L'onorevole Angelina (1947)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Luigi Zampa

Writers:

Piero Tellini (story) &
Suso Cecchi d'Amico (story) ...

Release Date:

12 November 1947 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A rowdy woman is so forceful that she outdoes her husband in a loud cry against speculators who refuse...

Plot Keywords:

Post War | Lower Class | Class Differences | Political Intrigue | Poverty

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Anna Magnani	...	Angelina Bianchi
Nando Bruno	...	Pasquale Bianchi
Ave Ninchi	...	Carmela
Ernesto Almirante	...	Luigi
Agnese Dubbini	...	Cesira
Armando Migliari	...	Callisto Garrone
Maria Donati	...	La signora Garrone
Maria Grazia Francia	...	Annetta Bianchi
Vittorio Mottini	...	Roberto
Franco Zeffirelli	...	Filippo Garrone
Gianni Musi	...	Libero Bianchi (as Gianni Glori)
Ughetto Bertucci	...	Benedetto Zampaglione (as Ugo Bertucci)
Anita Angius	...	Adriana Bianchi
Aristide Baghetti
Gino Cavalieri

Also Known As:

Angelina: Member of Parliament (International: English title) (literal title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Lux Film

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Siamo donne (1953)

Anna Magnani as a rebel with a cause

A stunning surprise. Luigi Zampa, the director, is not one of the names you usually hear when "the best Italian cinema" is discussed and yet, look at this movie. From the opening sequence in which Angelina and her husband spend a sleepless night trying to find a way to feed their children, the film grabs you with a truth that's part neo-realistic part pure poetry. Anna Magnani is sensational, allowing her character to wear all those elements that made Magnani famous - feisty, truthful and strong - with a soft, loving side that makes the character one of the most endearing of her illustrious career. As a trivia note, the young romantic lead is played by Franco Zeffirelli.How strange that now, 60 years later, nobody in Italy could make a film with the artistry and the humanity of this one. Framed by a poet told by someone who truly understood the language of cinema. Shame on me, a Roman from Rome who hadn't seen this film. I bet we're legions. I urge you, rent it, buy it, watch it.