Product Details

• Actors: Vittorio Duse, Joseph Long, Anita Zagaria, Eileen Way, Vittorio Amandola
• Directors: Jon Amiel
• Format: NTSC
• Language: English
• Studio: MGM/UA Video
• VHS Release Date: February 20, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000059ZXW
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #40,761 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

An Italian couple defy both their families and marry for love. Four children later, they are running a diner in England. Humorous, dramatic, sad - everything a movie should be.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Extraordinarily Charming Deck Of Human Cards, March 4, 2001

By	Jay Fenton (Washington, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

QUEEN OF HEARTS. One of the most charming films of the 80's. It's a happy, sad, tragic, comic and glorious film about an Italian immigrant family living in England, filled with the kind of characters that used to be so common in 30's and 40's films when we had character actors who played outrageous, over-the-top parts.

The story opens in Italy where Danilo steals Rosa away on her wedding day from the man her mother had chosen for her. Their escape plays with the action of a Republic serial but with a totally unexpected comic ending. The two flee to London where Danilo is given the secret to winning at cards from a talking stuffed pig on a meat platter. But his success is short lived and he and his family soon turn to running a coffee shop that is only marginally successful.

The rest of the film is taken up with marriage and family and the adventures of life that happened while they wait for that lucky break-----------and it happens with an extraordinary event that pulls joy from tragedy. I'll only tell you that for the men in her life, Rosa remains the Queen of Hearts.

The film has all the sweetness and heartache of FORREST GUMP------------and all the love and inspiration, too--------backed my lush romantic music that parallels the emotion of the characters.

If you buy only one film from the MGM Vault Classics, I'd recommend this one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars LOVE...ITALIAN STYLE, May 26, 2002

By	Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

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The story begins in Italy and centers around Rosa (Anita Zagaria) and Danilo (Joseph Long) who love each other. Unfortunately, her mother, Mama Sibilla (Eileen Way), has arranged for Rosa to marry the butcher's son, Barbariccia (Vittorio Amendola). Meanwhile, Danilo's father, Nonno (Vittorio Duse), has barricaded Danilo in the house to keep him away from the soon to be married Rosa. True love, however, cannot be kept waiting, and Rosa and Danilo manage to escape their erstwhile jailers. In a madcap dash for freedom, they make one of the most breathtaking and daring escapes, as they jump off a rooftop. How they are saved makes for great cinema.

They run off to England, taking disgruntled Mama Sibilla with them. They marry and begin the life so often the lot of immigrants, hard work, long hours. Danilo, working as a waiter, has a surreal vision one night of a talking pig's head, while at work. He follows its advice and wins the stake for his own business, a little Italian style cafe that he opens and runs with his and Rosa's ever growing family.

All is well with the world. The business, while never a big money maker, manages to feed and clothe the family. It is at the center of their lives. Years go by. His father, Nonno, now aging, comes from Italy to live with them. The children are growing up. Life changes. One day, Barbariccia shows up in England, never having forgotten Rosa. Even though twenty years have passed, he has not forgotten that Danilo took Rosa away from him. Rosa is truly the Queen of Hearts.

The coming of Barbariccia sets into motion a series of events that will see Rosa and Danilo's family and business begin to disintergrate. Barbariccia will stop at nothing to get Rosa. Yet, the core of Rosa's and Danilo's lives are so intertwined that they manage to rise from the ashes, as they still believe in miracles. They live as they love, deeply and steadfastedly. In the end, they manage to triumph, despite the adversity with which they were beset. This is a story of love, family, faith, and the every day vicissitudes of life. The story of Rosa, Danilo, and their family is brought to life by an engaging cast. It is Eileen Way, however, who, as Mama Sibilla, steals the show with a caustic and wry performance. This is a truly a film worth watching.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, May 29, 2001

By	Victor Lo Forte (Rocklin, CA United States) - See all my reviews

I enjoyed this show very much. It was recommended to me by a friend familiar with my movie likings. I found the story line very enjoyable. Predictability was very low providing a very enjoyable level of uncertainty, suspense, and surprize. I strongly appreciated the ABSENCE of in-your-face profanity, violence,and sexual overtones. I lived in Italy for a number of years and enjoyed the Italian scenes captured so well in the movie. I also enjoyed the little Italian nuances which seasoned the video throughout.