Vulcano

At the same time as Roberto Rossellini was directing his new love Ingrid Bergman on the island of Stromboli, his former love Anna Magnani was filming forty kilometres away on the island of Salina for director William Dieterle. Comparisons are bound to be drawn but as comparisons are not only odious but tiresome I choose to comment upon Dieterle's film as I find that of Rossellini to be rather dull and dreary. By the very power of her personality no film featuring La Magnani could ever be labelled as either dull or dreary! Here she is Maddalena who has been banished to her former home from Naples by the police for the 'crime' of prostitution. Although ostracised by the natives she finds consolation on the island with her younger sister Maria and much younger brother Nino. Enter the handsome diver Donato who promises Maria a new life in the city. Maddalena realises that he is involved in a prostitution ring and so as to save her sister from a fate worth than death she resorts to drastic measures.......Geraldine Brooks is excellent as Maria and is 'dubbed' very well. Rosanno Brazzi has never been better as Donato and great to see as Nino the child actor Enzo Staiola following his scene-stealing performance in 'Bicycle Thieves'. As for La Magnani one word will suffice: Stupenda! The direction of Dieterle cannot be faulted. Although not blacklisted under McCarthyism he was at this time considered a 'leftie' because of his openly anti-fascist views. He had come to America from Germany and had quickly adapted to and thrived under the Hollywood system. This film proves his adaptabilty even further as he has cleverly assumed a 'Neo-Realist' style but has still directed in a traditional manner. No mean feat! After the dramatic, to say the least, finale, we are told that the film has not been about Maddalena, Maria and Donato but about the volcano 'which is eternal'. This serves to remind us, as if we need reminding, that in the face of Mother Nature we humans are all pretty insignificant.

Why isn't this movie better known? The principal actors and actresses are superbly believable; the intertwining of fact and fiction, place and personality, the era and its mōres are woven together as the finest cloth. It is one of those astonishing black and white films that feels like it is in color -- the dark and varied shades of emotions that run through the characters like fire and water, salt and hot seasoning. Plus it is deeply and deliciously melodramatic -- in the finest sense of this word: people drawn as figures who are good or bad & not without the possibility of rich, grey shading; sharp characterization deepened from two-dimensional cameo to three- dimensional sculpture; dialogue with strong emotional appeal and a plot driven by the determinism of forces larger than mere humanity. One major appeal of "Vulcano" is its Queequeg-like primitivism, the sense of "what must be" in a nature-driven world. It is classically Mediterranean. A wonderful film to learn from, too see and see again. Where can one find its likes now? In our world of special effects and neon-bright, digital-driven images we have lost sight of this natural depth. "Vulcano" sees how far down and into the human experience superb, naturalistic acting, story telling, directing, photography and cinema overall could once go with great grace and truth-telling pleasure.

There are two versions of this incredibly stunning and moving movie: the Italian one and the American one, with two different plots and endings.

We've been waiting the American version for years. Is it going to be realised in some way, maybe an Amazon DVD like you did for Wild is the Wind? Thanks for any consideration. There are two versions of this incredibly stunning and moving film: the Italian one and the American one, with two different plots and endings.

We've been waiting for years the American version . Is it going to be released somehow, maybe an Amazon DVD like you did for Wild is the Wind? Thanks for any consideration.

I saw the movie with its original soundtrack: English. This choice was a great mistake.

The stars that I have awarded to the movie are mainly due to the performance of Anna Magnani.

It was surreal and at times disturbing to see the movie hearing all characters speaking in a perfect English: because of the language everything looked like a tale without a precise geographic location. This element detracts a lot of charm to Anna Magnani's performance and to the atmosphere in general.

For instance, Maria was the most surreal character of the tale: a young, fresh and beautiful young girl that with her perfect English seemed closer to the Princess Sissy on holiday than a girl grown up on that island. This added to the story a certain aura of tale, but, in my view, absolutely avoidable and not credible.

For non Italian native speaker, this movie can still have a certain effect, but for an Italian it can be a severe disappointment.

It is such a pleasure to watch Anna Magnani in whatever she has been in. She completely becomes a character. You know you are looking at a genuine person in her performances.

Looking at her, somehow I know I have known someone like her or maybe a composite of many personnas that form her wholeness in my mind's eye. She achieves such a connection with her roles. She buries herself in them. They are real, they have so many dimensions, she uncovers so many layers to what she does. At once, you connect with her and want to know more about her character.

This movie shows Anna's evocative face, her steady but suffered eyes, her expressions in one of her most interesting and lusty portrayals. But this is not a lust of abandon but of richest characterization and filled with nuances and her own gifted brand of virtuoso impulsiveness.

The story is simple but yet not well known. It is a pleasure to see the black and white rustic scenes and peaceful faces of the residents found on this island off the Italian coast the way they were 50 years ago. Are we this innocent anymore?

There is nothing spectacular here except Anna herself. Rosanno Brazzi and Geraldine Brooks offer a perfect contrast to Anna's joie de vivre. If you have a chance to see it. Sit back and take in a true original at work at the highest pitch of her craft.

Oh, Anna. I miss you.