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IMDbPro

The Secret of Santa Vittoria

  • 1969
  • PG-13
  • 2h 19m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
3.9K
YOUR RATING
Anthony Quinn, Virna Lisi, and Anna Magnani in The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer3:33
1 Video
16 Photos
ComedyDramaWar

During WWII in Italy, a wine-producing village hides a million bottles from the GermansDuring WWII in Italy, a wine-producing village hides a million bottles from the GermansDuring WWII in Italy, a wine-producing village hides a million bottles from the Germans

  • Director
    • Stanley Kramer
  • Writers
    • Robert Crichton
    • William Rose
    • Ben Maddow
  • Stars
    • Anthony Quinn
    • Anna Magnani
    • Virna Lisi
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    3.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Stanley Kramer
    • Writers
      • Robert Crichton
      • William Rose
      • Ben Maddow
    • Stars
      • Anthony Quinn
      • Anna Magnani
      • Virna Lisi
    • 37User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 1 win & 8 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:33
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos16

    "Secret Of Santa Vittoria, The" Anthony Quinn, Anna Magnani
    Anthony Quinn and Anna Magnani in The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
    The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
    Anna Magnani in The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
    Anthony Quinn in The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
    Anthony Quinn in The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
    Virna Lisi in The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
    Anthony Quinn and Hardy Krüger in The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
    Anthony Quinn and Anna Magnani in The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
    Anthony Quinn and Anna Magnani in The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
    Anthony Quinn and Anna Magnani in The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
    The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anthony Quinn
    Anthony Quinn
    • Bombolini
    Anna Magnani
    Anna Magnani
    • Rosa
    Virna Lisi
    Virna Lisi
    • Caterina
    Hardy Krüger
    Hardy Krüger
    • Captain Von Prum
    • (as Hardy Kruger)
    Sergio Franchi
    • Tufa
    Renato Rascel
    Renato Rascel
    • Babbaluche
    Giancarlo Giannini
    Giancarlo Giannini
    • Fabio
    Patrizia Valturri
    • Angela
    Eduardo Ciannelli
    Eduardo Ciannelli
    • Luigi
    Leopoldo Trieste
    Leopoldo Trieste
    • Vittorini
    Gigi Ballista
    • Padre Polenta
    Quinto Parmeggiani
    • Copa
    Wolfgang Jansen
    • Zopf
    Peter Kuiper
    Peter Kuiper
    • Traub
    Pino Ferrara
    • Dr. Bara
    Curt Lowens
    Curt Lowens
    • Col. Scheer
    Aldo De Carellis
    • Old Vines
    Carlo Capannelle
    • Capoferro
    • Director
      • Stanley Kramer
    • Writers
      • Robert Crichton
      • William Rose
      • Ben Maddow
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The Italian crew was so upset over the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, which occurred during the shoot, that they dedicated an extra hour of work in his memory. The letter from the Italian workers' union read, "the best way to honor the memory of a man of action is by action". Producer-director Stanley Kramer replied with the following announcement: "The decision of the Italian crew of The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969) to dedicate one extra hour of work to the memory of Robert Kennedy has no parallel in motion-picture history. The American group in Anticoli Corrado is deeply honored to know you and privileged to be your coworkers".
    • Goofs
      About 20 minutes in, when Bombolini is dangling from the water tower, he is holding onto the rope with only one hand in long shots but with both hands in close-ups.
    • Quotes

      Padre Polenta: [Bombolini wants the priest to pray for the rain to stop while the villagers move the wine] Nobody ever prays for sun, they only pray for rain.

      Babbaluche: In Noah's ark, people prayed for rain?

      Padre Polenta: That was before organized religion.

      Babbaluche: Sure, all they had was God, the poor bastards.

    • Connections
      Featured in TCM Guest Programmer: Alfred Molina (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      The Song of Santa Vittoria (Stay)
      Music by Ernest Gold

      Lyrics by Norman Gimbel

      Sung by Sergio Franchi

    User reviews37

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    There Is No Other Movie / Wine Like This...
    Recently, I have had a chance to see Stanley Kramer's film on the big screen as a part of movie theater shows commemorating Anthony Quinn's 100 birth anniversary. The versatile and extremely talented actor as he was leads the expectation to keep at the very high level. And hardly ever are you, as a viewer, disappointed with the poignant portrayal of the leading character. However, THE SECRET OF SANTA VITTORIA clearly appears to be not merely an Anthony Quinn movie.

    As a matter of fact, the storyline itself does not raise much enthusiasm and does not offer so much as to make for a film that can really stand a test of time. Although it is set in the idyllic little town somewhere in the middle of the Italian peninsula and filmed primarily in such renowned surroundings as Viterbo or Tivoli, that is not where its power lies. Thoough the views are terrific. Nor does it in the direction by a renowned (at the time) but also controversial director Stanely Kramer. The movie's major strength lies in its 'characters' no matter if they are portrayed by greatest stars of the time (indeed, it is not short of them) or simple extras, the innumerable citizens of the town of Santa Vittoria, Bosley Crowther, the New York Times reviewer called a "picturesque familiar lot." The center of their town is a square (naturally) and a fountain with no saint but...a cute turtle, a silent observer of making history.

    In the character of the protagonist, Vittorio Bombolini, played magnificently by ANTHONY QUINN, you can easily recognize a variety of features that make him, on the one hand, one of the most 'ridiculous' mayors of a town like this and, on the other hand, one of the most appealing and likable fellows, one from his community, who 'smells his people.' He beautifully combines humor, parody even, responsibility, sentiment, compassion. After the propaganda of "Mussolini is always right" the new times for Santa Vittoria come..."Bombolini is always right." Corso Mussolini turns into Corso Bombolini and his people, except for his closest family (above all his wife Rosa) seem to like him. He forms a government of a very unique quality, something to laugh at...perhaps, but something to take for granted. They are all far from being sort of 'bookworms' or very learned in the statutes and law. However, his diplomatic mission will face a very hard dilemma of saving their greatest treasure, the local wine from the German occupying force. Anthony Quinn's moments prove sheer brilliance of performance and are all high worth seeing.

    ANNA MAGNANI as his wife Rosa delivers a tremendously emotional performance as a wife, as a mother, hardly a 'public persona.' The great amount of humanity that she puts to the role results in pure enjoyment of seeing her on the screen. Sometimes too brutal to her husband, sometimes furious, sometimes shedding a tear of two, she is never pale, a very vivid character that has not lost any of her power after the years.

    Quite a contrast to her 'neurotic' character appears to be La Contessa, Caterina played by an underrated Italian actress VIRNA LISI. She is a classical woman of inner struggle tormented by the choice of love. Is there any choice when she goes with the German (Hardy Krueger)? Clearly in love with Tufa (Sergio Franchi) whom she first nurses with the wounds of the war, she represents the positive aspect of aristocracy. Particularly appealing when working with the people when one passes to another...bottles of wine.

    A very interesting couple and a backdrop love story are Angela (Patrizia Valturri) and Fabio (Giancarlo Giannini). Two young people quite underrated in the town (consider Fabio bringing news to the town and the ignorance he meets). Their love affair is both serious and hilarious, something of a classical drama. Shocked parents end up taking part in the wedding of their 'beloved child' they have always aimed at protecting...

    SOME MOMENTS OF EXCEPTIONAL NOTE: The scene of passing the wine is, perhaps, too long but as it constitutes the crucial aspect of the plot, it remains most memorable. The almost 'acrophobic' moment of erasing the slogan "Mussolini is always right" highlights the irony of historic changes. The finale, being simultaneously dramatic, comedic and uplifting still makes viewers absorbed in every little move and helps leave the cinema with a smile and satisfaction of having seen something valuable.

    It occurs, with the passing of years, that THE SECRET OF SANTA VITTORIA is a movie like no other movie. Yes, like Cinzano wine, a wine like no other wine! This movie-wine relation is inseparable: the older, the better!
    helpful•10
    1
    • marcin_kukuczka
    • Jun 12, 2015

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 27, 1970 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • German
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Das Geheimnis von Santa Vittoria
    • Filming locations
      • Anticoli Corrado, Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production company
      • Stanley Kramer Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $6,300,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 19 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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