|
| The Secret of Santa Vittoria | 
 enlarge | Director: Stanley Kramer
Actors: Anthony Quinn, Anna Magnani, Virna Lisi, Hardy Krueger, Sergio Franchi
Studio: United Artists
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $7.99
You Save: $6.99 (47%)
New (27) Used (3) from $7.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 2371
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 140
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: M110635
UPC: 883904106357
EAN: 0883904106357
ASIN: B0014BJ1D6
Theatrical Release Date: 1969
Release Date: May 13, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Simple hearted wily Italians band together to outwit occupying Nazis.System Requirements:Running Time: 139 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY/CLASSICS Rating: PG-13 UPC: 883904106357 Manufacturer No: M110635
Amazon.com
The bestseller from The Great Impostor's Robert Crichton inspired this leisurely serio-comedy, which takes up where Bernardo Bertolucci's The Conformist left off--with the death of Benito Mussolini. The dictator's departure should come as good news for the hilltop town of Santa Vittoria, but new problems lay ahead (Federico Fellini favorite Giuseppe Rotunno shot the sun-drenched movie in Italy). Feeling betrayed by Il Duce, wine merchant Italo Bombolini (La Strada's Anthony Quinn) drinks his disappointment away to the consternation of his rolling pin-wielding wife, Rosa (The Rose Tattoo's Anna Magnani). Nonetheless, the townspeople like the "drunken, stupid clown," as Rosa calls him, enough that they appoint Bombolini mayor. To prepare him for duty, the college-educated Fabio (Swept Away's Giancarlo Giannini) introduces the new civic leader to Machiavelli, who wrote, "Things are never what they seem." When Fabio brings news that the Nazis plan to raid their wine reserves, Bombolini and Tufa (Sergio Franchi), a former soldier, heed those words and arrange to hide one million bottles in a Roman cave. Capt. Von Prum (Hardy Krueger) suspects subterfuge, and orders a search of every nook and cranny, while attempting to woo war widow Contessa Caterina (Queen Margot's Virna Lisi). At 139 minutes, Judgment at Nuremberg producer/director Stanley Kramer's Golden Globe-winning picture seems longer than necessary, but Quinn, Magnani, and Krueger provide just enough nuance to prevent their characters from slipping into caricature, and the film's celebration of solidarity lends it an enduring appeal. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 Problems with the transfer to DVD August 18, 2008
Firstly, what a great film - finally available on DVD. Well worth getting even though you should please note the following:
There appears to be an entire 'reel' that has undergone a problem with transfer towards the end - there appears to be 'rain' on film (indoor scenes, too) and there are about three places during the film where the colour flickers momentarily.
I mention this simply to assure people who buy it that the error will probably be noticeable but won't detract from the film. It appears to be a fault of the transfer and not of the DVD itself.
 'What kind of people are you?' August 7, 2008
When Fabio (Giancarlo Giannini) came screaming Mussolini's death, the villagers of Santa Vittoria were quiet indifferent... But when he returned much later shouting that the Germans are coming to take the wine of Santa Vittoria, this was different! It was the beginning of an amazing adventure...
Italo Bombolini (Anthony Quinn), is the beloved mayor of the hillside village of Santa Vittorio... He is in terrible crisis... Where to hide his precious wine? l,317,000 bottles more or less...
Tufa (Sergio Franchi), who has deserted the crumbling Italian army and has returned home in despair, recommends him to conceal a million bottles of wine in the tunnels of an old Roman cave outside of Santa Vittoria, and to hide them in such a way, that "if" the Germans enter the cave looking for the wine, 'they will see an empty cave!'
Rosa (Anna Magnani) enlists the entire town for that purpose... When German commander Sepp Von Prum (Hardy Kruger) arrives, it becomes a battle of wits for the possession of the wine...
Von Prum is distracted in his search by Bombolini's protests of ignorance and by the Contessa's obvious charms... The local Contessa, Caterina Malatesta is played by the exquisite blonde Virna Lisi...
The last scene of the film is hilarious!
We see the German Officer leaving, and Bombolini - a bottle of wine in his hand - addressing him: 'To the captain, from the people of Santa Vittoria. It's not a great wine but it's not bad!'
The captain receives the bottle whispering to Bombolini: 'You're sure you can spare it?'
Bombolini replies: 'Oh, there's one million more where this came from.'
You can imagine the face of Hardy Kruger--extremely good as the German Captain...
Maybe the film is too long... But it is a great joy to see two legendary stars, Quinn and Magnani, dancing with the whole town of Santa Vittoria...
Great score... Great fun!
THE SECRET OF SANTA VITORIA July 30, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
WHAT A WONDERFUL FILM OF WW11 IN ITALY ANTONY QUINNN NEVER BETTER, AS ALL THE OTHER STARS IN THIS EXCELLENT FILM ARE, FILM TAKES PLACE AT END OF WAR AFTER THE ITALIANS SURENDER AND THE GERMANS STILL RAIN IN ITALY BUT IT ONE OF THE BEST WW11 FILMS AND ONE WONDERFUL FEEL GOOD STORY.
Mighty Quinn July 20, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I had watched this film when it was released a good 30+ years ago, and Antony Quinn, one of my favorite actors even now, just stole my heart with his performance. I personally think this is one of the great performances (amongst many) by him.
Loved it! July 14, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I remember going to the drive-in with my parents to see this. I found it as funny now as I did then. Anthony Quinn and Anna Magnani are outstanding as the fueding couple. And the rest of the cast is great and the story of the way the village saved the wine is so good. so glad it was released on DVD, and that Amazon carried it.
|
|
|
 Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
