Wild Is the Wind

An elemental film, starting with the title. Anna Magnani was a force of nature, so the setting in the rugged Nevada mountains is apt, for this highly melodramatic tale. The passions of the characters are paralleled by images of raging rivers, rearing wild horses, and sheep giving birth, to the thunderous chords of Tiomkin's score. Several years earlier Magnani won an Oscar for her performance in The Rose Tattoo, and in this film she again dominates the screen. One of the most touching scenes is a quiet one at the beginning of the film, when she makes a connection with her niece, sensitively played by Dolores Hart. Anthony Quinn is enjoyable in this, although tending toward overacting. Franciosa holds his own with the two powerhouses.

This "women's director" was also no slouch with men, and he helps Anthony Quinn to perhaps his best performance. Quinn often overacted, and here, as a hearty, swaggering, brutish sheep rancher who brings his dead wife's sister (Anna Magnani) over from Italy to marry, he easily could have resorted to his usual bluster. But it's a very shaded portrayal, with seemingly conflicting elements of roughness and tenderness that make sense in the end. Magnani is predictably great, even singing well, and Tony Franciosa, as Quinn's adopted son who forms an O'Neill-like triangle (it does feel like "Desire Under the Elms," as another commenter noted), is excellent. The outdoorsiness and earthiness (you even see a lamb born, before your boggled eyes) are un-Cukorlike, but he handles them confidently; and while the symbolism gets a little heavy and Dmitri Tiomkin's music is a bit intrusive, it's an effective family melodrama with a beautifully underplayed fadeout.

I finally saw it too in a copy that appears to have been made from American Music Classics on cable at the time they were running movies uncut.

It's a well-acted film. The plot recalls O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms (filmed in 1958) and Sidney Howard's They Knew What They Wanted (filmed in 1940 with Charles Laughton and musicalized by Frank Loesser in The Most Happy fellow in 1956)--older man, mail order bride, affair between wife and younger man.

Very slow in the 1950s style but powerfully acted. Not the sort of film you'd expect from Cukor. Interesting facet to his career.

Also interesting to compare this film and Secret of San Vittorio which re-united Magnani and Quinn after 12 years--older and maybe toned down just a notch, with the Irish/Mexican Quinn again playing an Italian.

Anthony Quinn, (Gino) plays the role as a Italian/American sheep rancher who loses his wife and he decides to send for his dead wife's sister, Giola, (Anna Magnani) from Italy. When Giola arrives Gino gives her all kinds of presents, but is not close to her and always calls her by his dead wife's name. As the months go by, Giola becomes unhappy and feels neglected and still remains unmarried even though Gino calls her his wife. Bene, (Anthony Franciosa) is Gino's son and he becomes romantically involved with Giola and they have some very torrid love scenes. In one scene you see a sheep giving birth which adds a great deal to the reality of this very down to earth film which was directed by the famous director, George Cukor. Anna Magnani gave an outstanding performance and was nominated for an Acamedy Award for her great role. Enjoy.

Along with her Oscar winning role in "The Rose Tattoo", this is another great acting job by Anna Magnanni. The story involves a love triangle and a very adult theme. Produced in 1957, I saw this movie on the AMC movie channel several years ago and quickly fell in love with it. Being Italian myself, I really enjoyed hearing it spoke often during the movie. Anna Magnanni actually sings at one point, and I might add very well! I have constantly been checking the Internet for news of it's release, but to no luck. Does anyone know where can one find a copy of this movie to purchase? It deserves to be on DVD, but I'll settle for a VHS copy at this point. Thank you very much.