Carlo Montuori (3 August 1885 - 4 March 1968) was an Italian cinematographer and cameraman. Born in Casacalenda,

Campobasso Campobasso (, ; nap, label= Campobassan, Cambuàsce ) is a city and ''comune'' in southern Italy, the capital of the region of Molise and of the province of Campobasso. It is located in the high basin of the Biferno river, surrounded by Sann ...

, at twelve Montuori moved to

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

to live with his uncle, a photographer and a painter; in Milan he attended the Polytechnic University and followed courses in painting at the

Brera Academy The Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera ("academy of fine arts of Brera"), also known as the or Brera Academy, is a state-run tertiary public academy of fine arts in Milan, Italy. It shares its history, and its main building, with the Pinacoteca di ...

.Stefano Masi, ''Storie della luce: i film, la vita, le avventure, le idee di 200 operatori italiani'', L'Aquila 1983, pp. 153-56. He approached cinema in 1907 working in the production company "Comerio & C." and debuting as an operator in ''Dalla pietà all'amore'', a 1909 Luca Comerio's documentary film about the

1908 Messina earthquake The 1908 Messina earthquake (also known as the 1908 Messina and Reggio earthquake) occurred on 28 December in Sicily and Calabria, southern Italy with a moment magnitude of 7.1 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (''Extreme''). The epicen ...

. At the same time Montuori started working at the photo studio Ganzini, where he learned the basics in the field of the use of artificial lighting. Starting from 1911 Montuori was among the first in Italy to test the application of these techniques in film, inventing a device based on rudimentary arc lamps, made of carbon bound with wire and connected to the electric current through resistors. After collaborating with the Italian leading directors from the silent era such as

Carmine Gallone Carmine Gallone (10 September 1885 – 11 March 1973) was an early Italian film director, screenwriter, and film producer, who was also controversial for his works of pro-Fascist propaganda and historical revisionism. Considered one of Itali ...

and Augusto Genina, in 1925 he collaborated at the

Fred Niblo Fred Niblo (born Frederick Liedtke; January 6, 1874 – November 11, 1948) was an American pioneer film actor, director and producer. Biography He was born Frederick Liedtke (several sources give "Frederico Nobile", apparently erroneously) in Yo ...

's blockbuster '' Ben-Hur'', and in 1929 he was the cinematographer of '' Sole'', the directorial debut of

Alessandro Blasetti Alessandro Blasetti (3 July 1900 – 1 February 1987) was an Italian film director and screenwriter who influenced Italian neorealism with the film ''Quattro passi fra le nuvole''. Blasetti was one of the leading figures in Italian cinema during ...

, with whom he establishing a professional relationship that lasted for eight films. After the war, Montuori "had a major role in the figurative culture of first neo-realism", often collaborating with

Luigi Zampa Luigi Zampa (2 January 1905 – 16 August 1991) was an Italian film director. Biography Son of a worker, Zampa studied filmmaking from 1932 to 1937 at the Italian film school Centro sperimentale di cinematografia in Rome. He directed several ...

and winning a

silver ribbon The Nastro d'Argento, also known by its translated name Silver Ribbon, is an Italian film award awarded each year since 1946 by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists (Italian: ''Sindacato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani ...

for best cinematography for his work in

Vittorio De Sica Vittorio De Sica ( , ; 7 July 1901 – 13 November 1974) was an Italian film director and actor, a leading figure in the neorealist movement. Four of the films he directed won Academy Awards: ''Sciuscià'' and ''Bicycle Thieves'' (honorary) ...

's ''

Bicycle Thieves ''Bicycle Thieves'' ( it, Ladri di biciclette; sometimes known in the United States as ''The Bicycle Thief'') is a 1948 Italian neorealist drama film directed by Vittorio De Sica. It follows the story of a poor father searching in post- World ...

''. His son

Mario is a character created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the ''Mario'' franchise and the mascot of Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creat ...

was also a cinematographer.

Selected filmography

* '' Marco Visconti'' (1925) * '' Goodbye Youth'' (1927) * '' Miryam'' (1929) * ''

Sun The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is a nearly perfect ball of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core. The Sun radiates this energy mainly as light, ultraviolet, and infrared radi ...

'' (1929) * '' Mother Earth'' (1931) * ''

The Man with the Claw ''The Man with the Claw'' (Italian: ''L'uomo dall'artiglio'') is a 1931 Italian mystery film directed by Nunzio Malasomma and starring Dria Paola, Carlo Fontana (actor), Carlo Fontana, and Elio Steiner. It was made at the Cines Studios in Rome wi ...

'' (1931) * ''

The Paw ''The Paw'' (german: Die Pranke) is a 1931 German thriller film directed by Hans Steinhoff and starring Charlotte Susa, Hans Rehmann, and Fritz Rasp.Bock & Bergfelder p. 384 It was made as a co-production with the Italian Cines Studios. The fil ...

'' (1931) * ''

The Table of the Poor ''The Table of the Poor'' (Italian: ''La tavola dei poveri'') is a 1932 Italian drama film directed by Alessandro Blasetti and starring Raffaele Viviani, Leda Gloria and Salvatore Costa. It was based on a play by Viviani set in Naples. It was s ...

'' (1932) * ''

The Blue Fleet ''L'Armata Azzurra'' (English: ''The Blue Army'' or ''The Blue Fleet'' AKA ''The Winged Armada'' and ''Italy Speaks'') is a 1932 Italian aviation docu-drama and adventure film directed by Gennaro Righelli and starring Germana Paolieri and Ennio ...

'' (1932) * '' Your Money or Your Life'' (1932) * ''

Seconda B ''Seconda B'' is a 1934 Italian comedy film directed by Goffredo Alessandrini and starring Sergio Tofano, Dina Perbellini and María Denis. It was screened at the Venice Film Festival where it was awarded a prize. It started a trend for "schoolgirl ...

'' (1934) * ''

The Last of the Bergeracs ''The Last of the Bergeracs'' (Italian: ''L'ultimo dei Bergerac'') is a 1934 Italian comedy film directed by Gennaro Righelli and starring Ketty Maya, Arturo Falconi and Italia Almirante-Manzini.Goble p.996 Cast References Bibliography * G ...

'' (1934) * ''

Unripe Fruit ''Unripe Fruit'' (Italian: ''Frutto acerbo'') is a 1934 Italian comedy film directed by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia and starring Lotte Menas, Nino Besozzi and Maria Wronska. A German-language version of the same story was made in Austria as ''A Preco ...

'' (1934) * ''

Stadium A stadium ( : stadiums or stadia) is a place or venue for (mostly) outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a tiered structure designed to allow spectators to stand o ...

'' (1934) * '' Golden Arrow'' (1935) * ''

Thirty Seconds of Love ''Thirty Seconds of Love'' (Italian:''Trenta secondi d'amore'') is a 1936 Italian romantic comedy film directed by Mario Bonnard and starring Nino Besozzi Nino Besozzi (6 February 1901 – 2 February 1971) was an Italian film actor. He app ...

'' (1936) * '' The Dance of Time'' (1936) * ''

The Ferocious Saladin ''The Ferocious Saladin'' (Italian: ''Il feroce Saladino'') is a 1937 Italian " white-telephones" comedy film directed by Mario Bonnard and starring Angelo Musco, Alida Valli and Lino Carenzio. The film was made at Cinecittà in Rome. On 28 April ...

'' (1937) * ''

Abandon All Hope ''Inferno'' (; Italian for "Hell") is the first part of Italian writer Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem ''Divine Comedy''. It is followed by ''Purgatorio'' and '' Paradiso''. The ''Inferno'' describes Dante's journey through Hell, gui ...

'' (1937) * '' For Men Only'' (1938) * ''

A Lady Did It ''A Lady Did It'' ( it, L'ha fatto una signora) is a 1938 Italian " white-telephones" comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Michele Abruzzo, Rosina Anselmi and Alida Valli.Aprà p.101 It was shot at Cinecittà Studios in Rome. The fi ...

'' (1938) * ''

Pride Pride is defined by Merriam-Webster as "reasonable self-esteem" or "confidence and satisfaction in oneself". A healthy amount of pride is good, however, pride sometimes is used interchangeably with "conceit" or "arrogance" (among other words) wh ...

'' (1938) * ''

They've Kidnapped a Man ''They've Kidnapped a Man'' (Italian: ''Hanno rapito un uomo'') is a 1938 Italian " white-telephones" comedy film directed by Gennaro Righelli and starring Vittorio De Sica, Caterina Boratto and Maria Denis.Chiti & Poppi p.175 It was shot at t ...

'' (1938) * ''

Frenzy ''Frenzy'' is a 1972 British thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It is the penultimate feature film of his extensive career. The screenplay by Anthony Shaffer was based on the 1966 novel ''Goodbye Piccadilly, Farewell Leicester Squa ...

'' (1939) * '' Goodbye Youth'' (1940) * ''

Pirates of Malaya ''Pirates of Malaya'' (Italian: ''I pirati della Malesia'') is a 1941 Italian historical adventure film directed by Enrico Guazzoni and starring Massimo Girotti, Clara Calamai and Camillo Pilotto. It is based on Emilio Salgari's 1896 novel ''The ...

'' (1941) * ''

The Two Tigers ''The Two Tigers'' (original title: ''Le due tigri'') is the fourth adventure novel in the Sandokan series written by Italian author Emilio Salgari, published in 1904. Plot summary India, 1857. Just when Tremal-Naik's life was getting back to n ...

'' (1941) * ''

Souls in Turmoil ''Souls in Turmoil'' (Italian: ''Anime in tumulto'') is a 1942 Italian drama film directed by Giulio Del Torre and starring Gina Falckenberg, Carlo Tamberlani and Leda Gloria.Goble p.467 The film's sets were designed by the art director Salvo ...

'' (1942) * ''

Sleeping Beauty ''Sleeping Beauty'' (french: La belle au bois dormant, or ''The Beauty in the Sleeping Forest''; german: Dornröschen, or ''Little Briar Rose''), also titled in English as ''The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods'', is a fairy tale about a princess cu ...

'' (1942) * ''

The Countess of Castiglione ''The Countess of Castiglione'' (Italian: ''La contessa Castiglione'') is a 1942 Italian historical film directed by Flavio Calzavara and starring Doris Duranti, Andrea Checchi and Renato Cialente. The film portrays the life of the nineteenth-cent ...

'' (1942) * ''

Street of the Five Moons ''Street of the Five Moons'' (Italian: ''Via delle Cinque Lune'') is a 1942 romantic drama film directed by Luigi Chiarini. It marked the debut of actor Gabriele Ferzetti. It belongs to the movies of the calligrafismo style. Cast * Luisella Begh ...

'' (1942) * '' Yes, Madam'' (1942) * ''

Farewell Love! ''Farewell Love!'' (Italian: ''Addio, amore!'') is a 1943 Italian historical drama film directed by Gianni Franciolini and starring Jacqueline Laurent, Clara Calamai and Roldano Lupi.Gundle p.123 It is based on the 1890 novel of the same title by ...

'' (1943) * ''

Departure at Seven ''Departure at Seven'' (Italian: ''Partenza ore 7'') is a 1946 Italian musical comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Chiaretta Gelli, Carlo Campanini and Laura Gore.Celli & Cottino-Jones p.68 The film's sets were designed by the ...

'' (1946) * ''

The Courier of the King ''The Courier of the King'' (Italian: ''Il corriere del re'') is a 1947 Italian historical film directed by Gennaro Righelli and starring Rossano Brazzi, Irasema Dilián and Valentina Cortese.Moliterno p.208 It is an adaptation of the 1830 novel '' ...

'' (1947) * ''

The White Primrose ''The White Primrose'' (Italian: ''La primula bianca'') is a 1947 Italian comedy film directed by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia and starring Carlo Campanini, Carlo Ninchi and Andrea Checchi.Gundle p.187 Cast * Carlo Campanini as Felice Moretti * Carl ...

'' (1947) * ''

To Live in Peace ''To Live in Peace'' (Italian: ''Vivere in pace'') is a 1947 Italian neorealist comedy-drama war film directed by Luigi Zampa and starring Aldo Fabrizi, John Kitzmiller and Ave Ninchi.Gundle p.138 It was shot at the Cinecittà Studios in Rome a ...

'' (1947) * ''

'' (1948) * ''

Prelude to Madness ''Prelude to Madness'' or ''Loveless Lovers'' (Italian: ''Amanti senza amore'') is a 1948 Italian drama film directed by Gianni Franciolini and starring Clara Calamai, Roldano Lupi and Jean Servais. It is inspired by the 1889 novella ''The Kreutz ...

'' (1948) * '' Alarm Bells'' (1949) * ''

Chains A chain is a serial assembly of connected pieces, called links, typically made of metal, with an overall character similar to that of a rope in that it is flexible and curved in compression but linear, rigid, and load-bearing in tension. A c ...

'' (1949) * '' The Bread Peddler'' (1950) * ''

The Black Captain ''The Black Captain'' (Italian: ''Il capitano nero'') is a 1951 Italian historical adventure film directed by Giorgio Ansoldi and Alberto Pozzetti and starring Steve Barclay, Marina Berti and Paul Muller. The film's sets were designed by Alfr ...

'' (1951) * ''

Rome-Paris-Rome ''Rome-Paris-Rome'' ( it, Signori, in carrozza!) is a 1951 French-Italian comedy film directed by Luigi Zampa and starring Aldo Fabrizi, Sophie Desmarets and Peppino De Filippo. It was shot at the Farnesina Studios in Rome and on location in Pa ...

'' (1951) * ''

Mamma Mia, What an Impression! ''Mamma Mia, What an Impression!'' (Italian: ''Mamma mia, che impressione!'') is a 1951 Italian comedy film directed by Roberto Savarese and starring Alberto Sordi, Giovanna Pala and Carlo Giustini. It was shot at the Farnesina Studios of Tit ...

'' (1951) * ''

The Dream of Zorro ''The Dream of Zorro'' (Italian: ''Il Sogno di Zorro'') is a 1952 Italian comedy adventure film directed by Mario Soldati and starring Walter Chiari, Delia Scala and Vittorio Gassman. The future star Sophia Loren had a minor role in the film. ...

'' (1952) * '' Passionate Song'' (1953) * ''

What Scoundrels Men Are! ''What Scoundrels Men Are!'' ( it, Gli uomini, che mascalzoni!) is a 1932 Italian " white-telephones" comedy film directed by Mario Camerini. The film was a great success, De Sica and Lia Franca became stars and the song ''Parlami d'amore Mari ...

'' (1953) * ''

Via Padova 46 ''Via Padova 46'' is a 1953 Italian comedy film directed by Giorgio Bianchi and starring Peppino De Filippo, Alberto Sordi, Giulietta Masina and Arlette Poirier. The film's sets were designed by the art director Saverio D'Eugenio. It earned ar ...

'' (1953) * '' Count Max'' (1957)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Montuori, Carlo 1885 births Italian cinematographers People from the Province of Campobasso Nastro d'Argento winners Brera Academy alumni 1968 deaths