The Rose Tattoo (1955)

When Tennessee Williams (A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) wrote The Rose Tattoo, he had one actress in mind—Anna Magnani (The Fugitive Kind). Williams’ sense of casting proved as sharp as his ear for dialogue. Magnani won an Oscar (Best Actress, 1955) for her bravura portrayal in this torrid drama that also earned Academy Awards for Best Cinematography (James Wong Howe, Hud) and Art Direction. Magnani plays Sicilian seamstress Serafina Delle Rose, who retreats from the world when her beloved husband dies. But Serafina reawakens to life’s joys when she meets Alvaro (screen icon Burt Lancaster, The Rainmaker), a happy-go-lucky truck driver who has the same sunny openness her husband had, even the same occupation. And on his chest is the same symbol of love, The Rose Tattoo. Masterfully directed by Daniel Mann (Come Back, Little Sheba), this lusty, passion-filled classic garnered a total of 8 Academy Award nominations including Best Supporting Actress (Marisa Pavan, The Midnight Story), Costumes (Edith Head), Editing (Warren Low), Score (Alex North) and Motion Picture (Hal B. Wallis).