The Black Orchid (1958)

20% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(225 ratings)

The title is Black Orchid, but the leading lady is a rose--florist Rose Bianco, played by Sophia Loren. Newly widowed, Rose holds herself responsible for the death of her husband, a well-known gangster. Anthony Quinn plays a widower who falls in love with Rose, much to the dismay of his daughter… More The title is Black Orchid, but the leading lady is a rose--florist Rose Bianco, played by Sophia Loren. Newly widowed, Rose holds herself responsible for the death of her husband, a well-known gangster. Anthony Quinn plays a widower who falls in love with Rose, much to the dismay of his daughter (Ina Balin), who fears that Quinn will be destroyed as thoroughly as Rose's first husband. All ends happily after Rose and her new beau align to find her unhappy runaway son (Jimmy Baird). Black Orchid tries too hard to be a "slice of life;" perhaps it might have fared better with a cast of unknowns, but then who'd go to see it? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Martin Ritt
Written By: Joseph Stefano
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 1, 1958 Wide
On DVD: Jul 29, 1992

Critic Reviews

Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Unfortunately, Joseph Stefano, who wrote the original script, did not put into the hands of the director a story that is up to Mr. Quinn.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A totally misleading title may have made this a flop at the box office because it had a lot to recommend it as a movie.
, Time Out
A seriously bad tearjerker.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Quinn cria um personagem carismático, mas o elenco feminino parece formado apenas por figuras paranóicas e controladoras.