Sophia Loren: A Living Legend

Born Sofia Villani Scicolone on September 20, 1934 in Rome, Loren endured much hardship during the first decade of her life. She was brought up in the poverty stricken Neapolitan suburb of Pozzuoli during World War II. She was raised by a single mother who received no support from her father. The odds were stacked against her until one beauty contest changed everything. Loren was just 14 years old when she placed as a finalist in the contest. She was spotted by film producer Carlo Ponti and her life changed forever. He became her mentor and under his supervision, Sophia enrolled in acting classes and shortly thereafter was taking small parts in films. She was originally credited in those films as "Sofia Lazzaro" because people joked her beauty could raise Lazzarus from the dead.

It was clear just from those bit parts that Loren was a leading lady, and it wasn't long until she was a star carrying a movie on her own. Her first starring role came in 1953 in the Italian film version of, "Aida." Loren played the title role, a performance that was met with critical acclaim. She also earned accolades in Vittorio De Sica's 1954 comedy and tribute to Naples, "L'oro di Napoli" (The Gold of Naples). Loren quickly became a superstar in Italy and crossed the border with her first international hit that same year, "La Donna del Fiume" (The River Girl).

Her first English-language film came three years later in 1957 with "Boy on a Dolphin" co-starring Alan Ladd. Loren's most memorable scene was emerging from the water in a wet, transparent dress. She went on to appear in many more American films, although they weren't all received with rave reviews. In 1960 she returned to work in Italy and starred in the violent wartime film, "La Ciociara" (Two Women). Her performance earned her an Oscar for Best Actress and was the first Academy Award ever given for a role in a foreign language film.

Through the '60s, '70s and '80s, Loren worked on both sides of the Atlantic and it was during those years that she made her blockbuster hits with the beloved Italian maestro, Marcello Mastroianni. Among their most cherished films are Ettore Scola's "Una Giornata Particolare" (A Special Day) and Vittorio De Sica's 1963 comedy anthology, "Ieri, oggi, domani" (Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow).

Watch Loren and Mastroianni talk about "A Special Day" with host Dick Cavett..

Then there is "Matrimonio all'Italiana" (Marriage Italian Style) with Loren as a prostitute who tricks Mastroianni into marriage. The two had so much chemistry, their scenes together just seem effortless. She didn't act very much in the '80s but made a bit of a comeback in the '90s with roles in Robert Altman's, "Ready to Wear" and the comedy "Grumpier Old Men." During the last 20 years, she's done a number of things outside acting including authoring cook books and designing eye wear, jewelry and perfume. In 2001, Loren received a Special Grand Prix of the Americas Award at the Montreal World Film Festival for her performance in her son, Edoardo Ponti's independent film, "Between Strangers." Her most recent film was her 2009 role in Rob Marshall's film version of "Nine," which was adapted from playwright Mario Fratti's stage production.

Through the years, Loren stayed close to her husband's side. Ponti was 22 years her senior. He played an enormous role in her life. Some say that he was the only father figure she ever had, but he was also her mentor and acting coach and ultimately was responsible for making her the star that she is today. The couple have two sons, Carlo Ponti, Jr. who is a renowned orchestral conductor and Edoardo, who followed in his parents' footsteps and became a filmmaker. Carlo Ponti passed away in 2007, and Loren said that she would never marry again because "it would be impossible to love anyone else."

Loren is a living legend, and it's gratifying to look back on her work through the years and enjoy the passion, dignity and respect she has brought to each and every role. She is the very definition of "class."

Comments

Federico Fellini: A Look into the Life and Career of an Icon

A Fellini family portrait “The term became a common word to describe something on the surface you can say is bizarre or strange, but actually is really like a painter working on a film,” said Martin Scorsese when asked to define “Felliniesque,” an adjective inspired by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The oldest of three children, Federico Fellini was born in the seaside town of Rimini in 1920. His father was a traveling salesman, so his mother was left to do the bulk of raising the children. One can argue that Fellini was born for his destiny. “You could tell that even as a child, he was different and unique. He was very intelligent, well above average. He was always the one to organize things, direct the others, make up games. He could control the other kids with just a look, said Fellini’s sister, Maddalena, in an interview with journalist Gideon Bachmann. Not only was Fellini directing the children, but he was also putting on shows and charging ...

Ornella Muti: Four decades of Acting and Still Going Strong

Ornella Muti was born Francesca Romana Rivelli in Rome in 1955 to a Neapolitan father and an Estonian mother. She began her career as a model during her teenage years and made her film debut in 1970 with La Moglie più bella (The Most Beautiful Wife). Her follow-up role was in the 1971 film, Sole nella pelle (Sun on the Skin) in which she played the daughter of wealthy parents who runs off with a hippie they don’t approve of. The film offers a telling journey through Italian society in the seventies with the political climate, the breathtaking seaside as well as the styles and cars of that time. Much of the film is set amid the sunny Italian seaside and succeeds in capturing the innocence and beauty of first love. Muti made her American film debut in 1980 with Flash Gordon . She played the role of Princess Aura. She’s appeared in two other American films, including, Oscar , which was directed by John Landis and featured Don Ameche, Chaz Palminteri, and...

Iconic scenes from 'Totò, Peppino e la malafemmina' highlight Italy's North-South divide

If you’re in the mood for a quintessential old-school Italian comedy, look no further than “Totò, Peppino e la malafemmina.” Directed in the mid-1950s by Camillo Mastrocinque, the film has stood the test of time. Starring two of Italy’s most beloved comic actors, Totò (Antonio De Curtis) and Peppino De Filippo, it is widely regarded as one of the country’s most iconic comedies, showcasing mid-century Neapolitan humor. The film also features a young Nino Manfredi at the beginning of his prolific six-decade career. “Totò, Peppino e la malafemmina” is the story of two simple, old-fashioned brothers from Naples, Antonio and Peppino Caponi (Totò and De Filippo respectively), who embark on a trip up north to check on their young nephew Gianni. Gianni has moved to Milan and fallen for a seductive nightclub dancer named Marisa (Maria Luisa Mangini, aka Dorian Gray), whom they refer to as a “malafemmina,” meaning a “bad woman” or femme fatale. Believing she is corrupting him, Totò and Peppino ...

Cineuropa's Interview with Michele Placido

It was announced this week that Michele Placido's new film, "7 minuti" will be shown at this year's Rome Film Festival. 11 amazing actresses women star in "7 minuti" by Michele Placido , a drama co-produced by Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland and being distributed by German company Koch Media. The cast features Cristiana Capotondi , Ambra Angiolini , Fiorella Mannoia , Maria Nazionale , Ottavia Piccolo , Violante Placido , Sabine Timoteo , Anne Consigny , Mimma Lovoi and Clémence Poésy . The film is based on the play of the same name by Stefano Massini, who wrote the screenplay with Placido, and is the story of 11 women, a mixture of manual labourers and office workers, who are called to the negotiation table when the owners of the textiles company they work for sell the majority of their shares to a multinational. In a short space of time they must decide, for themselves and on the behalf of their fellow colleagues, whether to accept the...

A Conversation with Actor- Luca Calvani from Warner Bros. Upcoming Release "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."

The cast and filmmakers of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in Rome A few years ago, I interviewed actor, Luca Calvani on the occasion of his U.S. release, When in Rome . Today, we are revisiting our conversation as he is promoting his much anticipated spy thriller, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Directed by Guy Ritchie, the all-star cast includes Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander, Elizabeth Debicki, Jared Harris, and Hugh Grant. Based on the television series by Sam Rolfe, the story is set in the 1960's and follows CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB operative Illya Kuryakin as they participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons. The U.S. release date is set for August 14, but the cast recently did some press for the film in the Eternal City, where much of it was shot. Luca Calvani Born in Tuscany, Calvani has traveled the world following his career. He began working as a model in the 1990's...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog