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The Black Orchid

  • 19581958
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
52,216
256
The Black Orchid (1958)
Anthony Quinn and Sophia Loren star as longtime widower Frank and recently widowed Rose, lonely hearts who discover something special in The Black Orchid.
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
18 Photos
DramaRomance
Anthony Quinn and Sophia Loren star as longtime widower Frank and recently widowed Rose, lonely hearts who discover something special in The Black Orchid, a sensitive comedy romance directed... Read allAnthony Quinn and Sophia Loren star as longtime widower Frank and recently widowed Rose, lonely hearts who discover something special in The Black Orchid, a sensitive comedy romance directed by Martin Ritt (Norma Rae, Murphy's Romance).Anthony Quinn and Sophia Loren star as longtime widower Frank and recently widowed Rose, lonely hearts who discover something special in The Black Orchid, a sensitive comedy romance directed by Martin Ritt (Norma Rae, Murphy's Romance).
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
52,216
256
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Martin Ritt
    • Writer
      • Joseph Stefano
    • Stars
      • Sophia Loren
      • Anthony Quinn
      • Peter Mark Richman
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Martin Ritt
    • Writer
      • Joseph Stefano
    • Stars
      • Sophia Loren
      • Anthony Quinn
      • Peter Mark Richman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 23User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    Trailer

    Photos18

    Sophia Loren on set of "Black Orchid," 1958.
    Sophia Loren on set of "Black Orchid," 1958.
    The Black Orchid (1958)
    Sophia Loren and Anthony Quinn in The Black Orchid (1958)
    The Black Orchid (1958)
    Sophia Loren in The Black Orchid (1958)
    Sophia Loren, Anthony Quinn, and Jimmy Baird in The Black Orchid (1958)
    Ina Balin and Peter Mark Richman in The Black Orchid (1958)
    The Black Orchid (1958)
    The Black Orchid (1958)
    The Black Orchid (1958)
    The Black Orchid (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sophia Loren
    Sophia Loren
    • Rose Bianco
    Anthony Quinn
    Anthony Quinn
    • Frank Valente
    Peter Mark Richman
    Peter Mark Richman
    • Noble
    • (as Mark Richman)
    Virginia Vincent
    Virginia Vincent
    • Alma Gallo
    Frank Puglia
    Frank Puglia
    • Henry Gallo
    Jimmy Baird
    • Ralph Bianco
    Naomi Stevens
    Naomi Stevens
    • Guilia Gallo
    Whit Bissell
    Whit Bissell
    • Mr. Harmon
    Robert Carricart
    Robert Carricart
    • Priest
    Joe Di Reda
    Joe Di Reda
    • Joe
    Jack Washburn
    • Tony Bianco
    Ina Balin
    Ina Balin
    • Mary Valente
    Barbara Aler
    • Girl at Wedding Shower
    • (uncredited)
    Maria Andre
    • Aunt Millie's Daughter
    • (uncredited)
    Angela Austin
    • Blondie
    • (uncredited)
    Rose Barbato
    • Flower Woman
    • (uncredited)
    Majel Barrett
    Majel Barrett
    • Luisa
    • (uncredited)
    Francesca Bellini
    • Girl at Wedding Shower
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Martin Ritt
    • Writer
      • Joseph Stefano
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sophia Loren was 23 years old during filming, only 10 years older than the actor playing her juvenile son.
    • Quotes

      Frank Valente: Working at night? Even God doesn't work at night.

      Rose Bianco: To make a living people do many things God doesn't do.

    • Connections
      Featured in Anthony Quinn: An Original (1990)

    User reviews23

    Review
    Top review
    Good Movie
    Black Orchid, The (1958)

    *** (out of 4)

    Rose (Sophia Loren) is a young Italian woman who has just buried her husband who was murdered by the gangsters he worked for. Rose's depression soon takes another turn when her young son gets sent to a boarding school for breaking into parking meters. News gets even worse for her son after many attempts at running away, one more attempt will send him into a reform school where he won't get released until he is much older. With all the heartbreak going on, Rose spends her evenings alone making what money she can.

    Down the street is Frank (Anthony Quinn), another widower who is getting ready to see his only daughter married. Frank is the type who keeps a smile on his face no matter how much bad luck life delivers him. When he first sees Rose he notices her extreme beauty but soon he becomes interested in the person that he has so much in common with. Rose finally drops her guard and the two become quick friends and soon start to fall in love but Frank's daughter, bitter with jealousy, refuses to let their relationship go anywhere.

    Perhaps I missed something or the entire film went over my head but the back of the DVD case called this a sensitive comedy romance and a couple other film books I owned called this a bittersweet romantic comedy but I certainly didn't find any comedy in The Black Orchid. Why this film would be called a comedy is beyond me but it's certainly romantic in the sense of meeting two lonely people who must travel a hard road and learn tough lessons before seeing a greener field.

    The movie has its heart in the right place, although near the end things start to tumble a little bit. The biggest key to the film is its two stars who both turn in wonderfully charming performances. Sophia Loren has always been known for her beauty, which is in pull blossom here but she also manages to be quite believable as the distraught widow trying to make good for her troubled son. Loren does a very good job during various quiet scenes where she must confront her past and she also fairs very well in her louder, bleaker moments where she's trying to push people away from her.

    The key highlight to the film is Anthony Quinn who was an actor who never received enough praise for his work. Quinn gives one of the most charming performances I've ever seen in a film and this here really brings the relationship of all the characters together. No matter who he's sharing the screen with Quinn sells the viewer on each subject brought up and we can't help but want him to smile and be happy no matter what. Quinn features a certain grace that makes him appear to float through his scenes and this adds all the believability that a viewer will need.

    They certainly don't have star chemistry like this any more and that's one shame when it comes to people refusing to watch older films. Director Martin Ritt (Norma Rae, Stanley & Iris) does a very nice job at holding the film together and not letting the melodrama become too thick, although his selection for the music score is really distracting. The score seems to be something from The Twilight Zone, which really isn't needed here. The biggest problem with the film is the forced, if cute, ending and some of the scenes with the daughter become very obnoxious and annoying. Other than that The Black Orchid offers two great stars the ability to shine and create a wonderfully quiet little film that has enough charm to make it worth watching.
    helpful•13
    2
    • Michael_Elliott
    • Mar 14, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 19, 1959 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die schwarze Orchidee
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

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