This is a lavish (by TV standards) production from Italy starring Sophia (Sofia) Loren who is still as elegant and beautiful as she ever was (in most scenes, anyway).
It's a story of overpowering love and is brilliantly conceived and produced.
The story opens at the turn of the last century when Princess Sophia and her prince visit an orphanage to adopt a little girl to honour a pledge made to the Virgin Mary when their baby was sick.
The Prince is a waster but Loren makes pasta for export to the Americas and keeps the family of 10 in spending money.
The adopted girl turns out to be very smart and clever except that she falls in love with one of her adoptive brothers.
When Sophia mortgages her business so the Prince can become a banker they lose everything and the Prince attempts suicide.
In the end it is the orphan who replaces her adoptive mother but she has married one of the workers in the factory and given up her true love.
It's a story of overpowering love and is brilliantly conceived and produced.
The story opens at the turn of the last century when Princess Sophia and her prince visit an orphanage to adopt a little girl to honour a pledge made to the Virgin Mary when their baby was sick.
The Prince is a waster but Loren makes pasta for export to the Americas and keeps the family of 10 in spending money.
The adopted girl turns out to be very smart and clever except that she falls in love with one of her adoptive brothers.
When Sophia mortgages her business so the Prince can become a banker they lose everything and the Prince attempts suicide.
In the end it is the orphan who replaces her adoptive mother but she has married one of the workers in the factory and given up her true love.