The Italian film star has died at the age of 95. She was stunningly beautiful and was constantly being pursued by men including her co-stars. I am sure that I am not the only one of my generation who would go to see her films just to see her.
Mostly famously, rich recluse Howard Hughes, based on some photos that he had seen of her, tried everything in his power to try and persuade her to divorce her husband and marry him, including asking her to come to the US for a screen test.
He tracked Lollobrigida down and offered a screen test. She accepted, expecting her husband to accompany her to America. On the day of departure, only one of the tickets Hughes had promised showed up.
Hughes had divorce lawyers waiting at the airport. She was installed in a luxury hotel, given a secretary and a chauffeur, and bombarded with proposals.
He had prepared everything. Even the screen test turned out to be a scene about the end of a marriage.
The trip lasted nearly three months. She saw him daily – fending off pass after pass. To avoid the press, they often ate at cheap restaurants or in the back of his car.
Although the behaviour was clearly abusive, Lollobrigida said she enjoyed the attention. “He was very tall, very interesting,” she later recalled. “Much more interesting than my husband.”
Before she departed for Rome, Hughes presented her with a seven-year contract. It made it hugely expensive for any other US studio to hire her. “I signed it because I wanted to go home,” she said.
Hughes didn’t give up. His lawyers pursued her as far as the Algerian desert – where she was making a film. Her husband was understanding about the decade-long infatuation. He’d even play the lawyers at tennis.
Was she a great actor? Women of great beauty often have their other talents overshadowed by their looks. Marilyn Monroe is a case in point. Like Monroe, she had a flair for romantic comedy, not an easy genre to pull off, and I remember well two films in particular Come September (1961) with co-star Rock Hudson, and Buona Sera Mrs. Campbell (1968). The former in particular had a very catchy theme tune that I remember to this day.
Why mentioning MarilynM? Why not Sophia Loren and Claudia Cardinale? Not exactly ugly either and way better actors. If you’ve never seen Una Giornata Particolara you don’t want drama can be like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KloWrqcHAF0
GinaL never made a movie remotely comparable to this one.
This rendering of the song in veena is great.
She was about 20 years older than me. So she was a thing as I was reaching adulthood. I remember her name from the popular press and such but, in retrospect, I have no recollection of ever seeing her or even being aware of what she looked like. Seems kind of strange in this age of knowing virtually everyone, at least visually.
My family lived in Hollywood through most of the 20th century. Although none of us ever entered the movie life, my uncle, who claimed to know nearly everyone, also claimed to have been acquainted with Hughes and at one time had some sort of offer to me in some movie or other. He also had a tendency to exaggerate a bit. Jus’say’n.
@ 1 mnb0
The post’s about her dying, you nut. The reference to Monroe was to make a specific point.
Why would you expect Mano to mention random still living actors in an obituary about a specific person?