The Italian Americans

Starring:Italian Americans
Studio: Acorn Media
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
Simmers with the vital ingredients of family, tradition, and amorethe essence of the Italian-American experience. Vintage film footage, family photos, and warm remembrances from celebrities, business leaders, politicians, educators, and many others, tell the stories of the Italian immigrant experience. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll rejoice at the universal connections all Italian families share.

Includes these programs:

The Italian AmericansActors Joe Mantegna, Stanley Tucci, and Kaye Ballard; author Gay Talese; comedian Pat Cooper; Mary Ann Esposito of television's Ciao Italia; baseball's Tommy Lasorda; and former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro describe the essence of the Italian-American experience.

The Italian Americans II: A Beautiful SongA tribute to the icons of the culture, from Dante to Sinatra, featuring actors Danny Aiello, Dom DeLuise, Susan Lucci, Alan Alda, and Paul Sorvino; New York Yankees manager Joe Torre; comedian Joy Behar; and Nick Stellino of public television's Cucina Amore.

The Italian Passion for LifeThat special Italian flair celebrated by opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, actor Dennis Farina, NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde, television personality Regis Philbin, crooner Vic Damone, and many more.

With more than an hour of bonus footage not seen on public television!

Average customer rating:

Painful
A great film
A nice romantic comedy, in which a sexy Queen captures the 'King of Hollywood.'
Sophia Luminous in sweet romance
Must-see for any American interested in Italy

It Started in Naples
Starring: Clark Gable , Sophia Loren , Vittorio De Sica , Marietto , and Paolo Carlini
Director: Melville Shavelson
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006FO8M0
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Amazon.com

A minor entry in the fabled careers of Clark Gable and Sophia Loren, It Started in Naples is slight, but enjoyable fluff. As the title indicates, the story begins in Naples, although the action takes place on the Isle of Capri. Michael (Gable in his penultimate performance) is a lawyer recently arrived from Philadelphia to put his late brother's affairs in order. The result of one of those "affairs" is a street urchin named Nando (Marietto), whose mother is also deceased. Her nightclub singer sister, Julia (Loren), is his lax, if loving caretaker. Straight-laced Michael, who is engaged, believes Nando would be better off in the States. So he takes the matter to court, where he is represented by the dapper Mario (Vittorio De Sica, who directed Loren to an Oscar in Two Women). The conclusion to this harmless bit of escapism is almost as charming as it is inevitable. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

IT STARTED IN NAPLES tells the story of an American lawyer who travels to Naples to settle the estate of his recently deceased expatriate brother. When he arrives, he discovers that his sister-in-law was also killed in the accident, leaving their son Marrietto in the guardianship of an aunt he hardly knows. The mutual suspicion of the two towards one another eventually turns to attraction.

Customer Reviews:

Painful.......2007-06-05

That's the best way I can describe watching this movie and the characters, from Gable to the "cute" little boy. Didn't make it all the way through. Thankfully I only rented and didn't buy.

A great film.......2007-03-15

More subtle than given credit for, this film was made at a time when a few American films were choosing to not pander to their audiences. It's a sophisticated comedy with characters that actually have depth- even the little boy involved. The interplay of cultures is done well, and there qere quite a few laugh-out-loud moments for me.

beautiful transfer, love the location work. And, despite what other reviewers have written, Gable is totally believable as the romantic lead due to particular circumstances and particularities to the characters.

A nice romantic comedy, in which a sexy Queen captures the 'King of Hollywood.'.......2007-01-02

Philadelphia lawyer Michael Hamilton (Clark Gable) arrives in Naples to settle the estate of his philandering brother...

He learns that his brother had taken a common-law wife who died with him in an automobile accident, leaving a ten-year-old lovechild named Nando...

Nando (Marietto) is looked after by his attractive aunt Lucia (Sophia Loren), a dazzling night-club dancer on Capri, who dreams of someday becoming a movie star...

Almost immediately, Mike and Lucia clash over the boy's upbringing...

Lucia wants to keep the lad and let him live as he chooses... The street urchin stays up half the night in the club, smokes cigarettes and indulges in trivial theft... Mike is aghast, and insists he be giving a proper formal and social education...

The matter is put to the court, but during the struggle for Marietto's affections, the couple fall in love and fight a lot when Hamilton makes it clear that marriage is out...

Photographed in Capri, the Island of Dreams, the pearl of the Mediterranean sea, the film is a nice romantic comedy in which a sexy Queen captures the 'King of Hollywood.'

Gable delivers one of the most memorable lines of the movie when he asks, at night, a waiter: 'How are people supposed to sleep on this island?'

Sophia Luminous in sweet romance.......2006-11-02

Aah Sophia... one of the greatest beauties of our time, and talented too, loved her singing and dancing in this sweet little romantic comedy set in beautiful Naples and the Isle of Capri. The plot concerns Gable arriving in Naples to sort out his late brother's affairs and bumping into a little boy who turns out to be his nephew...and is now being raised by his Aunt Loren. Gable wants to take the boy back to USA as he dissaproves of the care free way in which he is being raised...after initially fighting Gable and Loren fall in love and alls well that ends well. Its lighthearted and fun and good to watch Sophia Loren at the beginning or her remarkable career and Gable towards the end of his.

Must-see for any American interested in Italy.......2006-04-11

I am so glad to find this on DVD, because my VHS is getting worn out from all the times I watch this! It's one of those movies that puts a smile on your face. I go to Italy almost every year and it amazes me how much of the same comical misunderstanding between our 2 cultures still exists, although fortunately no one takes it very seriously. Yes, Clark Gable was too old to be very convincing as a romatic lead opposite gorgeous Sophia Loren, but he still does the self-important, workaholic "ugly American" role perfectly with great comic results, although he is still upstaged by the adorable Marietto & the great director Vittorio DeSica, a great comic actor in his own right. Of course, they are all upstaged by the island of Capri, shown off by that vibrant 1950s cinematographic style. All in all, a good inter-cultural lesson wrapped up in a thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy.

Average customer rating:

NOT one of those hardcore Merchant Ivory fans with a lovelust for any and all English boys
The almost invisible fracture that flaws relationships...
Excellent Adaptation ~ Nick Nolte is Superb!
Major Disappointment
Passionate but on the annoying side...

The Golden Bowl
Starring: Kate Beckinsale , James Fox , Anjelica Huston , Nick Nolte , and Jeremy Northam
Director: James Ivory
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005OBAL
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Amazon.com

Based on the Henry James novel, The Golden Bowl earns a regal place in the long line of lavish Ismail Merchant and James Ivory productions casting spectacular mise en scène in the lead role. The crumbling Italian palazzo that opens the film and the magnificent English country houses that encase the unfolding drama play, as always, an intrinsic part in the ruptured psyche of whatever gentry Merchant and Ivory have elected to pursue. In this case, divided attention is paid to erstwhile glories and turn-of-the-century ambitions. Impoverished Italian prince Amerigo (Jeremy Northam) is to marry heiress Maggie Verver (Kate Beckinsale), school friend of Charlotte (Uma Thurman), who in turn weds American industrialist and art collector Adam Verver (Nick Nolte), Maggie's father. Amerigo and Charlotte, having previously been lovers, are helpless to resist an adulterous affair. A study of life's covetous designs failing to imitate the perceived perfections of art, The Golden Bowl is likewise flawed but alluring. --Fionn Meade

Customer Reviews:

NOT one of those hardcore Merchant Ivory fans with a lovelust for any and all English boys.......2006-08-10

I like this movie. I watch it almost every time I find it playing on cable for Kate Beckinsale doing her lethal American impression, definitely MORE devastating than her impersonation in Last Days of Disco. Maybe she's gotten too clever for me to comprehend what the heck is going on when she does Americans nowadays so this movie must remain the strongest draw for my admiration of her. This movie is gorgeous to look at in it's material sumptuousness and entertaining in its American getting their wayness. I've never read Henry James but have watched a number of early Merchant-Ivory films, none of which made an impression on me. They were pleasant and pretty in an eggshell blue way. This movie is gold and coral and stone. I was very sad to hear that Mr. Merchant had passed because I finally liked one of his and James Ivory's films. I wanted to see if follow up films would as enjoyable as The Golden Bowl. Maybe this is the Merchant Ivory movie I like because none of the main characters are English although two of the actors are English.

The almost invisible fracture that flaws relationships..........2006-05-28

I'm amazed this film has drawn so many - and so varied - responses! Anyone deciding on whether or not to purchase the DVD may well end up confused. Is this a good film? Is Uma Thurman the only weak point? Is Kate Beckinsale boring? Is everyone irritating except for the character of Charlotte? And so on and so on and so on...

I found the acting of everyone in the film splendid. I was convinced by each character. I didn't LIKE each character, but I was convinced by the actors.

Jeremy Northam's character, a cash-poor Italian minor prince, is a deeply flawed man whose former romance with Charlotte (Uma Thurman) is brought to an unsympathetic end by his decision to wed Maggie, a sweet and practical American heiress (Kate Beckinsale) for her money. He doesn't seem to be in love with either Charlotte or Maggie at this point, but he is certainly intent on ending his former relationship and starting off his marriage with good intentions. Charlotte is clearly deeply upset - she appears to have been far more emotionally invested in the relationship than he.

Charlotte, who weds Maggie's father in a hell-bent way (clearly intent on retaining her presence in the prince's life), then manipulates events so that she's alone with her former lover, and invites him to resume their intimate relationship. She thinks she's in love; one cannot say the same for Northam's character, who appears to be attracted, yes, but not in love. There's also a dynamic created by his feeling left out by his wife's close relationsihp with her father. A man who feels neglected is certainly vulnerable to other influences... which isn't to excuse him, but to give some idea of the influences in his life. Once the affair's underway, it gains momentum and the pair seem to risk disclosure without caring too deeply.

As this deeply flawed man who ends up learning the real value of his wife and feeling appalled by the pain he caused her, Jeremy Northam is simply superb. This would be an easy character to overplay or underplay - but Mr Northam gets it exactly right.

As Charlotte, Uma Thurman is surprisingly good. I've often seen her in sub-standard films (the appalling film Pay Check comes to mind), but this is a magnificent role for her. Again, it's perfectly placed. The audience feels both sympathy for her and dislike for the things she does.

Kate Beckinsale is wonderful as Maggie. For most of the film, we, the audience, have no idea what Maggie knows or suspects, and we can even become a little exasperated by her apparent ignorance and that seeming insensitivity. She seems like a perfectly nice young woman whom we want to shake awake - until the moment when she realises incontrovertibly what has been happening. The title of the film, "Golden Bowl", becomes the metaphor for human relationships - specifically, marriage. And Maggie's agony when she realises there is a terrible flaw in her marriage, that the love and trust she has felt have been abused, is so real and true that it hits one in the face.

Nick Nolte as Maggie's father is also wonderful. His quality of toughness is nicely contrasted by the dignity that is evidence in both him and his daughter. One can see the terrific bond between the two, and the way in which Charlotte, although not obviously punished for seducing her daughter-in-law's husband, is not going to be able to sway her husband when he decides to move away from the lifestyle she loves, in order to protect his daughter's marriage.

The cross-currents of human emotion are truly wonderfully portrayed in this film. In that sense, it certainly maintains much of the original novel. Whether one's familiar with Henry James's novel or not, this is a very rewarding film, beautifully acted, and the scenery is stunning. Everyone looks fabulous, too - it's a shimmering treat to watch - but for me, the high standard of acting is what makes this film so interesting.

The tensions of betrayal, desire, beauty, trust, love, dependency, selfishness and forgiveness are beautifully worked in the film.

Excellent Adaptation ~ Nick Nolte is Superb!.......2006-03-24

Rather than repeat the plot that is well summarized elsewhere, I'll simply say that I found this to be an excellent adaptation of a complex work by Henry James with strong performances turned in by Nick Nolte and Uma Thurman. The scenery is typical Merchant/Ivory: beautiful costumes and vivid location shots with dramatic and precise period settings. As another reviewer has stated on another site, "This is not 'entertainment' for the simple-minded, but a feast for those whose consciousness demands serious visual/literary engagement. Truly, the term 'masterpiece' applies here." The score by Richard Robbins is also superb and provides the essential audio backdrop that weaves the scenes of the movie together.

If anything detracts from the effort it is the exceedingly bland performance by Kate Beckinsdale as Adam Verver's daughter, Maggie. She lacked the sweetness and vulnerability as well as dedication that characterizes Maggie. In contrast Beckinsdale just made her look somewhat silly and clueless. I couldn't help thinking that someone such as a younger Linda Hamilton would have been better suited to the role and would have turned in a far more intelligent performance.

In addition, while Jeremy Northam does a fair impression of an impoverished rake of an Italian Prince, there is something lacking in his performance. He doesn't quite make the transition from passionate lover to dedicated husband/father and back again. If not for these two minor detractions, I would have given the film 5 stars. Fortunately, the strong performances of the other actors more than make up for any of the problems noted above.

For me, Nolte's performance is the best! His portrayal of an American billionaire who dotes on his daughter is understated and believable. All the while there is a sense in his performance of the qualities that made Adam Verver so wealthy: determination, an observant and keen eye, intelligence, strength and an underlying danger. The performances of Thurman, Fox and Huston are also excellent and along with Nolte's Verver form the core of the film.

I highly recommend this film to all.

Major Disappointment.......2006-01-17

As a student of the Merchant Ivory films (Howard's End, Room with a View, Maurice, Remains of the Day, and Mr & Mrs Bridge)I found Golden Bowl to be all glitter but no gold. The acting, plot and casting were all single-star ratings. James Ivory must have just given up his artist standards.

Passionate but on the annoying side..........2005-11-20

Note: If you don't want to know some things about the story you may want to skip my review. It may tell more than you would like to know if you plan to watch it.

This was a well filmed movie. The characters were alive. The actors were wonderful. The scenary was plush and captivating. The story draws you in... but in a very hypocritcal and contradictory fashion.

If the goal was to get you to dislike adultery and have sympathy for wonderful people such as Maggie (Kate Beckinsale) and her father (Nick Nolte)... who were done wrong, then it was written completely wrong.

The story is shown in the beginning from Charlotte (Uma Thurman) and Amerigo's (Jeremy Northam) viewpoint... so right away you have sympathy for Charlotte who is in love with Amerigo, in which her great friend Maggie is going to marry.

Charlotte becomes a character you sympathize with greatly... and in fact you understand the drive behind all of her actions. She met the man, and fell in love with him before her friend even knew him.

I couldn't help but like Charlotte through the entire movie. I found Maggie and her father--people who I would generally like and have respect for, to be very irritating and do-gooders to a point of irritation.

If they weren't father and daughter you'd swear off they too had feelings with for one another. They were so close, it was actually quite unhealthy. I understand closeness... but their relationship... bordered dependency.

As well, I can't say they didn't contribute to some of the actions on the part of Charlotte and Amerigo having an affair. They weren't to blame for it but I think they did indirectly cause some of the problems and their own unhappiness.

You can't just neglect a relationship and expect it to be wonderful when you are good and ready to return to it. It takes sacrifice... and they weren't offering the right sort in order to receive what they wanted out of their relationships.

As for Amerigo. I had no sympathy for him. He was kind, in his own right, made admirable sacrifices, but he was selfish. He spent time taking too much of what he wanted and when it finally caught up with him... he really didn't have to deal with the consequences.

He got off easy while Charlotte took the burden of being a woman in love. That is a very similar outcome to reality and what most women have to deal with.

In that aspect, it really sucked to watch this caring woman be treated and abused by this selfish man who didn't say no until it benefitted him later.

Yeah, there were things I didn't agree with about Charlotte. Selfish things about her too. But at least you could see where she was coming from. That it wasn't her goal to be a bad person. She was just viewed as one because of her actions. But at least you could understand why she was doing what she was doing. She was in love.

She met him first and and loved him first. And begged him not to marry Maggie before he ever did. She was completely relatable.

I could not relate to Amerigo or Maggie's father much. I could relate to Maggie a bit, but not enough without her neurotic notions getting in the way. The woman worried to the point of being annoying.

In the end it left Charlotte. She was outcasted in a manner and treated subtley as if it was all of her fault. Which I immensely disagreed with.

If you ask me, Amerigo was way to blessed for his own good and he should've shared more of the consequences. In the end I couldn't label him as anything else but a jerk.

Generally I would tell anyone who wanted to see this movie to avoid it... simply because it was irritating and the characters weren't really all that enjoyable to know and witness.

Every single one of them were to blame for the consequences in their own way and that includes Angelica Houston's dislikable character who introduced Maggie and Amerigo, knowing full well about Charlotte beforehand.

All of them got on my nerves... except the very person they wanted to blame everything on. Charlotte.

Puccini - Madame Butterfly / Huang, Troxell

Average customer rating:

Madam Butterfly -- the movie
A SHAME I COULDN'T GIVE IT FIVE STARS
Two reservations
A long time coming.
Amagnificent film

Puccini - Madame Butterfly / Huang, Troxell
Starring: Ying Huang , Richard Troxell , Ning Liang , Richard Cowan (II) , and Jing Ma Fan
Director: Frédéric Mitterrand
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Leoncavallo - I Pagliacci / Mascagni - Cavalleria Rusticana / Domingo, Stratas, Pons, Bruson, Obraztsova, Pretre

ASIN: B00005UVDM
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Amazon.com

Like the finest of film scores with its fluid beauty and succession of intensely romantic tunes, Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly has a surprisingly cinematic feel. In 1995 director Frederic Mitterand exploited this quality of the story, exposing a young woman's disillusionment against a backdrop of cultural chasms. Shot on location, with Tunisia doubling convincingly as a turn-of-the-century Nagasaki, this Butterfly shines with fragile beauty. The house becomes a brilliantly used set, at once airy and full of the scent of flowers and at the same time a cage for the trapped woman. Archive footage of bygone Nagasaki is used skillfully to underline the distance between the 15-year-old bride and Pinkerton.

Purists may prefer a more traditionally robust, stage-bound Butterfly, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a more visually heartbreaking interpretation. Chinese soprano Ying Huang doesn't rock the rafters with her vocal power; hers is a tender, delicately observed performance. Tenor Richard Troxell's self-seeking Pinkerton is well sung. Overall, this is a haunting cinematic treatment of an enduringly popular opera. --Piers Ford

Description

Madame Butterfly is the heartwrenching story of a beautiful young geisha who sacrifices her family, her religion and, ultimately, her life for her American husband. Butterfly is the young bride of Lieutenant Pinkerton, who buys Butterfly's love while stationed in Japan and with no intention of ever taking her home to America. Martin Scorsese presents this award-winning film based on the popular opera. 133 minutes. Cast:

Ying Huang: Cio-Cio-San
Richard Troxell: Pinkerton
Ning Liang: Suzuki
Richard Cowan: Sharpless
Jing Ma Fan: Goro
Christopheren Nòmura: Prince Yamadori
Constance Hauman: Kate Pinkerton

Customer Reviews:

Madam Butterfly -- the movie.......2007-05-13

The film rendition is beautiful, although visibly low budget. It is so difficult to translate the artificial settings of the opera to film, but this production succeeds very well. Cho cho San and Pinkerton are much more convincing in appearance than in most operatic productions, so I will probably be spoiled for any live productions in the future. The extra materials make it clear how their voices are so perfect throughout despite outdoor scenes and lots of wandering. Oh, the wonders of film! Yet, you are never aware of the lip-syncing.

My only criticism of this film is in the editing. It was unfortunate that in the interest of dramatic continuity some of the original music was edited out.

A SHAME I COULDN'T GIVE IT FIVE STARS.......2007-03-23

To me, this is the best presentation of Madame Butterfly. The singing is excellent and Miss Huang's portrayal of the tragic heroine is heart-breaking.The interior sets and outdoor photography are pleasing to see, and so are the costumes.What I didn't like has been said before. Why the director chose to have Butterfly's uncle crash the wedding celebration via the air like a character out of Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon is a great puzzlement to me. It jars the realism shown up to this point. The insertion of old Japanese martial film during the singing of the beautiful humming chorus is a terrible disservice to the music and the plot, not to mention the film's distraction to the viewer. Close your eyes at this point and concentrate on the lovely music. The omission of the orchestral interlude and bird songs from the waiting scene bothered me. One more small complaint. During the love duet at the end of the first act, the director has the singers sing facing front instead of to one another. This is practical in an opera house so the voices can be heard better, but in a film where the voices are recorded electronically, this is unnecessary. I would love to give this 5 stars, but I can't for the reasons cited.
But, Hey, 4 stars ain't chopped liver!

Two reservations.......2007-03-17

Ying Huang, especially, acts touchingly, but both she and Richard Troxell have, by operatic standards, disappointingly thin voices, although she modulates hers quite beautifully.

Unfortunately I stopped watching before the end after a gratuitous scene where a small bird in a tiny cage is tormented with a stick. I would like to think this was clever computer graphics, but I don't think so.

A long time coming........2007-01-19

This was the first time I experienced an Opera in full. I was fifteen (ten years ago...) and it has stuck with me ever since. It was, for me, the perfect choice for an introduction into this art. Other versions I own can be garish in both sight and sound. This production was melodic and made me into a lover of Opera. Very well done!

Amagnificent film.......2006-11-05

I agree with the previous reviewers that the only scene that stops me giving this a 5 star rating is the ludicrous appearance of the "wicked uncle" in the first Act. It is childish and totally inappropriate to a film that is otherwise so believable.

Average customer rating:

A Bullet for the General
Starring: Gian Maria Volonte , Klaus Kinski , Martine Beswick , and Lou Castel
Director: Damiano Damiani
Manufacturer: Blue Underground
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000LPQ6DO
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Description

At the height of the Mexican revolution, a mysterious young American ( Lou Castel of FIST IN HIS POCKET) joins a gang of marauders led by El Chucho ( Gian Maria Volonte of A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS) on a series of savage raids to steal guns for a powerful rebel general. But when the Gringo brings his own cold-blooded ideals to the bandits, El Chucho discovers that the real weapons of war belong to no army. In a land ravaged by poverty and violence, can true freedom be bought with a single bullet?

Description

In 1997, Oscar-winning documentarian Allan Miller (THE BOLERO, FROM MAO TO MOZART) embarked on a film project with renowned conductor Zubin Mehta and celebrated Chinese film director Zhang Yimou (RAISE THE RED LANTERN, HOUSE OF THE FLYING DAGGERS) as they joined forces in a production of Puccini's opera Turandot in Florence. Before the year was out, an extraordinary opportunity arose: to stage Turandot in its original setting in the Forbidden City of Beijing. The outdoor production was an undertaking on an epic scale-including the expansion of the site with the construction of huge new sets, the creation of breathtaking hand-sewn Ming Dynasty costumes and the adding of hundreds of soldiers and local extras, to lend a lavish authenticity to the staging. A fascinating chronicle of an unprecedented cross-cultural collaboration, THE TURANDOT PROJECT combines the pageantry of this opulent opera production with a spectacular cinematic portrait of the struggles and triumphs of Zubin Mehta and Zhang Yimou to mount their production in this most historic venue of China.

Customer Reviews:

I LIKE THIS MOVIE.......2004-03-07

I LOVE IT , I LIKE IT ,AS SAME AS MY GIRLFRIEND.

I DO NOT BELIEVE,THAT MOVIE HE MADE.......2004-03-07

ZHANG YIMOU ONE OF THE BEST DIRECTOR IN THE WORLD,I WERE VERY SUPERISE FROM HIM.THIS MOVIE YOU MUST TO SEE.

it is my favor.......2004-02-19

you have to see this movie ,that could make you cry.

Interesting Topic, Dull Documentary.......2003-06-10

There are so many facets to the events being described here that it's almost incredible how dull this documentary is. While they mention in passing that there are tensions between the Chinese government and the director of the opera, we never see any of that play out and it's never mentioned again. Similarly, we're told that this is a huge cultural event for China, to have such a lavish production of Turandot performed in Beijing, but we don't really see that reaction, aside from two or three very brief comments near the end.

Then there are the tensions amongst the people putting the production together. Again, these are casually brought up, but there's no follow-through.

Instead of following any of these potentially fascinating threads, the makers of the documentary instead show us footage of people walking through China, an opera singer complaining to someone we've never seen before that the hat she's supposed to wear looks stupid, etc. The whole documentary seems to lack any kind of focus.

Several weeks ago, I saw "Moon Over Broadway" which is a documentary about the making of a musical (starring Carol Burnett). While the staging of an opera in Beijing is much more potentially interesting to me than a musical with Carol Burnett, "Moon Over Broadway" was a far more successful documentary than "Turandot Project" because it actually managed to get behind the scenes and to develop some of its ideas. There was an actual story taking place and we got to know several of the people involved in the production and we were able to experience their frustrations and conflicts. By the end of "Turandot Project," by way of contrast, I felt like I had nothing invested in any of the people involved and had no real sense of who they were or why they were there or why this was important.

"Turandot Project" isn't really worth your time unless you're a huge opera fan and willing to sit through a lot of pointless footage that's been slapped together at random.

My mother's favorite Puccini.......2002-11-18

Although "Turandot" was always my mother's favorite Puccini opera and, as a result, I grew up listening to it, I never quite understood it as I understood the other "simpler" works like Butterfly and Tosca (my personal favorite). But when I saw "The Turandot Project" on the Sundance channel this morning, all of a sudden everything became clear and I rushed to the computer to find the DVD.

While the production itself is spectacular (300 extras, 50 ballet dancers, a contortionist from the Beijing Opera, and 300 soldiers from the local Chinese Army garrison), the documentary of what was involved in making the production actually happen is fascinating. I counted at least four languages (English, Italian, and Mandarin for most, but let's not forget the Viennese sound director with his own Mandarin/German translator) and a nearly unlimited number of egos.

At the end of the documentary, while we hear Puccini's gorgeous music, the film cuts between the the actual production and the earlier shots of the various problems and rehearsals. I swear, watching that, I got actual goosebumps.

Description

Oscar(r) nominee* Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas) delivers a deliciously disturbing, erotically charged thriller fueled by standout performances from his all-star cast: Saffron Burrows, Salma Hayek, Rhys Ifans, Lucy Liu, David Schwimmer and John Malkovich! A slick Hollywood film crew has just descended upon a mysterious, crumbling Venetian hotel to create a cinematic masterpiece. But, unbeknownst to them, there are malevolent forces at work in the hotel, and soon the production is beset by a series of strange incidents, dragging the guests on a terrifying journey into the dark catacombs of madness, desire...and death! *1995: Director and Adapted Screenplay, Leaving Las Vegas

Customer Reviews:

A tone poem called Hotel.......2007-07-09

This movie is simply one of the best films I've ever seen in my life. Yes, it is unconventional but not in some far out, puzzling way like Peter Greenaway's films. Every moment made perfect sense. It is incredibly erotic, funny, and fascinating. It moves like a poem, and I found myself rewinding several times just to watch a scene again and catch the phrasing. This is not Legally Blonde. Your brain will be engaged. Highlights are Salma Hayek's adorably bad singing, Rhys iffans acting like the director from hell, and the absolutely luminous acting of Saffron Burrow's who in my opinion is one of the finest and most underated actresses working today. If you are ever looking for a good film, just look at her filmography -- she has chosen very excellent and difficult films.

Not an Easily Digestible Film, but worth the effort........2007-07-07

I saw this film in the theater when it came out. When the DVD came out I was one of the first to get a copy. It's not an easy film to grasp, being a DOGMA type of film, but try watching it with the subtitles on soo that you catch all the dialogue, and then it will make more sense to you. I give it 5 stars.

Think WAY outside the box for this one.......2007-04-25

If you're an indie fan or like to explore uncharted cinematic territory, you will be entertained, puzzled and pensive during this film. With this movie, it's not the dialogue, the plot or any other typical production necessaries that pull the viewer into the chaos. Oddly placed comic moments, strange and intriguing situations, erotic overtones, bold subject presentation, and random progression held my attention. Not for the masses, Hotel provides a very unconventional ride. I know NO other film with which to compare this flick. Worth the watch. Just don't go in with expectations. It's weird, but has a pleasantly sinful aftertaste. (The meal at the very beginning with John Malcovich is priceless.)

Bad..........2006-06-20

Mike Figgis has previously directed two great movies. "Leaving Las Vegas"
and "The Loss of Sexual Innocence". Even though I browsed past the Amazon reviews and had seen that the movie was not well liked, I decided to risk it and watch it anyway. This is a bad movie. It's that simple...It is truly a piece of s*it. I can't say there is a good thing about it. And it's not just the cinematography that's bothersome. In fact, it was good of Figgis to use this kind of cinematography...Because, believe me. A movie like this would've been ten times worse had it been in your regular, run-of-the-mill cinematography. Now, even though I've just completely blasted this movie; I'm giving it two stars just because, for a while, it was fascinating. I hated the story, but my eyes were glued to the screen for most of it. But, the story is just so stupid, half the time doesn't make any sense. It's pretty much a complete waste of actors talents. The movie's cast is amazing though, it features John Malkovich, David Schwimmer, Rhys Ifans, Lucy Liu, Salma Hayek, Danny Huston, Jason Isaacs, and Burt Reynolds. Much of the dialogue is improvised (which isn't obvious, oddly enough), the actors are waering little to no makeup, and well...How the hell do you even explain this kind of movie? I guess if you were to give it a synopsis, it would be: A group of filmmakers ascend upon an old hotel in Venice, Italy and begin shooting a movie. Not long after, the director (Ifans) is shot and his best friend (Schwimmer) takes on the directing duites. The movie they're making is an adaptation of the play "The Duchess of Malfi" and at times, we spend five minutes or more just watching scenes from this. Then people are suddenly finding dead body parts in the meat cellar of the hotel. But does anything come of these findings? No. Could they have cut these scenes and still had a bad movie? Yes. The more I watch movies like this, the more I wonder if critics are paid to steer their views toward something. I mean, Roger Ebert seemed to like this movie; but he doesn't like a movie like "Serving Sara" or something. Trust me, folks. This movie should never have been made, will leave no mark upon society or film (except it will leave a nasty mark, on Mike Figgis' previously really good resume'), and I hope Figgis will stick to what he's good at. Good movies, with regular cinematography, that get lots of Oscar nominations.

GRADE: D-
SHOULD BE: Z...But seriously, F-

13 PEOPLE REVIEWED THIS MESS; 11 GAVE ONE STAR: AVERAGE 1.5 STARS?.......2006-04-14

Amazon should perhaps consider minus-star ratings. I hope I shall never see a worse movie. This mess lost me about 20 IQ points. Without a doubt, the worst film I've ever suffered through. However, it's David Schwimmer's best performance. Amazon: Please allow minus-stars for such awful, indulgent pieces of ca-ca. And Roger Ebert's quote on the case cover was indicative of reviewers on the take: BOLD, FUNNY, DELIGHTFUL!
(And now it's 12:2 in favor of awful... )

Average customer rating:

BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN TOO MUCH
A brilliant giallo
Stylish, athmospheric and suspenseful
SO-SO GIALLO THRILLER.....
Smart, Funny Thriller with a Smart, Brave Heroine--Nice

The Girl Who Knew Too Much
Starring: Letícia Román , John Saxon , Valentina Cortese , Titti Tomaino , and Luigi Bonos
Director: Mario Bava
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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KILL BABY KILL

ASIN: 6305907706
Release Date: 2000-09-26

Description

Nora Davis (Leticia Roman) jets away to Rome to vacation with Edith, an old friend of her family. Unfortunately, her trip is anything but relaxing On the first night, Edith dies--and as Nora runs into the night for help, she becomes an eyewitness to murder as she sees a woman stabbed to death on the Piazza di Spagna! Being a young woman with an insatiable appetite for murder mysteries, Nora can't get anyone to believe her story, but with the help of the attentive Dr. Marcello Bassi (John Saxon), she learns that a murder did occur on that very spot--10 years earlier--when Emily Craven fell victim to the "Alphabet Murderer"! What did Nora Davis really see, and who is stalking her through Rome? Could it be the Alphabet Killer, looking for Victim D? Mario Bava's "The Girl Who Knew Too Much" is a stylish homage to the "Americans Abroad" thrillers of Alfred Hitchcock. Originally released in America (in greatly revised form) as "Evil Eye," Bava's innovative thriller is presented here--for the first time--in its original director's cut.

Customer Reviews:

BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN TOO MUCH .......2005-09-15

This movie may seem funny and naive nowdays but just because we've seen too much since 1964.
This is a perfect example of giallo genre, more to it - this film was made on the dawn of giallo genre. There are many things that would be imitated later on in many other popular movies, not only in Italy but all over the world. The story is rather simple as in all giallo films and I would say even plain. Acting is a little hyperbolic as it was usually 40 years ago - theater-like. But the first impression you get after watching is that it reminds of early Hitchcock works. I think we can easily call Mario Bava an "Italian Hitchcock".
If you're looking for a thrill or a scare - you won't find it here 'cos I repeat the movie is rather naive. I think it looked good in 1964 but for our times it's too unsophisticated. But if you like old giallo pieces, if you like Mario Bava - don't hesitate and grab it. You'll get a lot of pleasure watching it. I did. 3 stars only because it's a little out of date.

A brilliant giallo.......2004-10-04

Italian director Mario Bava (1914-1980) made many types of films, "Four Times That Night" and "Hercules in the Haunted World" come to mind, but he made his most lasting imprint on the horror film genre. His pictures, no matter what the plot, always promised great style, lush cinematography, and beautiful scenery. Bava's big break came with his 1960 black and white nightmare classic "Black Sunday," a movie influenced by classic horror films and one that introduced horror fans to Barbara Steele. This was only the beginning, as Bava churned out a series of gruesome shockers over the next seventeen years. Perhaps his biggest contribution to the horror field was the influential 1972 picture "Twitch of the Death Nerve," sometimes called "Bay of Blood." Why? Because Sean Cunningham cribbed shamelessly from this film when he put "Friday the 13th" on celluloid. The director's inventiveness went far beyond hacking up a few unfortunate souls, however, as "The Girl Who Knew Too Much" shows. This is a relatively bloodless movie that falls squarely into the wonderful category of the Italian giallo. Mario Bava is no longer with us, regretfully, but the Bava legacy continues through his son Lamberto, one of the guiding lights behind the gory cult classics "Demons" and "Macabro."

"The Girl Who Knew Too Much" tells the story of American Nora Davis (Leticia Roman), a woman heading to Rome in order to take care of an ailing family friend. Problems emerge before the plane lands, as a nice young man offers Nora a package of cigarettes. Unfortunately, the police pick up this chap at the airport for smuggling marijuana. Davis, troubled by the fact that she smoked one of these tainted cigarettes, heads over to the house of Ethel Widnall to assume her nursing duties. Despite the assurances of Doctor Marcello Brassi (John Saxon) that Ethel is in acceptable shape as long as she takes her heart medication, Davis witnesses the elderly woman perish that very night. She also sees something else outside, a woman with a knife protruding from her back and a mysterious looking man dragging the body away, before passing out on the wet cobblestones. The next day Nora insists on investigating the weird incident in spite of Brassi's insistence that nothing strange happened. In the process of reenacting what she saw to Brassi, Nora runs into a woman named Laura Torrani (Valentina Cortese). This woman, quite sympathetic to Davis's situation concerning Ethel, promises to let the young American live in her home while she leaves town to meet her businessman husband. That the home sits near the scene of the crime, along with a glimpse of a photograph sitting on the piano of Laura's husband, convinces us Davis is stepping right into the center of the mystery.

Davis stays at the house but continues to ask questions about the murder she saw. She is soon convinced that someone is following her, and may in fact have entered the house while she was out. She also finds a box full of newspaper clippings about a string of murders that took place in the area ten years before. According to these reports, the press dubbed the slayings the alphabet murders since the three victims' last names began with an 'a', a 'b', and a 'c' respectively. As Nora soon discovers from the reporter involved in the case, Andrea Landini (Dante DiPaolo), the crimes stopped after Laura's husband led the journalist to a likely suspect. After the conviction of this poor bloke, the crimes stopped and life returned to normal. But Landini couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong about the whole thing, and when he pressed to reopen the case Laura's husband turned on him. The reporter has since spent the passing years trying to establish the identity of the real culprit. A few frightening incidents involving the killer and Nora convince Brassi and Landini that the nightmare of a decade ago has reemerged. And guess what? Our heroine's last name begins with a 'd'. Oh dear.

I am not able to find a single flaw with "The Girl Who Knew Too Much." The movie as a whole is so good that even the lack of gore didn't bother me in the least. The performances, especially a young John Saxon as the accident prone doctor, are quite good (Was Saxon ever this young? Apparently so.). Bava injects the proceedings with a significant element of humor, which acts as a perfect counterbalance to the scares. But it's the masterful use of the black and white medium that really makes this giallo something special. No one can argue that Mario Bava doesn't have an amazing knowledge of how cinematography works; his use of shadow and light are breathtaking to behold. Check out those wet cobblestones, or the interior shots that shoot beams of light across the characters' faces. This is brilliant, brilliant camera and lighting work, arguably as good as if not better than "The Third Man." It looks like Bava carefully crafted each and every frame of this film for maximum emotional impact, and it works magnificently. I amazed myself by figuring out the mystery well in advance of the denouement, probably because I've seen so many gialli at this point, but that didn't diminish the film in any way.

Extras on the DVD include a Bava biography and filmography, a John Saxon filmography, poster and film stills, and a trailer for the film. I've seen a few films in the Mario Bava Collection DVD series that absolutely reek in terms of picture quality ("Hatchet for the Honeymoon") and audio ("Twitch of the Death Nerve"), but "The Girl Who Knew Too Much" looks nice despite noticeable scratches in a few places. If you're interested in exploring the wonderful world of Mario Bava, I suggest you start here. This film will get you excited about watching more of his pictures.

Stylish, athmospheric and suspenseful.......2004-06-24

This early giallo is high on style and athmosphere and one can easily see how Bava influenced Dario Argento. I myself am much more of an Argento fan then Bava but this little thriller is actually one of Bava's better outings.
The story is good and keeps you guessing until the very end and the finale is quite suspenseful.

SO-SO GIALLO THRILLER............2002-10-30

This is not a horror film even though it was once shown in America as "The Evil Eye". Instead, it's a very tame little mystery with Bava's giallo atmosphere and little else. An "American" girl (Italian actress Leticia Roman) comes to Rome to visit an old family friend who up and dies on her. She then witnesses a murder but there's no body to back her up to the police. So she starts her own investigation ala Nancy Drew style. A bland John Saxon plays a doctor who believes her and provides clues to the mystery. Lots of creepy set-ups but no action keep this one from being as good as it could have been. Not bad as long as you don't expect too much but it was way too dull for me.

Smart, Funny Thriller with a Smart, Brave Heroine--Nice.......2002-06-14

Many fans of director Mario Bava seem to underrate this film because it isn't as violent or cynical as his later film BLOOD AND BLACK LACE. Personally, I find that to be one of the things that reccomends the film to me; that the film isn't a bloodbath full of loathsome people where the only interest is in seeing how spectacularly unpleasant their demises will be. Although there are holes and improbablilites in the plot, this is generally a suspenseful, humorous film, solidly anchored by the appealing performance of Leticia Roman as the heroine, Nora Davis, an American tourist visiting an old family friend and falling into the middle of a terrifying mystery involving a serial killer who has been attacking women on or near Rome's famous Spanish Steps for almost a decade. Nora witnesses what may have been the latest murder shortly after being attacked by a mugger, so people suspect that she may have imagined the whole thing, but she knows otherwise, and with the help of a friendly doctor (played very nicely by John Saxon), she sets out to prove it.

The result is a stylish, entertaining thriller, full of moody atmosphere and eerie set-pieces, such as Nora's rondevous with someone who can help her solve the mystery in an empty but brightly-lit apartment and the harrowing sequence that begins with the death of the family friend, continues with the attack by the mugger on Nora, and ends with her coming to to witness the murder in the Plaza d'Espana, full of rain-slicked streets and moody shadows. Here, Bava proves himself as stylish as anything in Hitchcock, and maybe more so. There is another shot that Hitch would have loved, with a group of nuns in elaborate habits hovering over Nora in a hospital bed, moving away to reveal her face; from overhead, it resembles the blooming of a big, goofy flower. This one of several subtle touches of humor that lighten the proceedings without ever disturbing the forward movement of the plot or lessening the tension. Indeed the film is top-notch in pretty much every area; stylish art direction, excellent costumes by Tania Grani, and a great score by Roberto Nicolosi. One should also say an extra word for the leading ladia, Leticia Roman; she bears a faint resemblance to Natalie Wood, and like that actress, she brings a quiet intelligence and intensity to her performance. Hitchcock would probably have liked her blonde beauty and appreciated her talent as well. But Bava got there first and got a first-rate performance out of her.
It's nice to see a smart, sympathetic woman at the center of a thriller, a heroine as opposed to simply a victim . . .

The Italian Americans
Average customer rating:
The Italian Americans
Starring: Italian Americans
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Don't Tell Mama!: The Penguin Book of Italian American Writing

ASIN: B0006U5UTA
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Description

Simmers with the vital ingredients of family, tradition, and amore—the essence of the Italian-American experience. Vintage film footage, family photos, and warm remembrances from celebrities, business leaders, politicians, educators, and many others, tell the stories of the Italian immigrant experience. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll rejoice at the universal connections all Italian families share.

Includes these programs:

The Italian Americans—Actors Joe Mantegna, Stanley Tucci, and Kaye Ballard; author Gay Talese; comedian Pat Cooper; Mary Ann Esposito of television's Ciao Italia; baseball's Tommy Lasorda; and former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro describe the essence of the Italian-American experience.

The Italian Americans II: A Beautiful Song—A tribute to the icons of the culture, from Dante to Sinatra, featuring actors Danny Aiello, Dom DeLuise, Susan Lucci, Alan Alda, and Paul Sorvino; New York Yankees manager Joe Torre; comedian Joy Behar; and Nick Stellino of public television's Cucina Amore.

The Italian Passion for Life—That special Italian flair celebrated by opera singer Luciano Pavarotti, actor Dennis Farina, NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde, television personality Regis Philbin, crooner Vic Damone, and many more.

With more than an hour of bonus footage not seen on public television!

Anti-Italianism: Discrimination and Defamation in the History of Italian Americans

Average customer rating:

A definitive expose of Anti Italianism in America
An Educational Discussion on the Defamation and Discrimination of Italian Americans

Anti-Italianism: Discrimination and Defamation in the History of Italian Americans
Starring: Joe Piscopo , Tony Lo Bianco , and William J. Connell
Director: Paul Budline
Manufacturer: Alberto Italian Studies Institute, Seton Hall University
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Release Date: 2005-10-14

Customer Reviews:

A definitive expose of Anti Italianism in America.......2006-05-01

The Documentary of the 2004 Seton Hall Conference on Anti Italianism provides the most complete factual information as to the hardhsips Italian immigrants faced upon their arrival in America. The little known history of Italian immigrant lynchings is discussed in detail by one of the foremost experts on the subject

An Educational Discussion on the Defamation and Discrimination of Italian Americans.......2006-02-14

This is an excellent documentary video of a conference on the history of defamation and discrimination of Italian Americans that was held at Seton Hall University in New Jersey in December 2004. It is an educational and informative documentary with a run time of about 27:30. The comments by participants, many of whom are highly educated and respected in their fields of expertise, speak directly to an issue that has been considered taboo by many Americans of Italian heritage.

It is refreshing to see that the Italian American community is finding its voice and is speaking out about the defamatory undertone of television shows like the wildly popular fictional drama series "The Sopranos". As one of the participants explains, while "The Sopranos" is entertaining and well produced, it is an unfortunate that it purports to represent the Italian American family. "That's not my Italian American family and it's not the Italian American family of the people I grew up with", says Dr. Susanna Tardi of William Patterson University.

The video also touches upon the animated feature "Shark Tale", created by Dreamworks LLC. Many of the characters in this big screen cartoon are stereotypes of Italian American mobsters, with names that are clearly of Italian origin. Jerome Krase, Ph.D from City University of New York explains how distraught he was when he looked more closely at what he thought was just an innocent cartoon about marine life. To his dismay, he began to realize the pernicious message this cartoon delivers to younger children who absorb these characterizations subconsciously.

What's even more revealing in this video are some of the observations made by politicians such as Paul DiGaetano, former Member, New Jersey State Assembly and The Honorable Bill Pascrell, U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Pascrell says in genuine disbelief that he was surprised at the attitudes held by members of the United States Congress toward Italian Americans. This is a stunning revelation about how elected representatives of the American people regard the fifth largest ethnic group in America!

On the bright side, it was nice to see a popular Italian American actor, Joe Piscopo of Saturday Night Live fame, attend the conference and speak up and encourage more media productions that highlight the positive images of Italian Americans. And as we know, there are tons and tons of these images that we could talk about. Joe talks about his Bloomfield Avenue project that he says would make his Italian parents and grandparents very proud. Way to go, Joe!

Without doubt, this is an educational documentary that is well worth seeing. In fact, I have watched this video over 6 times and I continue to learn something each time I see it. It will expand your views and raise awareness about the treatment of Italian Americans in the popular media. There's finally a video in documentary form that rebuts the prejudicial notion that Americans of Italian heritage are "bimbos, bozos and buffoons", something which the media has practiced preaching for well over a century. The video concludes that Italian Americans have vowed to protest negative media images of this extraordinary ethnic group wherever they may arise. Sempre Avanti!

As Austin Powers would say, "Yeah, Baby, Yeah!"

Average customer rating:

Lovers & Liars
Starring: Claudine Auger , Laura Betti , Aurore Clément , Andréa Ferréol , and Goldie Hawn
Director: Mario Monicelli
Manufacturer: Madacy Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00067Z2BY
Release Date: 2004-11-30

DVD:

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The Plays of William Shakespeare - King Richard II

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