Alita Blanca Barchigia (24 August 1912 – 15 April 1989), better known as Alita Román, was an

Argentine Argentines (mistakenly translated Argentineans in the past; in Spanish (masculine) or (feminine)) are people identified with the country of Argentina. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Argentines, s ...

film actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lite ...

of the

Golden Age of Argentine Cinema Cinema of Argentina refers to the film industry based in Argentina. The Argentine cinema comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of Argentina or by Argentine filmmakers abroad. The Argentine film industry has histor ...

(1940–1960). She appeared in nearly 50 films between 1934 and 1982 and was a sought-after supporting actress, winning the Best Supporting Actress from the Argentine Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences for her work in '' Concierto de almas'' and playing in many box-office hits. She also performed in live theater and on television and radio.

Biography

Román began her career in theater in the early 1930s, debuting with

Narciso Ibáñez Menta Narciso Ibáñez Menta (; August 25, 1912 – May 15, 2004) was a Spanish theatre, film, and television actor. Biography Born in Langreo, Asturias, Spain, Ibáñez Menta made his first stage appearance at the age of seven at the Teatro La Come ...

and later joining the company of

Lola Membrives Lola may refer to: Places * Lolá, a or subdistrict of Panama * Lola Township, Cherokee County, Kansas, United States * Lola Prefecture, Guinea * Lola, Guinea, a town in Lola Prefecture * Lola Island, in the Solomon Islands People * Lola (fo ...

. Her film debut was in a 1934 Sono Film production, '' Riachuelo'', directed by

Luis Moglia Barth Luis Moglia Barth (12 April 1903 - 18 June 1984) was an Argentina, Argentine film director and screenwriter, and one of the influential directors in the Cinema of Argentina of the classic era. He directed some 30 films between 1927 and 1959, ofte ...

starring

Luis Sandrini Luis Sandrini (22 February 1905 – 5 July 1980) was a prolific Argentine comic film actor and film producer. Widely considered one of the most respected and most acclaimed Argentine comedians by the public and critics. He has made over 80 appe ...

and

Héctor Calcaño Héctor Calcaño (born Héctor Calcagno, 1894–1969) was an Argentine film actor. He appeared in nearly 70 films between 1933 and 1968. Filmography *''Este cura'' (1968) - a.k.a. Operación San Antonio (Argentina) *''La señora del intendente' ...

. Her next film '' La Barra Mendocina'' (1935), written and directed by

Mario Soffici Mario Soffici (14 May 1900 – 10 May 1977) was an Argentine film director, actor and screenwriter of the classic era. Biography A native of Florence, Soffici moved to Argentina in the 1920s and began acting in 1931 and directing in 1935 on th ...

, was followed by ''

El alma del bandoneón ''The Soul of the Accordion'' ( es, El alma de bandoneón) is a 1935 Argentine tango musical film directed by Mario Soffici and written by José A. Bugliot. It is considered one of the earliest classics of Argentine cinema. The film starred Lib ...

'' (1935) with

Libertad Lamarque Libertad Lamarque Bouza (; 24 November 1908 – 12 December 2000) was a Mexican-Argentine actress and singer, one of the icons of the Golden Age of Argentine and Mexican cinema. She achieved fame throughout Latin America, and became known as " ...

and

Alicia Barrié Sara Ramona Alicia Masriera del Campillo (stage name, Alicia Barrié; 7 October 1915 – 28 September 2002) was a Chilean actress who made her acting career in Argentina. Born in Chile, Barrie moved to Buenos Aires with her family and made her ac ...

. In 1937, she made ''

Mateo Mateo may refer to: People ;Name * Mateo (given name) * Mateo (surname) ;People named Mateo * Mateo (singer) (born 1986), former stage name of American pop/R&B singer-songwriter Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Mateo'' (1937 film), a 1937 Argent ...

'', written and directed by

Daniel Tinayre Daniel Tinayre (14 September 1910 – 24 October 1994) was a French-born Argentine film director, screenwriter and film producer. Moving to Buenos Aires at a young age, Tinayre directed some 23 films between 1934 and 1974, directing films such ...

and starring

Luis Arata Luis Arata (1895–1967) was an Argentine stage and film actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as ...

. Simultaneously, she was working in

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...

. She worked with a group of actors on a program called "Compañía Juvenil de Arte" (Youth Art Troupe) which aired on Radio Splendid."Blanco Pazos & Clemente (2004)", p 56 One of the programs they aired was a radio drama called ''Reviviendo la emoción de los más bellos poemas'', on which Román, along with

Delia Garcés Delia Amadora García Gerboles better known as Delia Garcés (; 13 October 1919 – 7 November 2001) was an Argentine film actress of the Golden Age of Argentine Cinema (1940–1960). She made almost 30 appearances in film between 1937 and 1959 ...

Paul Lagarde Paul Lagarde (born 15 April 1891 - 7 February 1964) was a French pole vaulter. He competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics The 1920 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1920; nl, Olympische Zomerspelen van 1920; german: Olympisc ...

, and

Hugo Pimentel Hugo Pimentel (25 January 1919, in San Fernando, Buenos Aires – 1 June 1984, in Caracas) was an Argentine actor. He starred in the acclaimed Silver Condor-winning 1943 film '' Juvenilia''. Other notable films include '' His Best Student'' (19 ...

, among others, recited poems. Her first major success came with ''

Mujeres que trabajan ''Women Who Work'' ( es, Mujeres que trabajan) is a 1938 Argentine comedy film drama directed by Manuel Romero. The film premiered in Buenos Aires and starred Tito Lusiardo. In a 2022 poll of The 100 Greatest Films of Argentine Cinema presen ...

'' (1938), which starred

Mecha Ortiz Mecha Ortiz (née María Mercedes Varela Nimo Domínguez Castro; 1900–1987) was a classic Argentine actress who appeared in film between 1937 and 1981, during the Golden Age of Argentine Cinema. At the 1944 Argentine Film Critics Association A ...

Pepita Serrador Josefina Serrador Marí (March 2, 1913 – May 24, 1964), better known as Pepita Serrador, was an Argentine film actress. She was married to the actor Narciso Ibáñez Menta the mother of the film director Narciso Ibáñez Serrador Narciso ...

Sabina Olmos Sabina Olmos (1913–1999) pseudonym of Rosa Herminia Gómez Ramos was an Argentine film actress of the Golden Age of Argentine Cinema (1940–1960). She began her career as a radio songstress of folklore and tango. Later, she developed a long ...

Niní Marshall Marina Esther Traveso (June 1, 1903 – March 18, 1996), known by her stage name Niní Marshall, was an Argentine humorist, comic actress and screenwriter; nicknamed ''The Chaplin with a skirt'' and ''The Lady of Humour''. Life and work S ...

, and

Hilda Sour Hilda Sour (1915 – June 6, 2003) was a Chilean actress and singer, who had an extensive career in Argentina and Mexico. Biography Born in Chile, Sour began to work professionally at age seven. She made a career on screen and in the theater, ma ...

, along with others. The film was Marshall's debut, after having done radio, and she was particularly praised, though all of the cast members' performances were rated highly. Román was often described as very photogenic. Román followed that success with '' Mi suegra es una fiera'' (1939), under the direction

Luis Bayón Herrera Luis Bayón Herrera (23 September 1889 – 30 March 1956) was a Spanish film director and screenwriter who worked in Argentine film of the 1940s and 1950s. He was "one of the most important directors of the golden age of Argentine cinema". He ...

with

Olinda Bozán Olinda Bozán (21 June 1894 – 8 February 1977) was an Argentine film actress and comedian of the Golden Age of Argentine Cinema (1940–1960). Born into a circus family, she acted on the vaudeville circuit, and performed in silent and soun ...

and Paquito Busto; and '' El Loco Serenata'' (1939) directed by

Luis Saslavsky Luis Saslavsky (April 21, 1903 – March 20, 1995) was an Argentine film director, screenwriter and film producer, and one of the influential directors in the Cinema of Argentina of the classic era. Personal life Saskavsky was born in Rosario, Sa ...

for

Argentina Sono Film Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest ...

and starring with

Pepe Arias Pepe Arias (''José Pablo Arias Martinez''; 16 January 1900 – 23 February 1967) was an Argentine actor and comedian. Early years José Pablo Arias Martinez was born in the former Mercado de Abasto district of Buenos Aires on 16 January 1900. ...

, which earned her a favorable review in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

''. In 1942, she made ''

Ceniza al viento ''Ashes to the Wind'' ( es, Ceniza al viento) is a 1942 Argentine film directed by Luis Saslavsky. Cast The cast is: * Berta Singerman * María Duval * Luis Arata * Santiago Arrieta * Tita Merello * Pedro López Lagar * Alita Román * Oli ...

'' directed by

and starring

Berta Singerman Berta Singerman Begun ( be, Берта Сінгерман; 9 September 1901 – 10 December 1998), better known as Berta Singerman, was a Belarusian- Argentine singer and actress. Biography Singerman was born in Minsk, then part of the Russian ...

María Duval María Dussauge Ortiz (born 2 August 1937), commonly known as María Duval, is a Mexican actress and singer who has worked in film, television, and the stage. Career Duval made her film debut in the musical ''Melodías inolvidables'' (1959), a ...

Santiago Arrieta Santiago Arrieta (1897, Uruguay – 1975, Buenos Aires, Argentina) was a Uruguayan film actor, also known as Santiago Donadío.Finkielman pg. 219 After emigrating to Argentina, Arrieta appeared in 26 films between 1935 and 1962. Selected filmog ...

, and

Tita Merello Laura Ana "Tita" Merello (11 October 1904 – 24 December 2002) was an Argentine film actress, tango dancer and singer of the Golden Age of Argentine Cinema (1940–1960). In her 6 decades in Argentine entertainment, at the time of her death, sh ...

, among others; and '' Concierto de almas'' directed by

Alberto de Zavalía Alberto De Zavalia (4 May 1911 – 7 May 1988 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentine film director and film producer. Biography De Zavalía was born in Buenos Aires to a middle-class, well-off family. He completed law school but never worke ...

and starring

. Román won Best Supporting Actress from the Argentine Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences for her work in '' Concierto de almas''. She also did theater in the 1940s, starring with

in ''Cada cual a su juego'' in 1944 with Arata’s Company which was performing at the Teatro Buenos Aires. In 1945, Román appeared in a musical comedy ''Los maridos engañan de 7 a 9'' staged by "The Argentine Company of Comedy and Musical Comedy of

Gloria Guzmán Gloria Guzmán (1902–1979) was a Spanish-born Argentine vedette and actress who performed in the early Argentine theater. Biography Gloria Guzmán was born on 15 April 1902 (or possibly 1894) in Vitoria, Alava, Spain. She arrived in Argentina i ...

and

Juan Carlos Thorry Juan Carlos Thorry (June 28, 1908, in Coronel Pringles – February 12, 2000 in San Antonio de Padua), born José Antonio Torrontegui, was an Argentine film actor, tango musician and director. Best known for his work in tango films in the Ci ...

". The play opened in March at the Teatro Astral in Buenos Aires to excellent reviews. She performed in

' farewell production in Argentina, ''Claudia'' by

Rose Franken Rose Franken (December 28, 1895 – June 22, 1988), was an American writer and playwright best known for her '' Claudia'' stories, plus the books, films, and plays based on them. Early years Born Rose Dorothy Lewin in Gainesville, Texas, Franken ...

, which played at the Odeón Theater in 1945. From the late 1940s, she was a sought–after supporting actress, and participated in many award-winning films. In 1951, she made '' Los isleros'' (1951) directed by

Lucas Demare Lucas Demare (July 14, 1910 – September 6, 1981) was an Argentine film director, screenwriter, and film producer prominent in the Cinema of Argentina in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Biography At the 1943 Argentine Film Critics Association Aw ...

and starring

. '' Los isleros'' was submitted to the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...

as Argentina's entry and it was awarded a Silver Condor Award for Best Film,

Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * BA ...

and Best Actress to Merello for 1952 from the

Argentine Film Critics Association The Argentine Film Critics Association ( es, Asociación de Cronistas Cinematográficos de la Argentina) is an organization of Argentine-based journalists and correspondents. The association presents the ''Silver Condor Awards'' (''Premios Cóndor ...

. In 1956, Román appeared in ''

Graciela Graciela (August 23, 1915 – April 7, 2010)
Accessed April 2010 was a Cuban-born American singer of Cuban music and ...

'', which starred Chilean actor

Lautaro Murúa Lautaro Murúa (; 29 December 1926 in Tacna, Chile – 3 December 1995 in Madrid) was a Chilean-Argentine actor, film director, and screenwriter. He is one of the best known actors in the cinema of Argentina. Born in Chile, Murúa moved to ...

and earned him the 1957

Silver Condor Award for Best Actor The Silver Condor Award for Best Actor ( es, Premio Cóndor de Plata a la mejor actor), given by the Argentine Film Critics Association, awards the best actor in Argentina each year: {{Argentine Film Critics Association Awards Argentine F ...

. In 1954 she starred in the one-woman television programme '' Mariquita y su teléfono'', with only a phone as a prop. In 1960, she appeared in the

Antonio Cunill Jr. ''The Accused'' ( es, Los Acusados) is a 1960 Argentine crime drama directed and written by Antonio Cunill Jr. The film was based on a screen play by Marco Denevi. The film starred Mario Soffici and Silvia Legrand. Plot Based on a real-life ...

film ''

Los Acusados ''The Accused'' ( es, Los Acusados) is a 1960 Argentine crime drama directed and written by Antonio Cunill Jr. The film was based on a screen play by Marco Denevi. The film starred Mario Soffici and Silvia Legrand. Plot Based on a real-life ca ...

'' and in 1969 she was in the comedy ''

El Profesor hippie '' El Profesor Hippie'' is a 1969 Argentine musical comedy film directed by Fernando Ayala and written by Abel Santacruz which Ayala produced with Héctor Olivera. The film starred Luis Sandrini, Roberto Escalada and Soledad Silveyra. The ...

'' alongside actors such as

and

Roberto Escalada Roberto Escalada born Aldo Roberto Leggero (4 July 1914 – 5 December 1986 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentine actor, an icon of the classic era of Argentine cinema. Roberto Escalada began his career working on the radio, and it was his voice ...

. From the mid-1960s, she worked in television series such as '' Ella, la gata'' (1967), '' Nino, las cosas simples de la vida'' (1971), ''

Novia de vacaciones Novia is a Spanish word that means "girlfriend" (novio means "boyfriend"). It may also refer to: *Jimenez Novia, a supercar built only in a single model in 1995 by Jimenez, a French maker * La Novia, a 1961 Argentine film starring Elsa Daniel *Mi ...

'' (1979), '' Trampa para un soñador'' (1980) and made her last performances in '' Aprender a vivir'' (1981) and '' Los días contados'' (1983). She made her last two movies ''

Días de ilusión ''Días de ilusión'' ( es, Days of Illusion) is a 1980 Argentine film directed by Fernando Ayala. It is based on a short story ''Mamá de niebla'' by Poldy Bird. Cast * Andrea Del Boca * Luisina Brando * Fernando Siro * Hilda Bernard * Alita ...

'', and then '' Toto Paniagua'' in 1980.

Death

Alita Román died on 15 April 1989 in Buenos Aires, aged 76.

Filmography

Film

* '' Riachuelo'' (1934) * '' La barra mendocina'' (1935) * ''

'' (1935) * ''

'' (1937) * ''

'' (1938) * '' Jettatore'' (1938) * '' Mi suegra es una fiera'' (1939) * ''

La modelo y la estrella ''The Model and the Star'' ( es, La modelo y la estrella) is a 1939 Argentine comedy film directed by Manuel Romero. The film premiered on March 15, 1939 in Buenos Aires and starred Alita Román. Cast *Alita Román Alita Blanca Barchigia (24 ...

'' (1939) * ''

Margarita, Armando y su padre ''Margarita, Armando y su padre'' is a 1939 Argentine romantic comedy film directed by Francisco Múgica. The film is based a play by Enrique Jardiel Poncela who himself adapted the film for the silver screen. The film premiered in Buenos Aires ...

'' (1939) * '' El Loco Serenata'' (1939) * ''

Encadenado ''Encadenado'' is a Argentine films of 1940, 1940 Argentina, Argentine film. It was filmed in Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina and directed by Enrique de Rosas. Cast * Alita Román as Elena * Enrique de Rosas as Leandro Lozano * Ernes ...

'' (1940) * ''

Fragata Sarmiento ARA ''Presidente Sarmiento'' is a museum ship in Argentina, originally built as a training ship for the Argentine Navy and named after Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, the seventh President of Argentina. She is considered to be the last intact cru ...

'' (1940) * ''

Con el dedo en el gatillo ''Con el dedo en el gatillo'' is a 1940 Argentine film directed by Luis Moglia Barth. Cast * Sebastián Chiola ...Salvador Di Pietro * Alita Román ...Rosa * Pedro Maratea ...Marú * Nuri Montsé ...Aurora Aguirre * Oscar Valicelli ...Américo * ...

'' (1940) * ''

Confesión ''Confesión'' is a 1940 Argentine musical drama film directed by Luis Moglia Barth and starring Hugo del Carril, Alberto Vila, and Alita Román. Cast * Hugo del Carril... Ricardo Morales * Alberto Vila...Ernesto * Alita Román ...Elena Reye ...

'' (1940) * ''

Napoleón Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

'' (1941) * '' Concierto de almas'' (1942) * ''

'' (1942) * ''

Ponchos azules A poncho (; qu, punchu; arn, pontro; "blanket", "woolen fabric") is an outer garment designed to keep the body warm. A rain poncho is made from a watertight material designed to keep the body dry from the rain. Ponchos have been used by the ...

'' (1942) * ''

Eclipse de sol ''Eclipse of the Sun'' (Spanish:''Eclipse de sol'') is a 1943 Argentine film directed by Luis Saslavsky. Cast *Libertad Lamarque *George Rigaud *Angelina Pagano Angelina Pagano (1888–1962) was an Argentine stage and film actress.Finkie ...

'' (1942) * ''Cuando florezca el naranjo'' (1943) * '' Los hombres las prefieren viudas'' (1943) * ''

Casa de muñecas ''A Doll's House'' ( es, Casa de muñecas) is a 1943 Argentine drama film directed by Ernesto Arancibia and starring Delia Garcés and George Rigaud. It is based on the play ''A Doll's House'' by Henrik Ibsen. At the 1944 Argentine Film Critics As ...

'' (1943) * ''

Centauros del pasado ''Centauros del pasado'' is a 1944 Argentine historical biopic film directed by , with a screenplay by Villar, Eliseo Montaine, and , as based upon the original historical novel by Montaine and Talice about Pancho Ramirez, a governor of Argentina' ...

'' (1944) * '' Besos perdidos'' (1945) * ''

Camino del infierno ''Road of Hell'' (Spanish:''Camino del infierno'') is a 1946 Argentinian film from the ''Estudios San Miguel''. Plot A melodramatic, psychological thriller, the film tells the story of a young wealthy widow, who is unhappy. She meets a Bohemian ar ...

'' (1945) * ''

El diablo andaba en los choclos EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...

'' (1946) * '' Edición extra'' (1949) * ''

La muerte está mintiendo LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figur ...

'' (1950) * ''La culpa la tuvo el otro'' (1950) * '' Los Isleros'' (1951) * ''Escándalo nocturno'' (1951) * '' Sombras en la frontera'' (1951) * '' La Calle del pecado'' (1954) * '' Mujeres casadas'' (1954) * '' Cuando Buenos Aires se adormece'' (inconclusa - 1955) * ''

Graciela Graciela (August 23, 1915 – April 7, 2010)
Accessed April 2010 was a Cuban-born American singer of Cuban music and ...

'' (1956) * ''Oro bajo'' (1956) * ''

Cinco gallinas y el cielo ''Cinco gallinas y el cielo'' is a 1957 Argentine science-fiction drama film directed by Uruguayan-born filmmaker Ruben W. Cavallotti, written by Agustín Cuzzani and starring Narciso Ibáñez Menta. The film won awards at the international fes ...

'' (1957) * '' Spring of Life'' (1957) * ''

Los acusados ''The Accused'' ( es, Los Acusados) is a 1960 Argentine crime drama directed and written by Antonio Cunill Jr. The film was based on a screen play by Marco Denevi. The film starred Mario Soffici and Silvia Legrand. Plot Based on a real-life ca ...

'' (1960) * '' El bote, el río y la gente'' (1960) * '' Barcos de papel'' (1963) * ''

El profesor hippie '' El Profesor Hippie'' is a 1969 Argentine musical comedy film directed by Fernando Ayala and written by Abel Santacruz which Ayala produced with Héctor Olivera. The film starred Luis Sandrini, Roberto Escalada and Soledad Silveyra. The ...

'' (1969) * ''

'' (1980) * '' Toto Paniagua'' (1980)

Television

* ''Mariquita y su teléfono'' (1954) * ''Ella... la gata'' (1967) (telenovela) * ''La hora Fate'' (1960-1962) Episode: "Mujercitas" * ''Gran teatro universal'' (1970) Episode: "La loca de la casa" * ''Soledad, un destino sin amor'' (1970-1971) (telenovela) * ''Ciclo de teatro argentino'' (1971) Episode: "Rostro Perdido" * ''Alta Comedia'' (1971) Episode: "Recuerdo a Mamá" * ''Nino, las cosas simples de la vida'' (1971/1972) * ''La selva es mujer'' (1972-1973) (telenovela) * ''Amar al ladrón'' (1973) (telenovela) * ''Vermouth de teatro argentino'' (1974) Episode: "Historia de mi esquina" * ''Novia de vacaciones'' (1979) (telenovela) * ''Dos y Bartolo'' (1980) * ''Trampa para un soñador'' (1980/1981) (telenovela) * ''Quiero gritar tu nombre'' (1981) * ''Aprender a vivir'' (1981-1982) * ''Área peligrosa'' (1982) (mini-series) * ''Los días contados'' (1983) (telenovela)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Roman, Alita 1912 births 1989 deaths Argentine film actresses People from Buenos Aires 20th-century Argentine actresses