Teresa

Director: Fred Zinnemann Fred Zinnemann

Overview

An American soldier causes a stir in his hometown when he returns with an Italian bride in tow.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/17/2018
UPC:	0888574678241
Original Release:	1951
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[B&W]
Language:	English
Time:	1:42:00
Sales rank:	46,824

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Pier Angeli	Teresa Russo
John Ericson	Philip Cass
Patricia Collinge	Mrs. Clara Cass, Philip's Mother
Richard Bishop	Mr. Cass, Philip's Father
Peggy Ann Garner	Susan
Ralph Meeker	Sgt. Dobbs
Bill Mauldin	Grissom
Ave Ninchi	Teresa's Mother
Edward Binns	Sgt. Brown
Rod Steiger	Frank
Aldo Silvani	Prof. Crocce
Tommy Lewis	Walter
Franco Interlenghi	Mario
Edith Atwater	Mrs. Lawrence
Lewis Cianelli	Cheyenne
William King	Boone
Richard McNamara	GI Cook
Al Silvani	Prof. Crocce
Louis Applebaum	Composer

Technical Credits

Stewart Stern

Alfred Hayes

Arthur M. Loew Jr.	Producer
Fred Zinnemann	Director
Stewart Stern	Screenwriter
Alfred Hayes	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

An interesting if ultimately unsuccessful drama, Teresa deserves credit for trying to take a serious look at the lives of two "little" people affected by World War II and the attempts to build a future together. The protagonists are not special or unique; they're simply two people thrown together in the war who discover that there are elements that make simply being together a challenge. Director Fred Zinnemann seems to have a special affinity for these people and a sincere interest in telling their story plainly and truthfully. Unfortunately, the screenwriters have not given the director top notch material with which to work. In attempting to make their male lead human and flawed, they have gone rather too far. The result is a character that is annoying, weak-willed and unpleasant. Attempts to explain his flaws by way of a domineering mother reek of amateur psychology and simply won't wash with a modern audience. And the female lead's willingness to take her man back after his treatment of her is ill-motivated. That said, John Ericson and Anna Maria Pier Angeli do an excellent job of portraying the man and the woman. Ericson can't quite overcome the manner in which his character is written, but the performance is impressive. Even better is Angeli, who looks beautiful and brings a simplicity and beauty to her performance that is very pleasing. Zinnemann's pacing is a bit labored at times, but he creates some dramatic screen compositions that are quite powerful.