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Teresa

Released Apr 5, 1951 1h 44m Drama List
Tomatometer 3 Reviews 33% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Teresa Russo (Pier Angeli) is a beautiful young girl living in an Italian village during World War II. Unable to find a suitor since most of the local boys have been killed, she is delighted when American soldiers arrive. One of them, Philip (John Ericson), wins her over with his kindness. After Philip and Teresa wed, he brings her back to America, and she begins to learn her new husband is emotionally unstable. Teresa also has to contend with Philip's overbearing mother (Patricia Collinge).

Critics Reviews

View All (3) Critics Reviews
Bob Thomas Associated Press Teresa is an American picture with a European flavor. For that reason, it may not find favor with the majority of moviegoers. But many will admire its realism, natural acting and real backgrounds. Jul 31, 2019 Full Review Manny Farber The Nation The result is as perversely enjoyable as a Third Avenue El excursion with stops in derelict rooms and sauerkraut-odored hallways to show you what terrifies the average New York visitor. Nov 24, 2020 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: B- Jul 26, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D Difficult to watch but solidly made. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/04/24 Full Review Audience Member Pier Angeli's first role in the United States is the title role in this Fred Zinnemann picture and it's easy to see what moviemakers saw in the ingenue. Every single frame she''s in radiates. The film, though, suffers from poor pacing and John Ericson (his first acting role, too) can't command the screen like his co-star. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member A movie of note only because it stars a 19 year old Pier Angeli, who plays an Italian girl who meets an American solider (John Ericson) during the war, and marries him shortly thereafter. Angeli is bright-eyed and radiant, and I loved her conversations with her family in Italian, even if they weren't subtitled (maybe even more so because they weren't). Briefly seeing some of the sites in Rome was also nice. Unfortunately, Ericson is not nearly as good as Angeli. His character is admittedly difficult to play and not all that likeable, suffering from panic attacks, lack of confidence, and overall wishy-washiness. I loved how the film is honest in its depiction of war, showing us fear and cowardice, but unfortunately there are no real consequences to it. There are hints at the generation gap of the 1950's, but Ericson is no James Dean. The story telling from director Fred Zinnemann is too segmented and scattered, shifting from war film, to war bride film, to domineering mother film. Patricia Collinge is brilliant as the mom, particularly as we come to understand just how controlling she is, but it's at a point in the film where we just don't see the focus. The ending is also abrupt and unbelievable, as if the filmmakers didn't where to go with it either. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member reminded me on another zinnemann pic 'the search' with its doc like feel. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Teresa

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Movie Info

Synopsis Teresa Russo (Pier Angeli) is a beautiful young girl living in an Italian village during World War II. Unable to find a suitor since most of the local boys have been killed, she is delighted when American soldiers arrive. One of them, Philip (John Ericson), wins her over with his kindness. After Philip and Teresa wed, he brings her back to America, and she begins to learn her new husband is emotionally unstable. Teresa also has to contend with Philip's overbearing mother (Patricia Collinge).
Director
Fred Zinnemann
Producer
Arthur M. Loew Jr.
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 5, 1951, Original
Runtime
1h 44m