Marriage Italian Style

During the 1950s and '60s, foreign films came into their own, breaking out of the art house and landing in local movie theaters around the world. Some of the most successful efforts saw Italian stars Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni teaming up with one of the kings of neorealism, Vittorio De Sica, for a series of movies focusing on relationships and romance. Hailing from 1964, Marriage Italian Style is one of the best, with a story centering on the beautiful Filumena (Loren), an angry mistress who pretends to be dying in a ploy to get successful businessman and no-good womanizer Domenico (Mastroianni) to marry her. Along the way, De Sica traces the couple's tempestuous courtship from a brothel during World War II to the hemmed-in household where Domenico has Filumena act as his employee. Once Filumena's ruse is revealed—too late—the kept (and healthy) woman turns the tables on the callous rogue. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actress, Marriage Italian Style is a funny and touching classic, with lots of heart. Making its debut on Blu-ray, extras include a stills gallery. Highly recommended. [Note: two other De Sica films starring Loren and Mastroianni are also newly available on Blu-ray: 1963's Oscar-winning Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and 1970's Sunflower.] (B. Gibron)