Italy’s Cineteca di Bologna film archives have unearthed a small treasure trove of shorts documenting the early career of late icon Gina Lollobrigida, who was hailed as a major European sex symbol of the post-World War II era.
The prominent archives, known globally as a prime film preservation entity, have found and restored three vintage clips dated between 1947 and 1948 in which Lollobrigida – who died at 95 in January – sings Italian folk songs billed under the name Diana Lori.
Described by the archives as precursors to MTV-style music videos, the shorts were directed by Pietro Francisci, later known for hit swords-and-sandals titles such as 1958’s “Hercules” starring Steve Reeves as its titular hero. In the shorts Lollobrigida appears to sing (she may have been dubbed) Italian folk songs “O sole mio!”; “Na sera ‘e maggio”; and “Stornellata Romana.”
Lollobrigida, which is her real name, was born on July 4, 1927, in Subiaco,...
The prominent archives, known globally as a prime film preservation entity, have found and restored three vintage clips dated between 1947 and 1948 in which Lollobrigida – who died at 95 in January – sings Italian folk songs billed under the name Diana Lori.
Described by the archives as precursors to MTV-style music videos, the shorts were directed by Pietro Francisci, later known for hit swords-and-sandals titles such as 1958’s “Hercules” starring Steve Reeves as its titular hero. In the shorts Lollobrigida appears to sing (she may have been dubbed) Italian folk songs “O sole mio!”; “Na sera ‘e maggio”; and “Stornellata Romana.”
Lollobrigida, which is her real name, was born on July 4, 1927, in Subiaco,...
- 6/30/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Sylvester Stallone's 1985 film "Rocky IV" is quite handily the silliest in its series. Tapping into the ultra-jingoistic rhetoric of the Ronald Reagan era, "Rocky IV" saw its American title character squaring off against a Soviet super-athlete in a symbolic attempt to prove which of the world powers was ultimately stronger. /Film already wrote about the film's extended central training montage, claiming it to be one of the best of all time because it provides a parallel between the way Rocky (Stallone) trains, and the way the evil Russian Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) trains. Rocky is out of his element in Russia, where his bout with Drago is to take place. Because of this, Rocky has to find clever, low-fi ways to build in strength, including hauling logs and pressing rickshaws full of locals. Drago, meanwhile, is locked into a high-tech, computer-run athletics facility where his muscles and strength are...
- 3/11/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Jack the Ripper
Blu ray
Severin Films
1959 / 1.33:1 – 1:66:1 / 84 Min. / Street Date – January 29, 2019
Starring Lee Patterson, Eddie Byrne
Cinematography by Robert Baker, Monty Berman
Directed by Robert Baker, Monty Berman
Jack the Ripper arrived in America with the kind of fanfare usually reserved for visiting royalty. Thanks to Joseph E. Levine’s million dollar promotional blitz the British shocker rode a wave of irresistible ballyhoo including a soundtrack LP and a typically salacious Monarch paperback that promised a walk on the wild side for adventurous ticket buyers.
Jack was the talk of the schoolyard but once the movie hit theaters it disappeared as quickly as its namesake. Since 1960 the elusive thriller has dipped in and out of sight like the Loch Ness monster until recently surfacing on a new Blu ray from Severin Films – viewers can be forgiven for thinking it should have stayed at the bottom of the lake.
Blu ray
Severin Films
1959 / 1.33:1 – 1:66:1 / 84 Min. / Street Date – January 29, 2019
Starring Lee Patterson, Eddie Byrne
Cinematography by Robert Baker, Monty Berman
Directed by Robert Baker, Monty Berman
Jack the Ripper arrived in America with the kind of fanfare usually reserved for visiting royalty. Thanks to Joseph E. Levine’s million dollar promotional blitz the British shocker rode a wave of irresistible ballyhoo including a soundtrack LP and a typically salacious Monarch paperback that promised a walk on the wild side for adventurous ticket buyers.
Jack was the talk of the schoolyard but once the movie hit theaters it disappeared as quickly as its namesake. Since 1960 the elusive thriller has dipped in and out of sight like the Loch Ness monster until recently surfacing on a new Blu ray from Severin Films – viewers can be forgiven for thinking it should have stayed at the bottom of the lake.
- 2/2/2019
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
Kellan Lutz ‘The Legend of Hercules’: New Summit release has 0% Rotten Tomatoes approval rating (photo: Gaia Weiss and shirtless Kellan Lutz in ‘The Legend of Hercules’) Starring Kellan Lutz, best known as the hunky and likable vampire Emmett in the Twilight movies, The Legend of Hercules opens today, January 10, 2014, in North America. That’s the good news for Kellan Lutz fans. Now, the bad news: The Legend of Hercules isn’t about to become the next Spartacus — or even the next Gladiator. “The only thing epic about The Legend of Hercules is what a failure it is,” writes Stephanie Merry in the Washington Post, while Newsday‘s Rafer Guzman’s complains that “this painfully feeble version of the strongman story fails on every level, from Lutz’s wooden acting to the styrofoam special effects.” In fact, out of 35 reviews, the Summit Entertainment / Lionsgate Pictures release has a 0% approval rating...
- 1/10/2014
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
Do you remember the Attila the Hun television miniseries from 2001 starring Gerard Butler as the famous conquering Eurasian nomad? Neither does anybody else. Before that, the last time the infamous historical figure made his way onscreen was Anthony Quinn's portrayal of him alongside Sophia Loren in the 1954 film Attila from Pietro Francisci. It's odd that such a well known real world ruler has rarely been tapped as inspiration for adaptation, so it should come as no surprise that a biographical film about him is finally going into development. According to Deadline, Warner Bros. is going ahead with newcomer Nicholas Schoenfeld's pitch for a film tentatively titled Attila that would follow the conquerer's 'formative years' as the leader of the Huns. Deadline says that the tone resembles 'the good-man-gone-bad' arc of Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama's Dracula Year Zero. I'm not sure that's a comparison I'd be boasting about.
- 3/30/2012
- cinemablend.com
Let's not kid ourselves here. While the ancient Greek or Roman epic certainly has literary and cultural value, we also know that films and television shows based on Greek or Roman history and myth also have a side-benefit: a little something I like to call the loincloth.
Here we take a look at some of the most impressive physiques in skimpy costumes that have graced the screens both big and small.
Steve Reeves in Hercules and Hercules Unchained
Though he played a slew of other heroes in sword and sandal films, Steve Reeves is best known for playing the role of Hercules in the spectacularly bad yet somehow still-watchable films by Italian director Pietro Francisci. Cast for his physique rather than his acting ability, Reeves still made quite the impression on viewers, as the films are still cult favorites to this day. Reeves became so well known as the hunky half-naked guy,...
Here we take a look at some of the most impressive physiques in skimpy costumes that have graced the screens both big and small.
Steve Reeves in Hercules and Hercules Unchained
Though he played a slew of other heroes in sword and sandal films, Steve Reeves is best known for playing the role of Hercules in the spectacularly bad yet somehow still-watchable films by Italian director Pietro Francisci. Cast for his physique rather than his acting ability, Reeves still made quite the impression on viewers, as the films are still cult favorites to this day. Reeves became so well known as the hunky half-naked guy,...
- 11/11/2011
- by JT Riley
- The Backlot
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