The black orchid (film)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The black orchid |
| Original title | The Black Orchid |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1958 |
| length | 95 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Martin Ritt |
| script | Joseph Stefano |
| production |
Marcello Girosi , Carlo Ponti |
| music | Alessandro Cicognini |
| camera | Robert Burks |
| cut | Howard A. Smith |
| occupation | |
| |
The black orchid (original title: The Black Orchid ) is an American drama directed by Martin Ritt from 1958. The film premiered that same year at the Venice International Film Festival . The general theatrical release in the USA did not take place until February 12, 1959. In Germany, the film was released on March 24, 1959.
action
The widow Rose Bianco, whose husband Tony was killed by gang accomplices, suffers from the fact that her son Ralph has become a criminal. He was sent to a labor camp to break into parking meters. Rose, who struggles with making artificial flowers, is bitter.
Frank Valente is a widower and the father of Mary, who will soon marry her fiancé Noble and move with him to Atlantic City. He is a family friend of Giulia Gallo, a neighbor of Rose. Frank falls in love with Rose, whose mourning clothes remind him of black orchids. But Rose blocks every conversation with him. Nevertheless, she allows him to accompany her on a visit to the work camp. There she made serious allegations to Ralph. He blames her for his father's death and for his unfortunate situation. At the same time she is warned by the warden Harmon that Ralph, if he tries to escape again, will be sent to a special boarding school.
The next weekend, Frank meets with Rose. He tells her that his wife became mentally ill after Mary was born and later died. He now wants to buy a house in Somerville, where he has his business. Frank proposes to Rose, which she accepts to his amazement. His daughter Mary, however, wants to prevent her father from marrying a gangster's widow. But Frank is determined to marry Rose. The next time he visits the work camp, Frank tells Ralph about his plans. Ralph is very pleased, especially when he learns that he should live with them.
Mary and her husband want to move in with Frank to prevent his wedding to Rose. The disgruntled noble sends her home, where she sees Frank and Rose kissing passionately. She locks herself in her room like her mother did after she was born. Rose breaks the engagement so Frank can live with Mary. She is then informed that Ralph has escaped from the labor camp.
Frank goes to church on Sunday and prays for Mary and Ralph. Ralph enters church during mass and learns that it wasn't his mother's problems that led to the betrothal. At the same time, Rose, who admits that her greed for money made her husband a gangster, seeks out Mary and asks her to give her permission to live with Frank. Mary finally gives in and invites her to stay for coffee. Returning Frank is surprised to see Mary and Rose together. He tells Rose that he took Ralph back to work camp and spoke to Harmon, who is not sending Ralph to boarding school. When Mary's fiancé Noble also appears, the two couples sit down for breakfast. Later, Frank and Rose pick up Ralph from work camp to start their new life together.
background
Hal Pereira and Sam Comer were responsible for the film equipment, Edith Head for the costumes. John P. Fulton took care of the special effects.
At the time of filming, Sophia Loren was 23 years old, just ten years older than Jimmy Baird, who played her son. She had been married to producer Carlo Ponti for a year at the time. For Ina Balin it was her debut on the big screen. It was also a premiere for producer Ponti; the film was the first Hollywood work he co-produced.
Reviews
The lexicon of international films found that the film was "a bit cumbersome and staged with a loud Italian temperament, with interesting insights into the petty-bourgeois life of Italian-Americans." The lexicon also meant that "the psychological and dramaturgical deficiencies [...] would be somewhat concealed by the acting performances of Anthony Quinn and Sophia Loren". The film magazine Cinema described the film as "an authentic portrait of Italian immigrants in New York".
The magazine Variety praised Ritt's “honest directorial work”, who staged the “cumbersome story” with a “gentle, authoritarian hand”.
Awards
At the Venice International Film Festival in 1958, Sophia Loren won the Coppa Volpi for best actress. Director Martin Ritt was nominated for the Golden Lion .
Web links
- The black orchid in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ The black orchid. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed June 12, 2019 .
- ↑ See cinema.de
- ↑ See The Black Orchid . In: Variety , 1959.