The Black Orchid (1958)

Making artificial flowers as a way of coping with her great loss, Rose’s life changes when she meets widower Frank Valente, played by Academy Award™ winner Anthony Quinn. The two fall in love and decide to get married, but before they can say "I do," Frank must win over Rose’s daughter who does not approve of their union.

My favorite!

This movie is wonderful. It is a drama (with a happy ending) and is a beautiful view of Italians in America. It is watching a real person struggling and trying to overcome all the hardships of life.

Warning! Spoilers!
It is a story of an Italian woman whose husband was murdered by the mafia, and her son who is living in a reform camp. she meets another Italian immigrant, and because of his kindness, begins to change her life. It really is a bittersweet movie, exploring the tragedies of the human life. The strangest part of this movie is adapting to the Italian culture, adding a strong flavor and shifting this movie towards the foreign movie shelf. The actors are wonderfully chose and, most importantly, believable. The shots are simple and the entire movie relies completely on the acting skills of the main characters. I would recommended this movie to everyone, though, be warned, you hit rock bottom before this film re-surfaces. September 21, 2008

Good

Don't pay attention to the other reviews. This is a good movie and is about finding love the second time around. If you like romance you should like this movie. If not, it is probably not for you. May 22, 2007

Black rose

A pair of Oscar-winning actors, and a comedy about two widowed people finding second love. Not much can go wrong, right? Well, sadly Anthony Quinn and Sophia Loren are the main good things about "The Black Orchid," which desperately tries to cover up its shortness of plot.

Rose (Loren) is a young Italian-American mother, widowed when her husband was killed by mobsters. Since her love of luxury drove him to crime, Rose blames herself, and tries to amend by making artificial flowers to support herself and her young son. She isn't interested in anyone else... until she meets the wealthy, widowed Frank Valente (Quinn).

Rose and Frank soon fall in love and become engaged, and Rose's young son is delighted to find that he will have a father at last. But Frank's daughter Mary (Ina Balin) becomes distraught when she hears the news, and Frank reluctantly breaks up with Rose. Will there be a happy ending for anyone?

"Uninspired" is the best word for "Black Orchid" -- nowhere in the movie does anything really make sense. It's a purely by-the-numbers romance flick, which putters along with little enthusiasm, right up to the predictable conclusion. There isn't even any sense of tension, except for Loren's dramatic way of speaking.

The plot itself unfolds in basic movie fashion, but is way too short. Apparently realizing this, the makers threw in a plot twist -- Mary inflicting her Electra complex on dear Daddykins. It's very contrived, and at times it's almost comical. But of course, expect all twists to be untwisted in a matter of minutes, and with only a few heart-to-heart talks.

The only good things about this tepid film are Quinn and Loren. Loren exudes passionate penitance and love as Rose, who is determined to make things right this time around. And she has amazing chemistry with Quinn, who has a rough, jovial charm that was quite different from the smooth guys who populated Hollywood.

"The Black Orchid" is a forgettable and contrived little romance, but Loren and Quinn are delightful. Too bad they weren't given a worthy script to follow. November 3, 2006

Mama I'm Happy

This movie has it all. Cheap sets, artificial lighting, melodramatic music and over-acting. Anthony Quinn is the only character that is remotely plausible and also the only reason I give this debacle 2 stars. If you are expecting a glamorous Sophia to make up for the movies flaws...don't. She spends the entire movie in basically the same black dress and pulled up hair-don't. December 17, 2005

Nothing bad here....

Quinn's character is likeable and realistic,if a little heavy-handed and rough around the edges, and Sophia is still sexy, despite her lack of variety in clothes and make-up. It's in her eyes. The other performances are, for the most part, all very good, and the story line is enough to hold your interest. Is it ultimately kinda soapy and melodramatic in spots? Yeah, it is. But never enough to ruin it. Just a kinda sappy feel-good flick. January 21, 2005

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