The one certainty in Hollywood is that success begets imitators. In 1955 Burt Lancaster's production company picked up a television play by Paddy Chayefsky which had featured Rod Steiger as an Italian butcher who was lonely, fell in love, announced his intention to marry and promptly discommoded all his Italian relatives who move heaven and earth to prevent the wedding. Ernest Borgnine, in the Steiger role, picked up a Best Actor Oscar, reason enough to remake it. Enter Anthony Quinn, widower, and Sophia Loren, widow. They take approximately fifteen seconds to fall in love and kickstart the plot i.e. none of their Italian relatives and/or friends is for it. Why the producers couldn't make them anything but Italians and draw attention away from Marty God only knows. Ina Balin, as Quinn's daughter was 'introduced' in this film and then 'introduced' again in 1960's From The Terrace. There's little chemistry between Quinn and Loren and it's all rsolved far too easily.
Review of The Black Orchid
