Main Cast: Anna Maria Pier Angeli, John Ericson, Patricia Collinge, Richard Bishop, Bill Mauldin, Peggy Ann Garner
Release Year: 1951
Country: US
Run Time: 104 minutes
Plot
In Teresa, director Fred Zinnemann adopts the same quasi-documentary approach he'd used in The Search (1948). Lensed on location in Italy and New York, the film introduces Pier Angeli in the title role, and co-stars three male newcomers: John Ericson, Ralph Meeker and Rod Steiger. Teresa is the Italian bride of GI Philip (Ericson), who is established from the outset as mentally disturbed. Taking Teresa home with him to New York, Philip begins to crack under the pressure of married life -- not to mention the angst brought to bear by his highly dysfunctional family. A happy ending doesn't seem likely under these circumstances, but there's always hope. The best scene in Teresa occurs during an fateful visit to Coney Island. Featured in the cast is political cartoonist Bill Mauldin, who'd subsequently co-star in John Huston's Red Badge of Courage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
An interesting if ultimately unsuccessful drama, Teresa deserves credit for trying to take a serious look at the lives of two "little" people affected by World War II and the attempts to build a future together. The protagonists are not special or unique; they're simply two people thrown together in the war who discover that there are elements that make simply being together a challenge. Director Fred Zinnemann seems to have a special affinity for these people and a sincere interest in telling their story plainly and truthfully. Unfortunately, the screenwriters have not given the director top notch material with which to work. In attempting to make their male lead human and flawed, they have gone rather too far. The result is a character that is annoying, weak-willed and unpleasant. Attempts to explain his flaws by way of a domineering mother reek of amateur psychology and simply won't wash with a modern audience. And the female lead's willingness to take her man back after his treatment of her is ill-motivated. That said, John Ericson and Anna Maria Pier Angeli do an excellent job of portraying the man and the woman. Ericson can't quite overcome the manner in which his character is written, but the performance is impressive. Even better is Angeli, who looks beautiful and brings a simplicity and beauty to her performance that is very pleasing. Zinnemann's pacing is a bit labored at times, but he creates some dramatic screen compositions that are quite powerful. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Fred Zinnemann - Director, Frank Sullivan - Editor, Louis Applebuam - Composer (Music Score), Leo Kerz - Production Designer, William J. Miller - Cinematographer, Arthur M. Loew, Jr. - Producer, Alfred Hayes - Screenwriter, Stewart Stern - Screenwriter
