The Black Orchid

Director: Martin Ritt Martin Ritt

Overview

In this film, newly widowed florist Rose holds herself responsible for the death of her husband, a well-known gangster. A widower falls in love with Rose, much to the dismay of his daughter, who fears that he will be destroyed as thoroughly as Rose's first husband.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/22/2019
UPC:	0032429333230
Original Release:	1958
Rating:	NR
Source:	ALLIED VAUGHN
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[B&W, Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:34:00
Sales rank:	41,885

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Sophia Loren	Rose Bianco
Anthony Quinn	Frank Valente
Jimmie Baird	Ralph Bianco
Ina Balin	Mary Valente
Mark Richman	Noble
Naomi Stevens	Giulia Gallo
Virginia Vincent	Alma Gallo
Joe Di Reda	Joe
Frank Puglia	Henry Gallo
Whit Bissell	Mr. Harmon
Robert Carricart	Priest
Majel Barrett Roddenberry	Luisa
Zolya Talma	Consuello
Alessandro Cicognini	Composer

Technical Credits

Joseph Stefano

Marcello Girosi	Producer
Carlo Ponti	Producer
Martin Ritt	Director
Joseph Stefano	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

The Black Orchid is a moderately enjoyable romantic melodrama that features the high-powered pairing of Anthony Quinn and Sophia Loren. This duo gives Orchid a great deal of its appeal, yet the casting of Loren also mitigates its ultimate effectiveness. Both stars are in fine form, turning in captivating performances and exuding a sensual chemistry that is highly effective and very necessary in terms of the story. Quinn, very well cast, gives the role his all and is basically irresistible. He's also one of the few men strong enough to compete with Loren, who at this time easily blew away many of her co-stars with her sheer presence. Loren, for her part, clearly relishes the challenge that Quinn presents, and she is very effective in many of her dramatic moments. However, Loren doesn't totally convince as a lower-class immigrant; she's too sophisticated, too polished, lacking the rough edges that the script calls for. The screenplay is also problematic ' it's rather too melodramatic, and the psychological situation with Quinn's daughter is unconvincingly delineated and much too patly resolves. Loren's obsessive guilt also is stretched a bit too far, and her supposedly "at-risk" son comes across as too safe. Fortunately, director Martin Ritt plays up the strengths of his cast to help mask the flaws in the screenplay ' and the result is a movie that, while definitely flawed, is also easy to enjoy.