Provocation
Passions run wildly amok at Carlo's country inn as his wife, Amelia, fantasizes about an affair with a guest, while his grandson Gianni spies on him to learn the secrets of love. And when Carlo's sexy cousin Marilinda comes to stay, everybody sits up and takes notice.
The Art of Crime
Documentary about the making of Mario Bava's A BAY OF BLOOD.
The Giant of the Dolomites
Expert mountain-guide Maciste lives in the Dolomites. He dotes on his young nephew Hans, the illegitimate son of his sister, who died of a broken heart for the dishonour of being seduced and abandoned. Maciste’s bitter rival is the sinister Schultz, a smuggler in search of easy money who teams up with two adventurers: Müller and the mysterious Vanna Dardos. Schultz’s plan is to steal the design for a revolutionary aviation project that engineer Riccardo Ewert is finishing in the peace and quiet of his mountain chalet. Thanks to Maciste the plan is thwarted and Müller and Schultz die overwhelmed by an avalanche while escaping through the mountains.
Champions on the Snow
A documentary illustrating the mountain sports activities of the university students of the GUF (Gruppi universitari fascisti) in Val Gardena, Madonna di Campiglio and Roccaraso. The film starts with a rock climbing winter ascent to Sasso Lungo (Langkofel). A party of four men make an approach on skis and climb roped from the base of the mountain to the summit. Then the film shows images of different competitions: ski (cross country, slalom, ski jumping), skating (figure, speed) and biathlon. A propaganda film of the Italian fascist regime.
Southern Italy
Travelogue released on October 16th, 1916. Produced by Burton Holmes.
Soccer Shoot-Out
Italia 90 was another fascinating tournament, a melting pot of different styles, culture and technique. The biggest tournament to date, it saw the emergence of the African nations with the free-flowing Cameroon capturing everyone's hearts. The final was tight and not for the squeamish, but the well-drilled and better-disciplined Germans prevailed 1-0 winners to claim the crown for the third time.
Scuola di roccia
An exceptional cinematographic document on Emilio Comici, shot in 1938 in Val Rosandra by a MGM operator. The documentary shows Comici with the mountain guide Gianni Macor, in all the stages of the rock climbing technique, in the way of an instructional film. Comici, nicknamed the 'Angel of the Dolomites', is considered as the most extraordinary climber of the period between the two World Wars. He made over 200 first ascents in the Dolomites during his short career. Comici perfected the Bavarian technique of mountain climbing, and began the era of 'sixth grade' climbing. It was Comici who originated the concept of climbing direttissima routes, following the path a drop of water would take down the mountain.
Blind Husbands
An Austrian military officer and rogue attempts to seduce the wife of a surgeon. The two men confront each other in a test of abilities that ends surprisingly.
Verdi's Backyard
Discover Verdi’s magnificent ‘hometown’, the Parma region. From the small village of Le Roncole, near Parma, where Verdi was born, to the estate situated close to Parma, where Verdi always returned and chose to spend most of his life, despite the great triumphs he achieved in Milan, Venice, Naples and other major cities. We discover how Verdi ‘still lives on’ in the region and has even shaped the local landscape, from the daily life of a simple farmer to that of one of the world’s greatest opera stars, Leo Nucci, who is a regular guest at the Verdi Festival in Parma. From the 27-opera box set ‘Tutto Verdi’.
The Blue Light
Junta is hated by the people in the village where she lives, especially by the women, who suspect her of being a witch. Only she can climb the nearby mountains to a cave high up, whence a mysterious blue light glows when the moon is full. Many young men of the village have died trying to follow her. She is driven out of town, and takes to living in the mountains. Eventually she shares the secret of the blue light with one man, and he betrays it.
Ascent and Descent of the Dolomite Towers
Frank Ormiston-Smith, the pioneer mountaineering photograher and filmmaker, filmed in 1906 the ascent to several towers in the Cinque Torri area in the Dolomites, acomppanied by Bortolo Barbaria, Baldessare Verzi and Damiano Dibona, three well-known Ampezzo mountain guides. Among others, the team ascended Torri Inglese, and placed the camera on top of some of the towers by pulling it with a rope. The film, produced by the Urban Trading Company, was presented at the Alhambra Theater in London in November 1906. Ormiston-Smith is considered the father of mountain cinema. In 1902 he filmed the first major mountain film shown widely in cinemas: "The Ascent of Mont Blanc". The success of his films encouraged the production of alpine films in which mountaineering feats were shown, and inspired other pioneer filmmakers.
Descent into the Crater of Vesusvius
Frederick Burlingham visits Vesuvius and climbs down into the crater accompanied by two Italian guides. Contains some nice actuality of Pompeii and the funicular railway leading to the summit of the volcano.
Cortina Villagers Leaving Church
Showing the peasants in their quaint costumes, which are only donned on Sundays and Festivals.
Bergeller Kletterbissen
Three rock climbing ascents in Val Bregaglia, Italy by Karl Freimann and Philipp Wieland, who made the first ascent of Fiamma in 1936. The film starts with valley scenes. Wieland and Freimann climb up the waterfall to the old Albigna hut. Then they start the heavy climbing work on the extremely exposed needle of Fiamma in a repetition of their first ascent two years before. The team also climbs the needle of Ago di Sciora and Monte Sissone. A film by Werner Stauffacher and Swiss mountain photographer Andreas Pedrett.
Berlin to Rome
1906, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith.
Curious Carriages at Klobenstein
1907, cinematography by Frank Ormiston-Smith.
Il Vecchio Terribile
Fiamme Verdi
The film shows training maneuvers by the 'Fiamme Verdi' (Green Flames) brigade, instructed by the mountaineering military school of Aosta. The maneuvers include camping, rock climbing, mountain rescue, military positions, alpine and glacier progression, and ski mountaineering. The film was produced in 1939 by the Instituto Nazionale Luce during the Italian Fascist regime.
Down the Crater of Vesuvius
1924, produced by Frederick Burlingham.
Patty’s Comical Adventures
Patty is looking for new emotions and a stable job, but ends up causing hilarious disasters, often ignoring the advice of her older sister Tina, a career woman.