Focusing on the era between 1945 and 1953, this book delves into the tensions surrounding stardom in Italian cinema, highlighting the clash between neorealist filmmakers who sought to downplay stars and the public's fascination with them. It provides in-depth analyses of both prominent and lesser-known actors, illustrating how their careers reflect the evolving relationship between cinema and society amid Italy's political changes and emerging national identities.
The book delves into the complex relationship between film stardom and politics during Fascist Italy, highlighting how the Mussolini regime influenced the star system from the advent of sound cinema until 1945. It closely analyzes the careers of prominent actors like Isa Miranda and Vittorio De Sica, exploring their connections to political dynamics and commercial culture. Additionally, it examines their legacies in the context of post-Fascist cinema, addressing how these stars are remembered and represented in the aftermath of the regime.
On 9 April 1953 an attractive twenty-one-year-old woman went missing from her family home in Rome. Thirty-six hours later her body was found washed up on a neglected beach. Some said it was suicide; others, a tragic accident. But as the police tried to close the case, darker rumours bubbled to the surface. Could it be that the mysterious death of this quiet, conservative girl was linked to a drug-fuelled orgy, involving some of the richest and most powerful men in Italy?
Stephen Gundle explains what glamour is, where it came from, and how it has developed over the last two centuries - right up to the present day.