Luigi Comencini, master storyteller of Italian life, dies at 90
Luigi Comencini, who was born on June 8, 1916, in Salò and passed away in Rome on April 6, 2007, played a significant role in the Italian neorealism movement alongside Dino Risi and Mario Monicelli. He rose to prominence with his films "Pane, amore e fantasia" (1953) and "Pane, amore e gelosia" (1954), starring Vittorio De Sica and Gina Lollobrigida. His 1960 work "Tutti a casa," depicting the chaos of the army after the September 8, 1943 armistice, is considered a cinematic classic. Comencini also directed "La ragazza di Bube" (1963), "Incompreso" (1966), and "Infanzia, vocazione e prime esperienze di Giacomo Casanova, veneziano" (1969), as well as ventured into television with "Le avventure di Pinocchio" (1972) and the giallo genre in "La donna della domenica" (1975). His later films include "Voltati Eugenio" (1980) and "Buon Natale… buon anno" (1982).
Key facts
- Luigi Comencini was born in Salò on June 8, 1916, and died in Rome on April 6, 2007.
- He was a founding father of Italian neorealism alongside Dino Risi and Mario Monicelli.
- His early films include 'Pane, amore e fantasia' (1953) and 'Pane, amore e gelosia' (1954) starring Vittorio De Sica and Gina Lollobrigida.
- He studied architecture and worked as both architect and director.
- His 1960 film 'Tutti a casa' is considered a masterpiece of Italian cinema, set after the September 8, 1943 armistice.
- The screenplay for 'Tutti a casa' was written by Age & Scarpelli, starring Alberto Sordi.
- In 1972, he directed the TV miniseries 'Le avventure di Pinocchio' with Nino Manfredi, Gina Lollobrigida, Franco Franchi, and Ciccio Ingrassia.
- In 1978, he conducted the survey 'L'amore in Italia' with 80 interviews across five episodes.
- His later films include 'Voltati Eugenio' (1980), 'Buon Natale… buon anno' (1982) with Virna Lisi and Michel Serrault, and 'Marcellino pane e vino' (1991).
- He directed TV miniseries 'Cuore' and a RAI production on Christopher Columbus.
- His daughters Cristina and Francesca continued his work in film and television.
Entities
Artists
- Luigi Comencini
- Dino Risi
- Mario Monicelli
- Vittorio De Sica
- Gina Lollobrigida
- Alberto Sordi
- Eduardo de Filippo
- Claudia Cardinale
- Nino Manfredi
- Franco Franchi
- Ciccio Ingrassia
- Marcello Mastroianni
- Jacqueline Bisset
- Virna Lisi
- Michel Serrault
- Cristina Comencini
- Francesca Comencini
- Age & Scarpelli
- Nanni Loy
- Maria Rosaria Porcaro
Institutions
- RAI
- Artspecialday
- MIfacciodiCultura
Locations
- Salò
- Rome
- Italy
- Naples