rodrig58 Anthony Quinn (an actor I'm very fond of) and Anna Magnani have both been nominated for an Oscar for this film which, for me, means nothing. Quinn and Magnani are both giant actors, but here they are not at their best. In fact, both are playing themselves. I've seen both of them in almost all their movies and I can figure it out. Watch them in "The Secret of Santa Vittoria" and you will understand. The actors in the secondary roles, Dolores Hart, Lili Valenty, Joseph Calleia, are much more convincing. Anthony Franciosa, as usual, is not convincing at all. A movie for the faithful fans of the two protagonists, Magnani and Quinn, who will be disappointed.

Coastal Cruiser ([email protected]) It was interesting to read through the two pages of reviews already in place as I put in my 2 cents worth. Quite a mixed review. There's a pace to this movie, a speed at which the story unfolds that is rarely seen in contemporary films. Seems we just don't have the patience anymore for such a natural unfolding.Make that a 1 cent contribution though. I don't have enough of a context to intelligently comment on this film beyond a thought or two. In a way, I see the points made by both the positive and detracting reviews. (The one thing I can say though, unequivocally, I love any movie or TV show shot on location! This one is. They didn't try to pull off a sheep ranch on a Hollywood back lot. Thus we get some nice spring vistas of the Eastern Sierras.)So anyway, just a couple of thoughts....1) I had never heard of Anna Magnani. She is a fine actress. She emotes so well through her face and body language she would have made a wonderful silent film era actress. She sure generates a lot of power in this movie. As a man, I would NOT want her character on my case! But I loved watching her torture someone else. (And of course she too was tortured. Women kind of don't like it when the husband calls them by the name of his first wife).2) There is a moment when she comes to Tony Franciosa's room... the first time she approaches him, as opposed to him approaching her. What was played very well here is the inevitability of the two of them connecting. Neither of them want this! But they are drawn to each other, and sooner or later... and it took a while here, in keeping with the pacing of the film... sooner or later, as long as the two of them lived on the same ranch, they were going to end up in bed. There was just no fighting it. It was as though they were marionettes, and the puppet masters had decided they would join together. And even though they each knew the consequences, they had no choice. You see it her face. That moment of surrender, when she accepted the inevitable fate.Oh man. I've been there. Have you been there? When you literally cannot stop yourself? This is the kind of love that Plato termed "a serious mental disease". aahhhhh.

st-shot Wild is the Wind is a torpid melodrama directed by George Cukor attempting to keep Anna Maganni and Anthony Quinn off the furniture. Quinn looks the role of an aging Italian sheepherder that made good in North America but his character is all my way or the highway stubbornness that Quinn over emotes every other sentence. Maganni plays Goia his wife and sister of his widow with an exhausted look but is also prone to temper tantrums. Cukor is more a less a referee allowing both free range in his interpretation of the Mediterranean personality. It's strictly tourismo neorealismo.Goia is treated callously and feeling like a stand in for her dead sister takes up with Bene (Tony Franciosa) whose been like a son to Gino. With implications of necrophilia and incest one would think Cukor along with his hot blooded cast would be able to get the story up to a passionate boiling point. Instead we are given shrill rage and tepid desire culminating in a cop out ending. Wild is the Wind calls for high heat but is mostly lukewarm and fails to pull the wool over any one's eyes in its attempt to be more than it is.

burkowski-1 A fantastic film, that I have tried to see again for years. Unfortunately, it has been impossible to find. If any one can assist, I would appreciate it. This film Wild is the Wind, has a great script, filled with forceful characters, clearly defined, but developed with such precision that I would think of it as a model of what a dramatic characterization should be. The choice of cast was perfect with each actor having a talent that matched the dimension necessary to make this movie a mixture of drama and powerful social content. The movie has many layers of reasoning that should be enjoyable for any movie buff. Anthony Quinn is at his best, always in character. He delivered one of the best performances of his career. It is sad that it is a performance so rarely mentioned, not even in his biography. But such a find for those who appreciate his strong and insightful performances. Anna Magdalena did only a couple of American films. Most remembered for the Rose Tattoo. I would love to see some of her Italian films, she is a very dynamic actress. Her talent as a dramatic leading lady is worth watching the movie. If you appreciated the strong character and wonderful performance of Meryl Streep in Madison County, you will enjoy this character. Anna Magdalena was incredible. The film was unfortunately, ahead of its time by American norms in the film industry, at the time of its presentation. If released today, imagine the reception. Films such as this were definitely an influence on the American film industry, the success and need to expand a film past a current film formula script, was then only in its infancy. So, if you want to see it for history, social moral content, dramatic performances, its fantastic artful presentation or the sheer enjoyment of a great story, well done, by the most talented artists of our time, see it.