Raffaello Matarazzo

Directing

Raffaello Matarazzo

Born 1909-08-17 · Rome, Italy

Largely misunderstood, at best considered a little master of an Italian cinema in full revival after the war thanks to neo-realism, Raffaello Matarazzo is nevertheless the author of some sumptuous melodramas whose success was spectacular in post-fascist Italy. Matarazzo started writing film reviews for the Roman newspaper Il Tevere before re-editing scripts for the Italian film company Cines. His first films were comedies until he shifted to making melodramas. With Catene, produced by Titanus in 1949, he became the most successful director in Italy. Audience loved his melodramas. Critics, however, have tended to disparage his work, saying that Matarazzo films were Neorealismo d'appendice. Since the 1970s, some film critics have tried to restore Matarazzo's reputation. French magazine Positif loved his erotic-historical peplum The Ship of Lost Women.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

Rice Girl poster
5.7

The 19-year-old Elena, who is as pretty as she is bright, works as a rice girl for the landlord Guerrini. Having become aware of her name, he finds out that she is his illegitimate daughter of whom he knew nothing. He tries to secretly help Elena, who has fallen in love with the car mechanic Gianni. But that only creates mistrust. When Guerrini's worthless nephew harasses the girl, the situation is dramatically worse.

Rice Girl

1956

The White Angel poster
6.4

In this sequel to Nobody's Children, Guido still longs for Luisa, who has become a nun. Then he meets Lina, a chorus dancer who is a dead ringer for his former lover.

The White Angel

1955

The White Angel poster
6.4

In this sequel to Nobody's Children, Guido still longs for Luisa, who has become a nun. Then he meets Lina, a chorus dancer who is a dead ringer for his former lover.

The White Angel

1955

Nobody's Children poster
7.4

The tragic love story between Guido, the owner of a marble quarry and Luisa, the humble daughter of one of his employees, ends up in her giving birth to their baby boy. Giulio's mother is against them: first she sends her son abroad and then has the baby kidnapped, making Luisa think the boy died in a fire.

Nobody's Children

1951

Nobody's Children poster
7.4

The tragic love story between Guido, the owner of a marble quarry and Luisa, the humble daughter of one of his employees, ends up in her giving birth to their baby boy. Giulio's mother is against them: first she sends her son abroad and then has the baby kidnapped, making Luisa think the boy died in a fire.

Nobody's Children

1951

I terribili sette poster
9.0

Some kids find by chance an infant in swaddling clothes left in a meadow. Initially, after having led in their lair, they think of selling it to a caravan of gypsies.

I terribili sette

1963

I terribili sette poster
9.0

Some kids find by chance an infant in swaddling clothes left in a meadow. Initially, after having led in their lair, they think of selling it to a caravan of gypsies.

I terribili sette

1963

The Ship of Condemned Women poster
6.5

After murdering her illegitimate baby, Isabella pins the blame on her innocent cousin Consuelo. Despite the strenuous efforts of her attorney-lover DeSylva, Consuelo is found guilty and shipped to a penal colony along with several other female prisoners.

The Ship of Condemned Women

1953

The Ship of Condemned Women poster
6.5

After murdering her illegitimate baby, Isabella pins the blame on her innocent cousin Consuelo. Despite the strenuous efforts of her attorney-lover DeSylva, Consuelo is found guilty and shipped to a penal colony along with several other female prisoners.

The Ship of Condemned Women

1953

He Who Is Without Sin... poster
6.6

Stefano and Maria have a marriage by proxy while he is working abroad in Canada. When she is mistakenly accused of abandoning her own child and sent to jail, Stefano finds out and decides to annul their marriage.

He Who Is Without Sin...

1952

The Slave of Sin poster
4.8

A former prostitute and a little Polish girl are survivors of a train crash. The woman wishes to adopt the child, but her past makes that difficult.

The Slave of Sin

1954

Tourist Train poster
6.5

The film portrays the comic adventures of a group of summertime travellers. Produced at the height of the fascist era, Treno popolare was nonetheless free of propaganda, and featured the first film score by the legendary composer Nino Rota.

Tourist Train

1933

Tourist Train poster
6.5

The film portrays the comic adventures of a group of summertime travellers. Produced at the height of the fascist era, Treno popolare was nonetheless free of propaganda, and featured the first film score by the legendary composer Nino Rota.

Tourist Train

1933

Guai ai vinti poster
6.5

A young woman, her sister-in-law and her ten year old daughter are violently traumatised by invading Austrian soldiers. Later, in Verona, both woman discover they are pregnant. After a suicide attempt, one has an abortion the other keeps her child - and both faces struggles with friends and family as they return to their homes.

Guai ai vinti

1954

Guai ai vinti poster
6.5

A young woman, her sister-in-law and her ten year old daughter are violently traumatised by invading Austrian soldiers. Later, in Verona, both woman discover they are pregnant. After a suicide attempt, one has an abortion the other keeps her child - and both faces struggles with friends and family as they return to their homes.

Guai ai vinti

1954

Amore mio poster
8.0

A man wants to leave his wife for another woman, but this other woman decides not to live with him.

Amore mio

1964

Amore mio poster
8.0

A man wants to leave his wife for another woman, but this other woman decides not to live with him.

Amore mio

1964

Amore mio poster
8.0

A man wants to leave his wife for another woman, but this other woman decides not to live with him.

Amore mio

1964

Cerasella poster
6.8

Cerasella escapes just before her marriage with Alfredo and meets Bruno, the son of a wealthy industrialist.

Cerasella

1959

Cerasella poster
6.8

Cerasella escapes just before her marriage with Alfredo and meets Bruno, the son of a wealthy industrialist.

Cerasella

1959

Lieutenant Giorgio poster
8.0

A lieutenant spends a night of love with a mysterious woman. After a few years he discovers that the woman was married to an invalid and that the meeting had been organized to ensure an heir for the family

Lieutenant Giorgio

1952

Tormento poster
6.7

Anna flees her home, where she has been victimized for years by her spineless father’s mean-spirited second wife, to be with her lover, an honest businessman yet to make his fortune. When he is accused of a murder he didn’t commit, the couple’s domestic tranquillity is upended, and a desperate Anna must rely on her cruel stepmother to help support their child.

Tormento

1950

Tormento poster
6.7

Anna flees her home, where she has been victimized for years by her spineless father’s mean-spirited second wife, to be with her lover, an honest businessman yet to make his fortune. When he is accused of a murder he didn’t commit, the couple’s domestic tranquillity is upended, and a desperate Anna must rely on her cruel stepmother to help support their child.

Tormento

1950

The Serpent's Fang poster
8.0

Early, proto giallo set in a boarding house for girls.

The Serpent's Fang

1935