Morris Engel: Little Fugitive filmmaker. Influenced by Italian neorealism, naturalistic documentaries/docudramas, and late silent era releases like Paul Fejos’ Lonesome, Morris Engel’s no-star, no-plot, no-frills Little Fugitive remains one of…
Danielle Darrieux in ‘La Ronde.’ Film icon Danielle Darrieux turns 100: Longest ‘star career’ in movie history? Screen legend Danielle Darrieux is turning 100 today, May 1. In all likelihood,…
Marlene Dietrich movies. German-born Marlene Dietrich is Turner Classic Movies last “Summer Under the Stars” star of 2011. Today, TCM is showing 12 Marlene Dietrich movies, in addition to J.…
Sophia Loren ca. 1950s. Screen legend & Best Actress Oscar winner Sophia Loren to receive Academy honor Sophia Loren will be honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and…
Suso Cecchi D’Amico, the only top female screenwriter in the post-World War II Italian cinema, died today in Rome. She had turned 96 on July 14. According to reports, no…
Jennifer Jones, one of my all-time favorite performers, turned 90 yesterday, March 2. The name doesn’t ring a sonorous bell? Well, it should. Jennifer Jones, the sensitive, darkly beautiful actress…
Gina Lollobrigida hot & full of fire. Movie legend Gina Lollobrigida – La Lollo for short – turned 81 last July 4. She’ll be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award…
Anna Magnani in Bellissima. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (website) began a mini Anna Magnani retrospective, Mamma Roma: The Films of Anna Magnani, on Friday, Nov. 3. Twelve…
White Nights movie (1957) review: Luchino Visconti gives romantic Dostoevsky tale the un-Hollywood treatment. Marcello Mastroianni + Maria Schell + Jean Marais star.
Lilli Palmer in Beware of Pity: Paraplegic baroness discovers the difference between pity and love in purported Soviet Union box office hit. German-born Lilli Palmer (1914–1986) never quite became a…
Dino Risi, best known for his 1974 comedy-drama Profumo di donna / Scent of a Woman, has died in Rome. Risi, who was 91, had been suffering from ill health…