Wikipedia

Monica Vitti

Maria Luisa Ceciarelli(3 November 1931 – 2 February 2022), known professionally asMonica Vitti,was an Italian actress who starred in several award-winning films directed byMichelangelo Antonioniduring the 1960s.[1]She appeared withMarcello Mastroianni,Alain Delon,Richard Harris,Terence Stamp,andDirk Bogarde.On her death, Italian culture ministerDario Franceschinicalled her "the Queen of Italian cinema".[2][3]

Monica Vitti
Vitti in 1965
Born
Maria Luisa Ceciarelli

(1931-11-03)3 November 1931
Rome,Kingdom of Italy
Died2 February 2022(2022-02-02)(aged 90)
Rome,Italy
OccupationActress
Years active1954–1992
Spouse
Roberto Russo
​
(m.2000)​

Vitti won fiveDavid di Donatello Awardsfor Best Actress, sevenItalian Golden Globesfor Best Actress, the Career Golden Globe, and theVenice Film FestivalCareer Golden Lion Award.[4]

Early life

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Born Maria Luisa Ceciarelli in Rome on 3 November 1931 to Adele Vittiglia and Angelo Ceciarelli. She took her stage name from her mother's maiden name.[5][6]Vitti acted in amateur productions as a teenager, then trained as an actress at Rome'sNational Academy of Dramatic Arts(graduating in 1953) and at Pittman's College, where she played a teen in a charity performance ofDario Niccodemi'sLa nemica.She toured Germany with an Italian acting troupe, and her first stage appearance in Rome was for a production ofNiccolò Machiavelli'sLa Mandragola.[citation needed]

Vitti as Marisa Cecciarelli early in her career (1953)

Film career

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Early roles

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Vitti's first film role was an uncredited bit part inEdoardo Anton'sLaugh! Laugh! Laugh!(1954).[7]She was inAdriana Lecouvreur(1955),[8]the TV seriesL'alfiere(1956)[9]and the TV moviesQuesti ragazzi(1956)[10][9]andIl tunnel(1958).[11]She did an episode of the television seriesMont-Oriol(1958)[citation needed]and dubbedRossana Rory's voice inBig Deal on Madonna Street(1958).[citation needed]

Vitti's first widely noted performance was at 26, inMario Amendola'sLe dritte(1958) withFranco Fabrizi.[12]She was in the TV movieIl borghese gentiluomo(1959).[13][14]

Antonioni

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In 1957 she joinedMichelangelo Antonioni'sTeatro Nuovo di Milanoand dubbed the voice ofDorian Grayin the director'sIl Grido(The Cry,1957). Over the next several years in several "intense portraits of alienation she became the perfect mouthpiece for Antonioni himself".[15]She played a leading role in Antonioni's internationally praised filmL'Avventura(1960) as a detached and cool protagonist drifting into a relationship with the lover of her missing girlfriend.[2][16]Giving a screen presence that has been described as "stunning", she is also credited with helping Antonioni raise money for the production and sticking with him through daunting location shooting.[citation needed]L'Avventuramade Vitti an international star.[6]Her image later appeared on an Italian postage stamp commemorating the film.[17]According toThe New York Times,Vitti's "air of disenchantment perfectly conveys the unreal aura of her heroines."[18]

Vitti received critical praise for her starring roles in the Antonioni filmLa Notte(Night,1961), withJeanne MoreauandMarcello Mastroianni.[6]Vitti starred in a TV movieLe notti bianche(1962),[19]then did a third with Antonioni,L'Eclisse(1962) withAlain Delon.[20]

Vitti was one of many stars in an anthology movie,Three Fables of Love(1962).[citation needed]She had a cameo inSweet and Sour(1963) and played the lead in a comedy forRoger Vadim,Nutty, Naughty Chateau(1963).[citation needed]Vitti was then in another anthology filmHigh Infidelity(1964)[citation needed]and made a fourth with Antonioni,Il Deserto Rosso(Red Desert,1964), withRichard Harris.[2][21]The director said Vitti "certainly inspires me, because I like to watch and direct her, but the parts I give her are a long way from her own character."[22]After Vitti's relationship with Antonioni ended, the two did not work together again untilIl mistero di Oberwald(1980).[23]

Vitti starred in a comedy forTinto Brass,The Flying Saucer(1964), and appeared in the anthology,The Dolls(1964).[24]

International films

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Vitti inThe Girl with a Pistol(1968)

Vitti's first English-language film wasModesty Blaise(1966), amodJames Bondspy spoof that co-starredTerence StampandDirk Bogardeand was directed byJoseph Losey:it had only mixed success and received harsh critical reviews.[25][3]

She performed in the anthology movieThe Queens(1966),[citation needed]a television seriesLes fables de La Fontaine(1966),[citation needed]Kill Me Quick, I'm Cold(1967) withJean Sorel,[citation needed]andI Married You for Fun(1967).[citation needed]

Vitti appeared inOn My Way to the Crusades, I Met a Girl Who...(1967) withTony Curtis,[16]The Girl with a Pistol(1968) withStanley Baker,[26]The Bitch Wants Blood(1969) withMaurice Ronet,[citation needed]andHelp Me, My Love(1969) withAlberto Sordi.[27]

1970s

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Vitti inDuck in Orange Sauce(1975)

Vitti starred withMarcello MastroianniinEttore Scola's highly successful romantic comedy,Dramma della gelosia(The Pizza Triangle,1970).[6]She followed it withNinì Tirabusciò, la donna che inventò la mossa(1970),[citation needed]Le coppie(1970) with Sordi,[citation needed]The Pacifist(1970),[citation needed]La supertestimone(1971),[citation needed]That's How We Women Are(1971),[citation needed]andOrders Are Orders(1972).[28]

Vitti was in a version ofLa Tosca(1973)[5]and in several comedies directed byCarlo Di Palma,who was her partner for several years in the 1970s, beginning withTeresa the Thief(1973).[29]She madePolvere di stelle(1973), directed byAlberto Sordi,[5]for which she won the 1974David di Donatello award for Best Actress.[30]

Vitti played a key part in one of the vignettes inLuis Buñuel'sThe Phantom of Liberty(1974).[31]She did two films withClaudia Cardinale,The Immortal Bachelor(1975)[32]andBlonde in Black Leather(1975).[29][33]

She was inDuck in Orange Sauce(1975),[34]Mimì Bluette... fiore del mio giardino(1976),[29]Basta che non si sappia in giro!..(1977),[35]L'altra metà del cielo(1977),[36]State Reasons(1978),[citation needed]Il cilindro(1978, for television),[citation needed]Per vivere meglio, divertitevi con noi(1978),[citation needed]Amori miei(1978),[37]andTigers in Lipstick(1979) (withUrsula Andress).[citation needed]

Vitti's second English-language film wasAn Almost Perfect Affair(1979), directed byMichael Ritchieand co-starringKeith Carradine,which was set during theCannes Film Festival.[38]ANew York Timesarticle from that period reported Vitti had resisted starring in American films as she did not like long travel, especially by air, and believed that her English was not of a high enough standard.[39]Indeed, such was her aversion to travelling from Europe that Paramount Pictures was apparently forced to cancel the first leg of a publicity tour organised in the US to promote the release ofAn Almost Perfect Affair.[40]

Later career

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Vitti in 1990

Vitti reunited with Antonioni inThe Mystery of Oberwald(Il mistero di Oberwald,1980).[39]She followed it withI Don't Understand You Anymore(1980),Camera d'albergo(1981),Tango of Jealousy(1981),I Know That You Know That I Know(1982) with Sordi,Scusa se è poco(1982),Flirt(1983), andFrancesca è mia(1986).[citation needed]She also co-wrote the last two films.[citation needed]In 1984, France awarded her theOrder of Arts and Letters.French Culture MinisterJack Langpraised her for helping spur a renewal of Italian films: "We need Italian cinema to find its health again so that French cinema will not remain an island in the middle of other European countries," Lang said.[41]On 26 January 1995, she was raised to the rank of Commander of that Order.[42]By 1986, Vitti had returned to the theatre as an actress and teacher.[citation needed]

In 1989, Vitti tried writing and directing and createdScandalo Segreto(1990), in which she also starred alongsideElliott Gould.[23]The film was unsuccessful commercially and she then retired from cinema.[2]During the 1990s, she did television work, acting in the television miniseriesMa tu mi vuoi bene?(1992).[43]

In 1993, Vitti was awarded the Festival Tribute at theCréteilInternational Women's Film Festival in France.[44]

Personal life and death

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Antonioni and Vitti met in the late 1950s, and their relationship grew stronger afterL'Avventurawas made, because it had shaped both their careers. By the late 1960s, they ceased working on films, making the relationship strained until it officially ended.[citation needed]In a later interview, Vitti stated that Antonioni ended their relationship.[citation needed]For several years in the 1970s her partner wasCarlo Di Palma,best known as a cinematographer though she starred in three films he directed.[29]In 2000, Vitti married Roberto Russo, with whom she had been in a relationship since 1973.[45]She made her last public appearance in 2002 when she attended the Paris premiere of the stage musicalNotre-Dame de Paris.[46][47]In 2011, it was disclosed thatAlzheimer's diseasehad "removed her from the public gaze for the last 15 years".[48][49]In 2018, her husband confirmed she was still living at home with him in Rome and that he looked after her with the assistance of a caregiver.[50]Vitti died of complications fromDementia with Lewy bodiesdisease in Rome on 2 February 2022, at the age of 90.[2][51]

Awards

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Filmography

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Television

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References

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  1. ^"Monica Vitti, Italian Film Icon, Dies at 90".The Hollywood Reporter.2 February 2022.Retrieved15 December2024.
  2. ^abcdeLyman, Rick (2 February 2022)."Monica Vitti, 'Queen of Italian Cinema,' Dies at 90".The New York Times.Retrieved7 December2022.
  3. ^ab"Monica Vitti: 'Queen of Italian cinema' dies at 90".BBC News.2 February 2022.Retrieved3 February2022.
  4. ^Enrico Lancia (1998).I premi del cinema.Gremese Editore, 1998.ISBN978-8877422217.
  5. ^abcArgentieri, Mino."Vitti, Monica"(in Italian). Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana fondata da Giovanni Treccani S.p.A.Retrieved7 December2022.
  6. ^abcdLane, John Francis (2 February 2022)."Monica Vitti obituary".The Guardian.Retrieved3 February2022.
  7. ^"Farewell to Monica Vitti, the queen of Italian cinema".finestresullarte.info.Retrieved5 January2025.
  8. ^"Addio a Monica Vitti, l'attrice italiana è deceduta a Roma".Blasting News(in Italian). 2 February 2022.Retrieved5 January2025.
  9. ^abGideon, Baiden (3 February 2022)."Monica Vitti Cause Of Death: How Did Monica Vitti Die?".ABTC.Retrieved5 January2025.
  10. ^Gianna, Francesca (2 November 2021)."Monica Vitti compie 90 anni".Agrpress(in Italian).Retrieved5 January2025.
  11. ^"Ci lascia Monica Vitti – alleo.it".alleo.it.Retrieved5 January2025.
  12. ^"Le dritte (1958)".Archivo del Cinema Italiano(in Italian).Retrieved7 December2022.
  13. ^Kaidan, Melanie (2 February 2022)."Monica Vitti dead: Legendary Italian actress dies aged 90 battle with Alzheimer's".Daily Express.Retrieved7 December2022.
  14. ^Features/Articles/People: Monica Vitti. Walter, Eugene.Vogue;New York Vol. 147, Iss. 4, (15 February 1966): 122, 123, 124, 125, 155.
  15. ^Moliterno, Gino (2009)."Vitti, Monica (1932–)".The A to Z of Italian Cinema.Scarecrow Press. pp.334–5.ISBN978-0-8108-7059-8.Retrieved8 December2022.
  16. ^abPendreigh, Brian (10 February 2022)."Scotsman Obituaries: Monica Vitti, Italian screen queen".The Scotsman.Retrieved13 June2024.
  17. ^"Bellaria: a stamp for Raffaella Carrà. From today the cancellation on the first day of issue".Italy 24 Press News. 25 November 2022.Retrieved7 December2022.a portrait of Monica Vitti with her handwritten signature on the left
  18. ^Davis, Melton S. (15 November 1964)."Most Controversial Director".The New York Times.Retrieved7 December2022.
  19. ^"Il faro Aprà per I mille occhi".il manifesto(in Italian). 13 September 2024.Retrieved15 December2024.
  20. ^Houston, Penelope. "The Eclipse".Sight and Sound;London Vol. 32, Iss. 2 (Spring 1963): 90.
  21. ^Molli, Jeanne (29 March 1964)."Antonioni's Tinted 'Red Desert'".The New York Times.Retrieved13 June2024.
  22. ^In the Red Desert Manceaux, Michele.Sight and Sound;London Vol. 33, Iss. 3, (Summer 1964): 118.
  23. ^abScandal, sex, lies and Vitti tapes: After a life in front of the camera, Monica Vitti has stepped behind it as director Vidal, John.The Guardian11 May 1990: 36.
  24. ^Crowther, Bosley (29 June 1965)."Screen: Italian Vignettes:Gina Lollobrigida Tops International Cast".The New York Times.
  25. ^Crowther, Bosley (21 August 1966)."Immodesty and 'Modesty Blaise'".The New York Times.Retrieved7 December2022.
  26. ^abMoliterno, Gino (2009).The A to Z of Italian Cinema.Scarecrow Press. p. 369.ISBN978-0-8108-7059-8.Retrieved8 December2022.
  27. ^Movie Call Sheet: Columbia to Film 'Gorgeous'. Martin, Betty.Los Angeles Times19 September 1966: C28.
  28. ^Beauty Bulletin: Monica Vitti: A Woman for All Seasons,Vogue;New York Vol. 156, Iss. 9, (15 November 1970): 148, 149.
  29. ^abcdMoliterno, Gino (2009).The A to Z of Italian Cinema.Scarecrow Press. p. 115.ISBN978-0-8108-7059-8.Retrieved8 December2022.
  30. ^Simpson, Victor L. (2 February 2022)."'Queen of Italian cinema' Monica Vitti dies at age 90 ".Associated Press.Retrieved13 June2024.
  31. ^Canby, Vincent (14 October 1974)."Brilliant Bunuel Film Closes 12th Festival".The New York Times.Retrieved7 December2022.
  32. ^"The Immortal Bachelor".Roger Ebert.28 November 1980.Retrieved7 December2022.
  33. ^Moliterno, Gino (2020).Historical Dictionary of Italian Cinema.Rowman and Littlefield. p. 170.ISBN978-1-5381-1948-8.Retrieved7 December2022.
  34. ^abMoliterno, Gino (2009).The A to Z of Italian Cinema.Scarecrow Press. p. 389.ISBN978-0-8108-7059-8.Retrieved8 December2022.
  35. ^"Monica Vitti: the great Italian actress turns 90".Florence Daily News.4 November 2021.Retrieved15 December2024.
  36. ^"Ricordando Monica Vitti".vanityfair.it.
  37. ^abMoliterno, Gino (2009).The A to Z of Italian Cinema.Scarecrow Press. p. 373.ISBN978-0-8108-7059-8.Retrieved8 December2022.
  38. ^OF PIRATES AND PERRIER. Rosenfield, Paul.Los Angeles Times26 August 1979: m1.
  39. ^abAt the Movies: Monica Vitti working again on a project with Antonioni. Buckley, Tom.The New York Times,11 May 1979: C6.
  40. ^If Vanessa talks Trotsky, Timothy trots. Adams Sloan, Robin.Detroit Free Press16 April 1979: 11B.
  41. ^"France honors actress Monica Vitti".The Globe and Mail.7 March 1984. p. M.9.
  42. ^"Archives du Bureau du Cabinet du ministre de la Culture. Ordre des arts et lettres (1962-2000)".Archives Nationales(in French). p. 91.Retrieved7 December2022.
  43. ^"MA TU MI VUOI BENE? (1992)".British Film Institute.Archived fromthe originalon 19 April 2021.Retrieved7 December2022.
  44. ^"Créteil: Monica Vitti, au 15e Festival de films de femmes".L'Humanité(in French). 12 February 1993.Retrieved7 December2022.
  45. ^Porro, Maurizio (5 November 2020)."Monica Vitti compie 89 anni: la verità sulla malattia, il marito: «Ci capiamo con gli occhi»".Corriere della sera(in Italian).Retrieved30 May2021.
  46. ^""Ecco come sta mia moglie". Monica Vitti e la verità sulla sua malattia ".17 January 2018.
  47. ^"Monica Vitti: the last appearance before the illness".tipsforwomens.org.10 December 2019. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021.
  48. ^"Antonioni's muse is 80: Happy Birthday Monica Vitti".3 November 2011.
  49. ^"Monica Vitti, Star of Antonioni Masterpieces, Dies at 90".Variety.2 February 2022.Retrieved15 December2024.
  50. ^"Il marito di Monica Vitti:" Basta fake news, non è in una clinica svizzera "".18 January 2018.
  51. ^"Monica Vitti obituary".The Times.ISSN0140-0460.Retrieved3 February2022.
  52. ^"Berlinale: 1984 Winners".Berlinale.Retrieved4 January2011.
  53. ^Moliterno, Gino (2009).The A to Z of Italian Cinema.Scarecrow Press. p. 362.ISBN978-0-8108-7059-8.Retrieved8 December2022.

Further reading

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  • Antonioni, Michelangelo (1963).Michelangelo Antonioni: an introduction.Trans. by Scott Sullivan. New York: Simon and Schuster
  • Arrowsmith, William & Perry, Ted, eds. (1995).Antonioni: the poet of images.New York: Oxford University Press
  • Borsatti, Cristina (2005).Monica Vitti.Palermo: L'epos
  • Brunette, Peter (1998).The Films of Michelangelo Antonioni.New York: Cambridge University Press
  • Chatman, Seymour (1985).Antonioni, or the Surface of the World.Berkeley: University of California Press
  • Delli Colli, Laura (1987).Monica Vitti.Rome: Gremese Editore
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