At the same time as Roberto Rossellini was directing his new love Ingrid Bergman on the island of Stromboli, his former love Anna Magnani was filming forty kilometres away on the island of Salina for director William Dieterle. Comparisons are bound to be drawn but as comparisons are not only odious but tiresome I choose to comment upon Dieterle's film as I find that of Rossellini to be rather dull and dreary.
By the very power of her personality no film featuring La Magnani could ever be labelled as either dull or dreary! Here she is Maddalena who has been banished to her former home from Naples by the police for the 'crime' of prostitution. Although ostracised by the natives she finds consolation on the island with her younger sister Maria and much younger brother Nino. Enter the handsome diver Donato who promises Maria a new life in the city. Maddalena realises that he is involved in a prostitution ring and so as to save her sister from a fate worth than death she resorts to drastic measures.......Geraldine Brooks is excellent as Maria and is 'dubbed' very well. Rosanno Brazzi has never been better as Donato and great to see as Nino the child actor Enzo Staiola following his scene-stealing performance in 'Bicycle Thieves'. As for La Magnani one word will suffice: Stupenda!
The direction of Dieterle cannot be faulted. Although not blacklisted under McCarthyism he was at this time considered a 'leftie' because of his openly anti-fascist views. He had come to America from Germany and had quickly adapted to and thrived under the Hollywood system. This film proves his adaptabilty even further as he has cleverly assumed a 'Neo-Realist' style but has still directed in a traditional manner. No mean feat!
After the dramatic, to say the least, finale, we are told that the film has not been about Maddalena, Maria and Donato but about the volcano 'which is eternal'. This serves to remind us, as if we need reminding, that in the face of Mother Nature we humans are all pretty insignificant.
Review of Vulcano
