Rossano Brazzi and Marcello Mastroianni, remembering two of Italy's dynamic leading men
In my opinion, the two most romantic and dynamic Italian leading men, imported from Italy, were Marcello Mastroianni and Rossano Brazzi. Just saying and hearing their names titillated American woman......and when these actors emoted on the big screen...well, it was like every adult female in the audience believed it was for her eyes only.
In 1961, when Photoplay magazine asked its readers to vote for their favorite new Hollywood actor, Italian born stars Marcello Mastroianni and Rossano Brazzi finished first and second, respectively, on a list that included Italian Americans Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. During the 1960s, when much of the film industry was in the doldrums film directors and stars, imported from Italy, attracted audiences back to the movie houses. These internationally famous superstars created an enviable image of the cool, good-looking jet setter.
Marcello Mastroianni, with his tall, dark, handsome good looks just naturally filled the roll of the bon vivant man of the world. American movie fans adored his on screen persona. While his rakish smile and devil-may-care attitude, appealed to American men, who envied his unencumbered lifestyle? But it was Mastroianni's sensitive, romantic, nature that attracted his faithful female followers.
Mastroianni was born in 1924, in Fontana, Italy, but his family would soon move to Turin and then on to Rome. The Italian star's real life may have been more exciting then some of his movie rolls. As a young man, serving in the military during W.W.II, Mastroianni was captured and sent to a German prison camp. He managed to escape and hide in Venice at the home of friends and relative. After the war Mastroianni tried his hand at acting. His breakthrough film came in 1960, when Federico Fellini cast the sexy actor as an attractive, journalist in the jet-set film, La Dolce Vita (1960) This film would prove to be the genesis of his "Latin lover" persona.
When asked about his famous role in this Fellini film, the actor is said to have told interviewers that he was hired because Fellini thought he had a "terribly ordinary face."
Mastroianni was never one to take his star status seriously. In fact, he couldn't understand why some method actors made working in films so much work. "I just do what comes naturally," said Mastroianni, "no preparation, no hours of studying, and it's always turns out to be more fun than work."
Mastroianni starred in a series of films with the equally famous and romantic leading actress, Sophia Loren. One of the most memorable films was Ieri, Oggi, Domani (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) (1963). These films proved to be Italy's most popular paring of a male and female star in the 20th century. Award winning Costumes by Christian Dior enhanced these films, which exploits the enormous appeal of both stars. When asked by a reporter why he rarely portrayed mobsters in his films, Mastroianni answered with a wink, "I'm a lover, not a fighter." He more than lived up to that reputation.
Marcello Mastroianni was wed to Flora Carabella since 1948. However, at his bedside when he died were his long time, extra marital amore, actress Catherine Deneuve, and their love child Chiara. It seems this Latin lover's personal life was not far from the on screen romantic characters he portrayed.
During the 1950s and 60s another Italian born star, Rossano Brazzi, came to represent the fascinating Italian man. Born in Bologna, Italy, in 1917, Brazzi's life was turned upside down when his parents were killed by the Fascists. He fled his hometown and joined a repertory company just before the war in 1937. During WWII, Brazzi joined the resistance groups in Rome working with his fellow countrymen to fight and defy oppression. It seems this actor's real life was as exciting as his screen characters.
It wasn't until 1954 that Brazzi would ignite the screen in the romantic film, Three Coins in the Fountain (1954). He later starred in David Lean's romantic film Summertime (1955). An unforgettable film that still rekindles and inspires the romantic soul.
Brazzi was sympathetic in, The Barefoot Contessa (1954) disarming in, A Certain Smile (1958) ruthless in, Legend of the Lost (1957) musical in Rodgers and Hammerstein's, South Pacific (songs were actually sung by another Italian born star, Enzo Pinza). His rolls were varied and unique from one another. I can't remember ever seeing him portray a mob boss. The media had created a romantic image of the Italian leading man, an image that stimulated every woman's heart and every moviegoer's imagination.
These romantic Italian heartthrobs filled a void in the lives of all American moviegoers. They gave us romantic and fulfilling moments, little pieces of time that will remain with us forever.
By the 1970s, the world had become a smaller place where just about everyone was a jet setter. European film stars had lost their intriguing mystique.
During the 1970s and 80s, The names of Italian American actors, such as Al Pacino and Robert De Niro became hou- sehold words. But not for their romantic images, rather for the nefarious Italian American characters they portrayed. It's my hope that the blossoming generation of new actors and direc- tors will bring back to the screen the kind of romantic Italian images and stories that inspired movie fans to a better lifestyle; the kind of film that made every moviegoer's heart beat faster, not with fear, but with anticipation for the warmth, love and romance that is Italy's own.
