The Black Orchid (1958)

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Not Rated
1h 36min
Drama, Romance
19 Feb 1959 (Italy)
Movie

6.4 (1,220)

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Anthony Quinn and Sophia Loren star as longtime widower Frank and recently widowed Rose, lonely hearts who discover something special in The Black Orchid, a sensitive comedy romance directed by Martin Ritt (Norma Rae, Murphy's Romance).

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writer:

Joseph Stefano

Stars:

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination.
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Photos and Videos

Anthony Quinn and Sophia Loren star as longtime widower Frank and recently widowed Rose, lonely hearts who discover something special in The Black Orchid.

Still of Sophia Loren in The Black Orchid (1958)

Still of Sophia Loren, Anthony Quinn (I) and Jimmy Baird in The Black Orchid (1958)

Still of Ina Balin and Peter Mark Richman in The Black Orchid (1958)

Sophia Loren and Anthony Quinn (I) in The Black Orchid (1958)

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21 photos | 1 video

Complete, Cast awaiting verification

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	Sophia Loren	...	Rose Bianco
	Anthony Quinn	...	Frank Valente
	Peter Mark Richman	...	Noble (as Mark Richman)
	Virginia Vincent	...	Alma Gallo
	Frank Puglia	...	Henry Gallo
	Jimmy Baird	...	Ralph Bianco
	Naomi Stevens	...	Guilia Gallo
	Whit Bissell	...	Mr. Harmon
	Robert Carricart	...	Priest
	Joe Di Reda	...	Joe
	Jack Washburn	...	Tony Bianco
	Ina Balin	...	Mary Valente
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Barbara Aler	...	Girl at Wedding Shower (uncredited)
	Maria Andre	...	Aunt Millie's Daughter (uncredited)
	Angela Austin	...	Blondie (uncredited)
	Rose Barbato	...	Flower Woman (uncredited)
	Majel Barrett	...	Luisa (uncredited)
	Francesca Bellini	...	Girl at Wedding Shower (uncredited)
	Arthur Berkeley	...	Parent (uncredited)
	Nick Borgani	...	Bocce Player (uncredited)
	Chet Brandenburg	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
	Florine Carlan	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
	Kay Colominas	...	Girl (uncredited)
	Steve Conte	...	Hood (uncredited)
	Paul Cristo	...	Church Member (uncredited)
	Henry Dar Boggia	...	Bocce Player (uncredited)
	Martin Dean	...	Young Nephew (uncredited)
	Bruno Della Santina	...	Bocce Player (uncredited)
	Stewart East	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)
	Franklyn Farnum	...	Funeral Usher (uncredited)
	David Fresco	...	Hood (uncredited)
	Jacques Gallo	...	Usher (uncredited)
	Martine Gari	...	Younger Daughter (uncredited)
	John Giovanni	...	Uncle Mike (uncredited)
	John Indrisano	...	Hood (uncredited)
	Steven Jay	...	Boy (uncredited)
	Howard Joslin	...	Prsion Guard (uncredited)
	Richard LaMarr	...	Vendor (uncredited)
	Hugh Lawrence	...	Policeman (uncredited)
	Danny Lewis	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
	Saverio LoMedico	...	Best Man (uncredited)
	Agnes Marc	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Gaylen McClure	...	Girl at Wedding Shower (uncredited)
	Rosemarie Meyers	...	Girl at Wedding Shower (uncredited)
	Hans Moebus	...	Undertaker (uncredited)
	Ellen Hope Monroe	...	Luisa - Age 12 (uncredited)
	Alix Nagy	...	Girl at Wedding Shower (uncredited)
	Grazia Narciso	...	Aunt Catherine (uncredited)
	Don Orlando	...	Cousin Peter (uncredited)
	Murray Parker	...	Waiter (uncredited)
	Frank Richards	...	Hood (uncredited)
	Diana Roberti	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
	Freddie Roberto	...	Reception Guest (uncredited)
	Felix Romano	...	Bocce Player (uncredited)
	Victor Romito	...	Bocce Player (uncredited)
	William Sattaneo	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
	Ed Scarpa	...	Bocce Player (uncredited)
	Vito Scotti	...	Paul Gallo (uncredited)
	Irene Seidner	...	Old Lady in Mourning (uncredited)
	Oreste Seragnoli	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Court Shepard	...	Guard (uncredited)
	Ida Smeraldo	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Stephen Soldi	...	Mourner (uncredited)
	Randie Stevens	...	Alma - Age 8 (uncredited)
	Zolya Talma	...	Consuello (uncredited)
	Helen Thayer	...	Maid of Honor (uncredited)
	Lili Valenty	...	Aunt Agnes (uncredited)
	Nina Varela	...	Aunt Millie (uncredited)
	Frank Yaconelli	...	Uncle Angelo (uncredited)

Directed by

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Martin Ritt

Written by

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Joseph Stefano

...

(writer)

Produced by

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Marcello Girosi	...	producer
Carlo Ponti	...	producer

Music by

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Alessandro Cicognini

Cinematography by

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Robert Burks

...

director of photography

Editing by

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Howard A. Smith

...

(as Howard Smith)

Casting By

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Edward R. Morse

Art Direction by

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Roland Anderson
Hal Pereira

Set Decoration by

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Robert R. Benton	...	(as Robert Benton)
Sam Comer

Costume Design by

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Edith Head

Makeup Department

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Nellie Manley	...	hair stylist
Wally Westmore	...	makeup supervisor

Production Management

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Harry Caplan

...

production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Richard Caffey	...	assistant director
Clem Jones	...	second assistant director (uncredited)
Donald Roberts	...	second assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Ray Alba	...	sound editor
Hugo Grenzbach	...	sound recordist
Winston H. Leverett	...	sound recordist (as Winston Leverett)

Visual Effects by

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Farciot Edouart	...	process photography
John P. Fulton	...	special photographic effects

Music Department

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John C. Hammell

...

music editor (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Pamela Matthews	...	dialogue coach
Mary D. Mascari	...	background and bit players care of (uncredited)

Crew believed to be complete

Production Companies

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Paramount Pictures

Distributors

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Paramount Pictures (1959) (United States) (theatrical)
Paramount Film Service (1959) (Canada) (theatrical)
Paramount British Pictures (1959) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
Paramount Film Service (1959) (Australia) (theatrical)
Film AB Paramount (1959) (Sweden) (theatrical)
Metro (1959) (Norway) (theatrical)
Rai 2 (1975) (Italy) (tv)
Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (France) (VHS) (dubbed version)
Paramount Channel (2020) (Poland) (tv)
Films Paramount (1959) (Belgium) (theatrical)

Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary	After mobsters murder her husband, Rose Bianco works long hours making artificial flowers, to support herself and her son. Some suspect that Rose's demand for a lavish lifestyle pushed her husband to a life of crime, and they blame her for his death. Widower Frank Valente is attracted to Rose, and must convince her that real love exists. He must also deal with his own daughter, who has her own reasons for opposing his marriage to Rose. Written by Molly Malloy Plot Summary
Plot Keywords	widow widower funeral church flashback See All (42) »
Taglines	More than a story of love... a story of life! See more »
Genres	Drama Romance
Parents Guide	View content advisory »
Certification	Argentina:16 Australia:G Belgium:AL/Tous (visa#48.667) Brazil:12 Italy:T Japan:G Netherlands:14 (orginal rating) Norway:16 Sweden:15 United Kingdom:U United States:Not Rated

Additional Details

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Also Known As	L'orchidée noire (France) Orquídea negra (Spain) Orquídea Negra (Portugal) La orquídea negra (Argentina) Orquídea negra (Ecuador) See more »
Runtime	96 min
Country	United States
Language	English Italian
Color	Black and White
Aspect Ratio	1.85 : 1 (intended ratio) See more »
Sound Mix	Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Filming Locations	Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »

Did You Know?

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Trivia	Sophia Loren earned her first acting award with this movie (she picked up the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival). Many more would follow. See more »
Movie Connections	Featured in The Hollywood Collection: Anthony Quinn an Original (1990). See more »
Quotes	Frank Valente: Working at night? Even God doesn't work at night. Rose Bianco: To make a living people do many things God doesn't do. See more »

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