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the audience applauded

Excellent adaptation.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Anthony Quinn and Sophia Loren play two lonely, recently widowed people whose tentatively blossoming romance is in danger of being derailed by the behaviour of their respective children in this Martin Ritt melodrama that calls for its audience to exercise a high degree of patience combined with a low expectation of anything exciting happening.Quinn is very good as the single father of a grown daughter, exuding a charm that makes the speed with which the widow Rose's initial reluctance towards him is turned into a willing embrace believable. Loren is OK, although for me she lacked confidence in some of the quieter moments in which she is called upon to emote without words. But then, she was only in her early twenties – a good few years younger than her co-star – so perhaps a disparity in the quality of their acting is forgivable.Perhaps the most interesting thing about the movie is that it isn't Rose's tearaway juvenile son (Jimmy Baird) who proves to be the biggest obstacle to their romance, but Quinn's grown daughter Mary (Ina Balin) who is herself on the verge of marriage. This aspect of the story is also the least convincing, and to be honest you just feel like telling her to get over herself and let her Dad get on with his life. Any adult who would deliberately imitate the behaviour of their mother immediately before she (the mother) committed suicide in order to get their way really deserves no sympathy from the audience and a lot less understanding than they get from the characters here. This situation also lacks any meaningful resolution between father and daughter as it is Rose who finally brings Mary around – and then seals the deal by showing her prospective daughter-in-law how to cook the perfect sausage

"The Black Orchid" is about a widow (Sophia Loren) of a murdered mobster, who finds new love in the widower who lives next door, played with great verve and humor by the always-good Tony Quinn.The Quinn character's barely-grown up daughter (Ina Balin) lives with him and she strongly disapproves of him getting involved with a gangster's widow, even going so far as to lock herself in her room for days on end in protest.This was one of the lovely Balin's earliest screen roles, and I thought that she was very good and convincing. Even in scenes with gorgeous Sophia Loren, Ina's beauty and radiance were absolutely intoxicating!!The film also has many comedic moments, including the trip that Quinn and Loren's characters take to the boarding school where her son is attending.The end of the film, in which the two women settle their differences and make breakfast together, is very heartwarming and downright charming.Now, how would you like to have had Sophia Loren and Ina Balin prepare breakfast for YOU ??!!!

Black Orchid, The (1958) *** (out of 4) Rose (Sophia Loren) is a young Italian woman who has just buried her husband who was murdered by the gangsters he worked for. Rose's depression soon takes another turn when her young son gets sent to a boarding school for breaking into parking meters. News gets even worse for her son after many attempts at running away, one more attempt will send him into a reform school where he won't get released until he is much older. With all the heartbreak going on, Rose spends her evenings alone making what money she can.Down the street is Frank (Anthony Quinn), another widower who is getting ready to see his only daughter married. Frank is the type who keeps a smile on his face no matter how much bad luck life delivers him. When he first sees Rose he notices her extreme beauty but soon he becomes interested in the person that he has so much in common with. Rose finally drops her guard and the two become quick friends and soon start to fall in love but Frank's daughter, bitter with jealousy, refuses to let their relationship go anywhere.Perhaps I missed something or the entire film went over my head but the back of the DVD case called this a sensitive comedy romance and a couple other film books I owned called this a bittersweet romantic comedy but I certainly didn't find any comedy in The Black Orchid. Why this film would be called a comedy is beyond me but it's certainly romantic in the sense of meeting two lonely people who must travel a hard road and learn tough lessons before seeing a greener field.The movie has its heart in the right place, although near the end things start to tumble a little bit. The biggest key to the film is its two stars who both turn in wonderfully charming performances. Sophia Loren has always been known for her beauty, which is in pull blossom here but she also manages to be quite believable as the distraught widow trying to make good for her troubled son. Loren does a very good job during various quiet scenes where she must confront her past and she also fairs very well in her louder, bleaker moments where she's trying to push people away from her.The key highlight to the film is Anthony Quinn who was an actor who never received enough praise for his work. Quinn gives one of the most charming performances I've ever seen in a film and this here really brings the relationship of all the characters together. No matter who he's sharing the screen with Quinn sells the viewer on each subject brought up and we can't help but want him to smile and be happy no matter what. Quinn features a certain grace that makes him appear to float through his scenes and this adds all the believability that a viewer will need.They certainly don't have star chemistry like this any more and that's one shame when it comes to people refusing to watch older films. Director Martin Ritt (Norma Rae, Stanley & Iris) does a very nice job at holding the film together and not letting the melodrama become too thick, although his selection for the music score is really distracting. The score seems to be something from The Twilight Zone, which really isn't needed here. The biggest problem with the film is the forced, if cute, ending and some of the scenes with the daughter become very obnoxious and annoying. Other than that The Black Orchid offers two great stars the ability to shine and create a wonderfully quiet little film that has enough charm to make it worth watching.

Martin Ritt has always been a director concerned by social problems:racism,illiteracy,the lot of workers and trade unionism,juvenile delinquency.And some of his works are commendable:"Stanley and Iris","Norma Rae" "edge of the city" to name but three.This is the latter subject we find here:Ralphie ,whose late father was a gangster has been sent to a reform school.His mother (Loren) wants to marry an honest man (Quinn).But they've got to reckon with the guy's offspring who's not prepared to accept that.We deal with a "serious" sitcom which drowns out Ralphie's character.Sophia Loren 's portrayal is minimal,and Quinn cannot make up for it.The supporting cast,particularly Quinn's daughter,her fiancé and her confidant,has no presence at all.Get Douglas Sirk's "imitation of life" instead if you think melodrama can be great art!