#1. Death in Venice (1971)

Storyline: In this adaptation of the Thomas Mann novel, avant-garde Composer Gustav von Aschenbach (Sir Dirk Bogarde) travels to a Venetian seaside resort in search of repose after a period of artistic and personal stress. But he finds no peace there, for he soon develops a troubling attraction to an adolescent boy, Tadzio (Björn Andrésen), on vacation with his family. The boy embodies an ideal of beauty that Aschenbach has long sought and he becomes infatuated. However, the onset of a deadly pestilence threatens them both physically and represents the corruption that compromises and threatens all ideals.

Plot Keywords: composer, teen boy, family member, governess, mother, brooding, intense ...

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#2. Don't Look Now (1973)

Storyline: John and Laura Baxter are in Venice when they meet a pair of elderly sisters, one of whom claims to be psychic. She insists that she sees the spirit of the Baxters' daughter, who recently drowned. Laura is intrigued, but John resists the idea. He, however, seems to have his own psychic flashes, seeing their daughter walk the streets in her red cloak, as well as Laura and the sisters on a funeral gondola.

Plot Keywords: architect, wife, daughter, bishop, psychic, police detective, emotional ...

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#3. Dangerous Beauty (1998)

Storyline: In 16th century Venice, courtesans enjoy unique privileges: dressed richly in red, they read, compose poetry and music, and discuss affairs of state with the men who govern the Republic. When Veronica Franco comes of age, she cannot marry Marco Venier, whom she loves, because she is well born but penniless. Her choice: cloister or courtesan. She steels her heart, and with beauty and intelligence becomes the best. She's a heroine when she helps convince France to aid Venice in war with Turks, but when plague descends, the Church charges her with witchcraft. At her inquisition, she must match wits with an old rival, speak for all women, and call courage from Venier.

Plot Keywords: aristocrat, courtesan, mother, lover, wrongly accused, zealot, powerful ...

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#4. Othello (1965)

Storyline: Desdemona (Dame Maggie Smith) defies her father to marry the Moor of Venice, the mighty warrior, Othello (Sir Laurence Olivier). But Othello's old Ensign, Iago (Frank Finlay), doesn't like Othello, and is determined to bring about the downfall of Othello's new favorite, Cassio (Sir Derek Jacobi), and destroy Othello in the process, by casting aspersions on Othello's new bride.—Kathy Li

Plot Keywords: othello, senator, iago, desdemona, servant, campy, confident ...

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#5. Prince of Foxes (1949)

Storyline: In 1500, Duke Cesare Borgia hopes to marry his sister (widowed by poison) to the heir apparent of Ferrara, which impedes his conquest of central Italy. On this delicate mission he sends Andrea Orsini, his cousin Angela's lover and nearly as unscrupulous as himself. En route, Orsini meets Camilla Verano, wife of the count of Citta' del Monte (Borgia's next intended conquest); and sentiment threatens to turn him against his deadly master, whom no one betrays twice...—Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

Plot Keywords: ambassador, nobleman, count, wife, sister, thrilling, italy ...

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#6. Wild Man Blues (1997)

Storyline: Academy Award-winner Barbara Kopple directs this documentary portrait of Academy Award and Golden Globe-winner Woody Allen, seen traveling with friends and fellow musicians during their New Orleans jazz band's 1996 European tour. Allen's relationship with his wife Soon-Yi Previn is captured on film here for the first time, and others on the European jaunt include Allen's sister Letty Aronson. Followed by press, paparazzi, and gushing admirers, Allen returns home to face a more realistic critical assessment during "the lunch from hell" with his aged parents.—Anonymous

Plot Keywords: filmmaker, musician, wife, manager, sister, lighthearted, endearing ...

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#7. The Italian Job (2003)

Storyline: Led by John Bridger (Donald Sutherland) and Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) a team is assembled for one last heist to steal $35 million in gold bars from a heavily guarded safe in Venice, Italy. After successfully pulling off the heist, a team member, Steve (Edward Norton), driven by greed and jealousy, arranges to take the gold for himself and eliminate the remaining members of the group. Thinking the team dead, he returns to L.A. with the gold. Charlie and the survivors of this betrayal follow Steve L.A. to exact revenge against the traitor. Charlie enlists the help of John Bridger's daughter, Stella (Charlize Theron) - a professional safe cracker, to get revenge. With Stella and the hacking skills of Lyle (Seth Green), the explosives skills of "Left Ear" (Yasiin Bey), and the driving skills of "Handsome" Rob (Jason Statham) this new team plans and executes a daring heist that weaves through the freeways and subways of L.A.

Plot Keywords: safecracker, daughter, explosives expert, team leader, technician, driver, thrilling ...

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#8. Volpone (1941)

Storyline: Volpone, an elderly Venetian, connives with his money-crazed servant to convince his greedy friends that he is dying, knowing that each will try to curry favor with him in order to be named his heir. He is inundated with valuable gifts, and soon finds himself entangled deeper and deeper in a web of lies.—frankfob2@yahoo.com

Plot Keywords: wealthy man, servant, enemy, schemer, miser, friend, amusing ...

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#9. The Merchant of Venice (2004)

Storyline: Venice, 1596. Melancholy Antonio loves the youthful Bassanio, so when Bassanio asks for 3000 ducats, Antonio says yes before knowing it's to sue for the hand of Portia. His capital tied up in merchant ships at sea, Antonio must go to Shylock, a Jewish moneylender he reviles. Shylock wraps his grudge in kindness, offering a three-month loan at no interest, but if not repaid, Antonio will owe a pound of flesh. The Jew's daughter elopes with a Christian, whetting Shylock's hatred. While Bassanio's away wooing Portia, Antonio's ships founder, and Shylock demands his pound of flesh. With court assembled and a judgment due, Portia swings into action to save Bassanio's friend.

Plot Keywords: jewish man, merchant, businessman, woman, aristocrat, suitor, powerful ...

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#10. Aprile (1998)

Storyline: Nanni, a renowned director, is working on a musical when suddenly he has a change of heart and cancels the film on the first shooting day. He has a new idea, making a documentary about the Italian national elections, but work isn't going very fast, much to the frustration of the crew. Nanni can't stop thinking, worrying and getting excited about the birth and early days of life of his newborn son, yet is torn by his sense of obligation to make the documentary.

Plot Keywords: filmmaker, artist, father, politician, wife, journalist, amusing ...

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#11. The Honey Pot (1967)

Storyline: Inspired by a performance of his favorite play, "Volpone," twentieth century millionaire Cecil Fox (Sir Rex Harrison) devises an intricate plan to trick three of his former mistresses into believing he is dying. Although the women are wealthy in their own right, all have good reason to covet his fortune. To assist him in his scheme, Fox hires William McFly (Cliff Robertson), a gigolo and sometime actor, to act as his secretary/servant. Fox is soon visited at his "deathbed" by the three former mistresses: Merle McGill (Edie Adams), a fading Hollywood sex symbol; Princess Dominique (Capucine), who once took a cruise on Fox's yacht; and Mrs. Lone Star Crockett Sheridan (Susan Hayward), a Texas hypochondriac who travels with an enigmatic nurse/companion (Dame Maggie Smith). As Fox and McFly act out the charade, things take an unexpected turn from comical farce to full-blown murder mystery.—alfiehitchie

Plot Keywords: millionaire, wealthy woman, princess, actress, actor, nurse, amusing ...

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#12. The Lost Moment (1947)

Storyline: In a long flashback, a New York publisher is in Venice pursuing the lost love letters of an early-19th-century poet, Jeffrey Ashton, who disappeared mysteriously. Using a false name, Lewis Venable rents a room from Juliana Bordereau, once Jeffrey Ashton's lover, now an aged recluse. Running the household is Juliana's severe niece, Tina, who mistrusts Venable from the first moment. He realizes all is not right when late one night he finds Tina, her hair unpinned and wild, at the piano. She calls him Jeffrey and throws herself at him. The family priest warns Venable to tread carefully around her fantasies, but he wants the letters at any cost, even Tina's sanity.—<jhailey@hotmail.com>

Plot Keywords: publisher, elderly person, poet, priest, lover, melodramatic, uneasy ...

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#13. Othello (1995)

Storyline: Iago convinces Othello, The Moor of Venice that his wife, Desdemona has been unfaithful. Iago is an evil, manipulative character with his own agenda. A plot of jealousy and rage transpires in this classic Shakespearean tale.—Jason Ihle <jrihl@conncoll.edu>

Plot Keywords: othello, iago, senator, desdemona, lackey, maid, gripping ...

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#14. Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)

Storyline: Mr. Peabody is a business titan, inventor, scientist, gourmand, two-time Olympic medalist and genius...who also happens to be a dog. Using his most ingenious invention, the WABAC machine, Mr. Peabody and his adopted boy Sherman hurtle back in time to experience world-changing events first-hand and interact with some of the greatest characters of all time. But when Sherman breaks the rules of time travel, our two heroes find themselves in a race to repair history and save the future, while Mr. Peabody may face his biggest challenge yet - being a parent.

Plot Keywords: dog, boy, girl, friend, amusing, fascinating, lighthearted ...

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#15. The Garden of Earthly Delights (2004)

Storyline: Claudia and Chris share a passion for interpreting the meaning of symbols. After she learns that she has cancer of the larynx, Claudia decides to spend her last days in Venice. Her obsession with Bosch leads the two to make a garden's visions real through sensual close-ups.

Plot Keywords: man, woman, artist, dreamy, creative, emotional, venice, italy ...

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