USA / Italy
Shown in 1969
CREDITS
- dir
-
Stanley Kramer
- prod
-
Stanley Kramer
- scr
-
William Rose, Ben Maddow
- cam
-
Giuseppe Rotunno
- cast
-
Anthony Quinn, Anna Magnani, Virna Lisi, Hardy Kruger, Sergio Franchi, Renato Rascel, Leopoldo Trieste
- source
-
United Artists
- premiere
-
World Premiere
-
COMMENTS
Opening Night film. Stanley Kramer, Virna Lisi and Anthony Quinn in person.
OTHER
Ever since the days of Hersey’s A Bell for Adano and the comic vagaries of the Don Camillo stories, the interaction of postwar Italian villagers and the occupation forces has provided the source of satirical comedy for film audiences. Whether veterans of this period might agree that denizens of Italy’s rural areas are constant embodiments of mirth is a matter of conjecture, but the success of Robert Crichton’s novel, The Secret of Santa Vittoria has attracted Stanley Kramer to create a roaringly amusing dramatic comedy, in which a village conspires to conceal its prize of a million bottles of vintage wine from the thirsty Germans. This treasure becomes the secret that is so carefully guarded by all the villagers, and when the German commander of the occupying detachment (the Germans are actually in retreat from Italy) determines to find the wine, the basis for the drama is established. This film dramatizes, through superb characterizations, a battle of wits between the Mayor of Santa Vittoria, a semi-souse, and the German officer. The episodes describing these events are brought to life by the performance of Anthony Quinn: His portrayal of the Mayor is a showcase for all the emotions to be found under an Italianate sun. Assisting him as his wife, a wine shop keeper, is Anna Magnani, the muse of Rome. The triumphant presence of these two artists brings the postwar milieu, with all its frustrations, triumphs and survivals, back to life and in a final assessment, they help to transform this tribute to the Italian earth-spirit into an endearing folk-legend, spiced with truth and the delicious aftertaste of forbidden brew.
—Albert Johnson
FACTOID #177
In 2000 animator Faith Hubley was the recipient of the Persistence of Vision Award. One year later, her daughter Emily appeared at the Festival with her bandmates, Yo La Tengo, to perform a score accompanying the silent underwater films of Jean Painlevé.
