Comedy Groundbreaker Franca Valeri

Comedic pioneer Franca Valeri was born Alma Franca Maria Norsa in Milan in 1920 to a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother. Forced to hide her religious identity during World War II, she turned personal sorrow into cinematic triumph in the decades to come.

In 1949, she founded Teatro dei Gobbi with fellow actors Luciano Salce and future husband Vittorio Caprioli. The trio invented a comedic performance style that focused on speed and timing. Unsure of how this new formula would be received in Italy, they decided to make their debut in Paris. “Italy is always a little scary to those who want to invent something new. It is always a bit hostile, a bit mocking,” Valeri told Rai Cultura. “Since the guys had already done a little experiment in Paris with the Piccolo Teatro di Milano, we decided to debut in Montmartre and had an incredible success.”

When work began to pick up, she adopted the stage name Franca Valeri because her father didn’t approve of a life in show business. She was inspired by a friend who was reading a book by French writer Paul Valéry.

During those busy years, Valeri’s career as a writer and creator of her own characters and scripts took off. Among her earliest creations — one she would return to throughout her life — was Signorina Snob. An uppity, highbrow type inspired by her Milanese roots, the character originally appeared on radio and was later adapted for the stage and television. In an early incarnation, Valeri hilariously plays the parts of both Signorina and the manicurist doing her nails.

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Valeri appeared in dozens of television shows and films in the course of her seven-decade career. Among the films available in the United States is Dino Risi’s 1955 comedy “Il segno di Venere” (The Sign of Venus), which Valeri wrote. The story follows Milan-born Cesira (Valeri), who lives in the shadow of her tall, beautiful Roman cousin Agnese, played by Sophia Loren. “Together, they were Italy,” the Corriere della Sera declared. Click here to watch the film on Netflix.

Valeri often worked as a screenwriter alongside her male counterparts, providing a contemporary woman’s point of view. In so doing, she created and brought to life some of the most beloved characters of the commedia all’italiana genre. She later remarked on how beautiful it was to be a part of those films, describing her iconic collaborators as a big group of friends.

In Steno’s 1955 “Piccola posta,” Valeri plays Lady Eva, a popular advice columnist whose writings sometimes get her readers into trouble. When one of them follows her advice and enters an upscale nursing home, Lady Eva pays her a visit. There, she meets the manager, conman Rodolfo Vanzino (Alberto Sordi), who makes a practice of befriending the home’s aging women in the hopes they will make him a beneficiary to their fortunes. It’s a joy to watch these master comedians share epic scenes together while in the prime of their careers.

In Giorgio Bianchi’s 1959 “Il moralista” (The Moralist), Valeri and Sordi team up again to play Virginia and Agostino, a young couple set up in a new home by Virginia’s father and Agostino’s boss, played by Vittorio De Sica. Polar opposites, Virginia is outgoing and confident, while Agostino is awkward and self-righteous. An endearing dance scene reflects the closeness of their off-screen friendship. The two worked together often and were clearly at ease with each other. Their comic timing was impeccable and their chemistry strong.

In May of 2020, two months before her 100th birthday, Valeri received an Honorary David di Donatello Award for lifetime achievement. She celebrated her milestone birthday on July 31 and passed away in her sleep nine days later on Aug. 9. Younger Italians adored her despite her advanced age, making her a cinematic force to be reckoned with until the very end.

Stream "Piccola posta" and "Il moralista" on Amazon.. Click here to follow an Instagram account created in her honor.

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