948)
Author: onemanandhisdroid303
Smugglers of the Seas/I Contrabbandieri del Mare (1948)
In a small seaside village near Naples they survive not just by fishing, but also by smuggling. Communal fishing motorboats with very powerful engines move in alongside the large ships and collect the precious merchandise thrown into the sea. The coastguard gives merciless chase. Amongst these duty-bound officers is brigadier Carlo who is the most … Continue reading Smugglers of the Seas/I Contrabbandieri del Mare (1948)
Gangland/Malavita (1951)
A native of Padua, Rate Furlan graduated in law, then received his diploma at St Peter's Conservatory in Majella and attended the Centro Sperimentale Dramatic Arts Academy in Rome. He began his artistic career as an opera director and entered the film industry in 1948, as the screenwriter and artistic director on the feature film … Continue reading Gangland/Malavita (1951)
White Menace/Lebbra Bianca (1951)
When his sister stops writing to him, Stefano travels to Rome to investigate. Soon after his arrival he befriends Erica, a young woman who claims to know his sister and can explain her disappearance. However, it's not long before Stefano is dragged into the seedy Rome nightlife and gets mixed up with a gang … Continue reading White Menace/Lebbra Bianca (1951)
Murder at the Fun Fair/Delitto al Luna Park (1952)
Silvia, a singer and dancer, is a member of an overworked company that puts on shows in a theme park. She welcomes the advances of a young musician called Roberto but one day, following an accident, Silvia meets a certain Massimi, an understanding sort who, upon hearing her sing, convinces her to swap the theme … Continue reading Murder at the Fun Fair/Delitto al Luna Park (1952)
Redemption/Riscatto (1953)
Folco Lulli plays the troubled Maremmano (lit. 'sheep dog' which actually has some 'bite' in Italian but sounds thoroughly flat in English), a seemingly petty criminal who has spent most of his life in and out of jail. Stubborn to the last, his crisis of conscience finally comes when he's placed in a cell with two … Continue reading Redemption/Riscatto (1953)
Your Woman/La Tua Donna (1955)
WIP
Francois the Smuggler/Francois il Contrabbandiere (1953)
An early crime thriller from 1953 starring Roberto Mauri, a veteran director who appears to have started his career as a modestly successful actor. Here he plays the title character, Francois, a smuggler who returns to his home port after a long spell in hiding with his faithful sidekick Johnny. Due Fogli Poster
Love or Something Like It/Amore o Qualchecosa del Genere (1968)
A romantic drama about a German poet who wins a two-week stay in a luxury hotel. Enlisting her old flame from the previous summer she attempts to rekindle the inspiration to write more poetry... A very low-budget drama which no doubt passed in a flash at the cinemas. Like Later, Claire, Later... although this film … Continue reading Love or Something Like It/Amore o Qualchecosa del Genere (1968)
Jailbirds/Avanzi di Galera (1955)
Released in 1955, director Vittorio Cottafavi's tales of life after prison is structured as an anthology with three self-contained stories, each one describing the trials and tribulations of a recently discharged prisoner - the jailbirds of the title. The second episode is probably most notable for its plot which bears some similarity to Fernando Di … Continue reading Jailbirds/Avanzi di Galera (1955)
One Man and His Droid 
You must be logged in to post a comment.