''Devotion'' (, "The Ivy") is a 1950 Italian

melodrama film In film studies and criticism, melodrama may variously refer to a genre, mode, style or sensibility characterized by its emphasis on intense and exaggerated emotions and heightened dramatic situations. There is no fixed definition of the term an ...

directed by

Augusto Genina Augusto Genina (28 January 1892 – 18 September 1957) was an Italian film pioneer. He was a movie producer and director. Biography Born in Rome, Genina was a drama critic and wrote comedies for the ''Il Mondo'' Magazine, under advise of Aldo ...

. The film is adapted from the famous Italian novel '' L'edera'' written by Grazia Deledda and published in 1908.

Synopsis

Annesa (played by Columba Dominguez), is from a declining aristocratic family and very much devoted to her family, the Decherchi, which is at the edge of financial collapse. The fate of the family depends on the success of their efforts to inherit the estate of a distant uncle who, is hosted by the Decherchis, because of his ill health and is now on the verge of dying. Annesa, exacerbated by the refusal of the uncle to help financially Annesa's financially strapped nephew Don Paulu Decherchi (played by

Roldano Lupi Roldano Squassoni, known professionally as Roldano Lupi (8 February 1909 – 14 August 1989) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 60 films between 1942 and 1967. He was born in Milan, Italy and died in Rome, Italy. Selected filmography ...

), that she is secretly in love with, murders the uncle. Despite the suspicions and investigations by the police, the murder is not discovered. But Annesa, overcome by remorse, confesses her deed to a priest.

Cast

* Columba Domínguez: Annesa *

: Don Paulu Decherchi * Juan de Landa: Virdis, il sacerdote * Franca Marzi: Zana * Emma Baron: Donna Francesca * Nino Pavese: Salvatore Spanu *

Gualtiero Tumiati Gualtiero Tumiati ( 8 May 1876 – 23 April 1971) was an Italian actor and stage director. Life and career Born in Ferrara, Tumiati studied at the College of the Oaks in Florence and there he attended the acting courses held by Luigi Rasi. He ...

: Zio Zua

Reception

American film critic Howard Thompson wrote for ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' that the pairing of Columba Dominguez and Rolando Lupi "generate only mild conviction and, for that matter, precious little steam". He also dismissed Franca Marzi's performance as "vacuous". He complimented Gualtiero Tumiata as "turning in a good, gusty performance as the village priest".

References

External links

* 1950 films 1950s Italian-language films Films based on Italian novels Films shot in Sardinia Films directed by Augusto Genina Films based on works by Grazia Deledda Films set in Sardinia Italian drama films 1950 drama films 1950s melodrama films 1950s Italian films {{1950s-Italy-film-stub