Wild Is the Wind

Another fine film for the year of 1957, one of the very best years in American cinema, and certainly my favourite year when Hollywood was perhaps at its peak. George Cukor directs with emotional intensity and the film is cast to perfection.

I've given her plenty of chances, but I just can't stand Anna Magnani. I've tried to make allowances because she couldn't speak English, but there are other foreign actresses who had more talent.

Setting is a sheep ranch in the United States. After losing his wife, an Italian-born rancher sends for his dead wife's sister in Italy who reminds him of his wife.

Anthony Quinn is solid playing a sheep-farmer near Reno--still grieving after the death of his beloved wife--who marries his sister-in-law and brings her over from Italy. Vittorio Nino Novarese's story, which turns into a love-triangle after the new wife falls for the farmer's unofficially-adopted son, may have had some literary freshness...

What's a sheep herder to do when his beloved Italian wife dies? Marry her extra earthy sister of course!

Wild is the Wind is a torpid melodrama directed by George Cukor attempting to keep Anna Maganni and Anthony Quinn off the furniture. Quinn looks the role of an aging Italian sheepherder that made good in North America but his character is all my way or the highway stubbornness that Quinn over emotes every other sentence.

Anthony Quinn, (Gino) plays the role as a Italian/American sheep rancher who loses his wife and he decides to send for his dead wife's sister, Giola, (Anna Magnani) from Italy. When Giola arrives Gino gives her all kinds of presents, but is not close to her and always calls her by his dead wife's name.

The most mesmerizing thing about the film is really the song, sung by Nina Simone. I say this because I've recently discovered a few people have done cover versions of it, but none have really hit the spot.

Its not enough to say that Johnny Mathis sings the title song over the opening credits.With Cukor directing this grand meeting of Anthony Quinn and Anna Magnani thats says enough.