Tennessee Williams wrote "The Rose Tattoo" as a stage vehicle for Anna Magnani several years before this film appeared, but at that time she was still struggling with English and declined the role. Five years later, after a fairly successful run, Williams did the screenplay and Mann, the
director of the stage production, handled the directing. Magnani, by this time, had more confidence in her command of the language (plus the safety afforded by retakes) and took the role, her first US job. The result was a hit.
Magnani, a Sicilian-born widow with a 15-year-old daughter (Pavan) enounters Lancaster, a banana hauler like her late husband who (also like her husband)...
Released:
1955
Rated:
NR
Length:
117 mins