Showing posts with label John Vernon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Vernon. Show all posts

Monday, 14 April 2014

1977, Film: “Una giornata particolare”

The Italian film "Una gionata particolare" ("A Special Day") premieres on the Cannes film Festival on 17 May 1977. The Italian release followes on 12 August 1977. Directed by Ettore Scola the film stars Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni and John Vernon. The film is an Italian-Canadian co-production, it figures on the list of the 100 Italian films to be saved.

The film is set in Rome in 1938, it follows a woman and her neighbor who stay home the day Adolf Hitler visits Benito Mussolini. A film about war, family, tolerance, women's condition, fanaticism, homosexuality, a story about humanity set in a inhumane fascist background.

Sophia Loren as Antonietta
Synopsis
On 8 May 8 1938 Hitler visits Mussolini in Rome. Antonietta (Sophia Loren) stays home doing domestic tasks while her fascist husband Emanuele and her six children take of to follow the parade. The whole building is empty only Gabriele (Marcello Mastroianni), a neighbor across the complex stays at home. Gabriele is a radio broadcaster who has been dismissed and is about to be deported to Sardinia because of his anti-fascist opinion and his homosexuality...

Marcello Mastroianni as Gabriele
Main Cast
  • Sophia Loren as Antonietta
  • Marcello Mastroianni as Gabriele
  • John Vernon as Emanuele
  • Françoise Berd as Caretaker
  • Patrizia Basso as Romana
  • Tiziano De Persio as Arnaldo
  • Maurizio Di Paolantonio as Fabio
  • Antonio Garibaldi as Littorio
  • Vittorio Guerrieri as Umberto
  • Alessandra Mussolini as Maria Luisa
  • Nicole Magny as Officer's Daughter
Marcello Mastroianni as Gabriele and Sophia Loren as Antonietta
Striking is the cameo of the then 14-year-old Alessandra Mussolini, the granddaughter of the fascist leader and a niece of lead actress Sophia Loren. The son of Benito Mussolini is in fact married to a sister of Sophia Loren. Alessandra plays the role of daughter Maria Luisa.

John Vernon as Emanuele and Alessandra Mussolini as Maria Luisa
Awards
  • National Board of Review Award for Top Foreign Film (USA, 1977)
  • Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film: Italy (USA, 1978)
  • César for Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger): Ettore Scola (France, 1978)
  • David di Donatello Award for Best Director (Migliore Regia): Ettore Scola (Italy, 1978)
  • David di Donatello Award for Best Actress (Migliore Attrice): Sophia Loren (Italy, 1978)
  • Golden Globe for Best Film (Miglior Film): Ettore Scola (Italy, 1978)
  • Golden Globe for Best Actor (Migliore Attore): Marcello Mastroianni (Italy, 1978)
  • Golden Globe for Best Actress (Migliore Attrice): Sophia Loren (Italy, 1978)
  • Silver Ribbon (Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists) for Best Actress (Migliore Attrice Protagonista): Sophia Loren (Italy, 1978)
  • Silver Ribbon (Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists) for Best Screenplay (Migliore Sceneggiatura): Maurizio Costanzo, Ruggero Maccari, Ettore Scola (Italy, 1978)
  • Silver Ribbon (Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists) for Best Musical Score (Migliore Musica): Armando Trovajoli (Italy, 1978)

English Trailer

Tuesday, 28 August 2012

1975, Film: Brannigan

Brannigan premièred on March 26, 1975. This British action film set in London, directed by Douglas Hickox, and starring John Wayne and Richard Attenborough, tells the story of a Chicago detective sent to Britain to organise the extradition of an American Mafia boss.

Synopsis
Jim Brannigan (John Wayne) is sent to London to bring back American Mafia boss Ben Larkin (John Vernon) who is being held for extradition but when he arrives he has been kidnapped. Brannigan in his American Irish way brings American law to the people of Scotland Yard in order to recapture the gangster...
  
John Wayne as Lieutenant James Brannigan
Judy Geeson as Jennifer
Main Cast
  • John Wayne as Lieutenant James Brannigan
  • Richard Attenborough as Commander Swann
  • Mel Ferrer as Mel Fields
  • Judy Geeson as Jennifer
  • John Vernon as Ben Larkin
  • Daniel Pilon as Gorman
  • Ralph Meeker as Captain Moretti
  • Lesley Anne Down as Luana
  • Barry Dennen as Julian
  • John Stride as Insp. Michael Traven
  • James Booth as Charlie-the-Handle
  • Arthur Batanides as Angell
  • Pauline Delany as Mrs. Cooper
  • Del Henney as Drexel
  • Brian Glover as Jimmy-the-Bet
  • Don Henderson as Geef
John Wayne (left) and Richard Attenborough (right)

Trailer