The Betrothed (1941 film)
| The Betrothed | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Mario Camerini |
| Produced by | Mario Camerini |
| Written by |
Alessandro Manzoni (novel) Ivo Perilli Gabriele Baldini Mario Camerini |
| Starring |
Gino Cervi Dina Sassoli Ruggero Ruggeri Armando Falconi |
| Music by | Ildebrando Pizzetti |
| Cinematography | Anchise Brizzi |
| Edited by | Mario Serandrei |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Lux Film |
Release dates | 19 December 1941 |
Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Italian |
The Betrothed (Italian:I Promessi Sposi) is a 1941 Italian historical drama film directed by Mario Camerini and starring Gino Cervi, Dina Sassoli and Ruggero Ruggeri. It is an adaptation of the 1827 novel The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni. The film's producers organised a competition to select the lead actress (eventually won by Sassoli) which was modelled on the hunt for Scarlett O'Hara by the American producer David O. Selznick for Gone With the Wind.[1]
The novel was turned into a film again in 1964 and a television miniseries in 1989.
Plot
In a small town on Lake Como, the peasants Renzo and Lucia love each other, but are hampered by the wickedness of the squire Don Rodrigo, which prevents the parish priest Don Abbondio to celebrate the wedding. Don Rodrigo's in love with Lucia, and tries to kidnap her, but the good Friar Cristoforo agoes to escape the lake Renzo and Lucia. Lucia goes to Monza, in a monastery, while Renzo is involved in popular unrest in Milan. Lucia is kidnapped by a rich man, a friend of Don Rodrigo, after he bribed a female monk of the monastery.
Lucia is brought to the castle of the Innominato (Nameless), the friend of Don Rodrigo, but he has second thoughts about his cruel action. In fact, the next day the Innominato goes to confession of Cardinal Federigo Borromeo, and decides to get free Lucia, trying to make her join again with Renzo. Meanwhile, the plague is broke out in Lombardy, both Renzo and Lucia who are involved in the flagellum. Renzo finds Lucia in the hospital at Milan, cared for by Friar Christoforo. The young man also meets Don Rodrigo, who was also hit by the plague, dying, and decides to forgive him. When Renzo embraces Lucia, the two can finally get married because they are no longer oppressed.
Partial cast
- Gino Cervi as Renzo Tramagliano
- Dina Sassoli as Lucia Mondella
- Ruggero Ruggeri as Il cardinale Federigo Borromeo
- Armando Falconi as Don Abbondio
- Enrico Glori as Don Rodrigo
- Carlo Ninchi as L'Innominato
- Luis Hurtado as Padre Cristoforo
- Evi Maltagliati as La monaca di Monza detta "La Signora"
- Ines Zacconi as Perpetua
- Franco Scandurra as Il conte Attilio
- Gilda Marchiò as Agnese Mondella, madre di Lucia
- Dino Di Luca as Il Griso
- Enzo Biliotti as Antonio Ferrer
- Lauro Gazzolo as Ambrogio Fusella
- Giacomo Moschini as Il dottor Azzeccagarbugli
References
- ↑ Forgacs & Gundle p.159-160
Bibliography
- Forgacs, David & Gundle, Stephen. Mass Culture and Italian Society from Fascism to the Cold War. Indiana University Press, 2007.
External links
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