Clara Calamai (7 September 1909 – 21 September 1998) was an Italian actress. She was one of the most famous and popular Italian actresses in the 1930s and 1940s, sharing the limelight with actresses such as

Alida Valli Alida Maria Laura, ''Freiin'' Altenburger von Marckenstein-Frauenberg (31 May 1921 – 22 April 2006), better known by her stage name Alida Valli (or simply Valli), was an Italian actress who appeared in more than 100 films in a 70-year career, s ...

Valentina Cortese Valentina Cortese (1 January 1923 – 10 July 2019) was an Italian actress. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in François Truffaut's ''Day for Night'' (1973). Personal life Cortese was bor ...

, and rivals,

Doris Duranti Doris Duranti (25 April 1917 – 10 March 1995) was an Italian film actress. She appeared in 43 films between 1935 and 1975. She had a years-long affair with Alessandro Pavolini, a Fascist politician who in 1945 was executed by Italian parti ...

Luisa Ferida Luisa Ferida, real surname Manfrini, (18 March 1914 – 30 April 1945) was an Italian stage and film actress. She was one of divas in Italian cinema during decade 1935-1945 and she was the highest paid movie star of that period. The actress w ...

and

Isa Miranda Isa Miranda (born Ines Isabella Sampietro; 5 July 1909 – 8 July 1982) was an Italian actress with an international film career. Biography Miranda was born Ines Isabella Sampietro in Milan, the daughter of atreet car conductor in Mian. When s ...

. She was a charming and versatile actress who starred in both dramas and comedies of the

telefoni bianchi ''Telefoni Bianchi'' (; white telephones) films, also called deco films, were made by Italian film industry in the 1930s and the 1940s in imitation of American comedies of the time in a sharp contrast to the other important style of the era, cal ...

style.

Career

Calamai's first acting role was in the 1938 war film ''

Pietro Micca Pietro Micca (6 March 1677 – 30 August 1706), also known as Pierre Micha, was an Italians, Italian Soldier, soldier who became a national hero of the Duchy of Savoy for his sacrifice in the siege of Turin, defence of Turin against the Kingdom of ...

'', directed by

Aldo Vergano Aldo Vergano (1891–1957) was an Italian director, screenwriter and journalist. He was the father of actress Serena Vergano. Biography Born in Rome, was son of Sebastiano Lodovico Vergano and Eleonora Zuddas. Vergano was the co-founder with ...

. In ''

The Jester's Supper ''La cena delle beffe'' (''The Jesters' Supper'') is an opera in four acts composed by Umberto Giordano to an Italian libretto by Sem Benelli adapted from his 1909 The Jester's Supper (play), play of the same name. The opera premiered on 20 Decem ...

'' (1942) an adaptation of a

Sem Benelli Sem Benelli (August 10, 1877 – December 18, 1949) was an Italian playwright, essayist and librettist. He provided the texts for several noted Italian operas, including Italo Montemezzi's ''L'amore dei tre re'' and ''L'incantesimo'', and Umbert ...

's work, directed by

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 ...

) Calamai caused a sensation by appearing in a very brief

topless Toplessness refers to the state in which a woman's breasts, including her areolas and nipples, are exposed, especially in a public place or in a visual medium. The male equivalent is barechestedness, also commonly called shirtlessness. Expose ...

scene. The scene is commonly credited with being the first time that an actress had appeared topless in an Italian sound film, although Vittoria Carpi showed a bare breast for a moment in the 1941 film ''

La corona di ferro ''The Iron Crown'' () is a 1941 Italian adventure written and directed by Alessandro Blasetti, starring Massimo Girotti and Gino Cervi. The narrative revolves a sacred iron crown and a king who is prophesied to lose his kingdom to his nephew. I ...

'' (''The Iron Crown''), which was also directed by Blasetti. Calamai stated in a later interview that the original script did not have the character revealing herself this way and did not want to do the scene, but felt compelled by the director to do it and gave in when she was promised a closed set. Nevertheless, many people reportedly saw the film many times because of the topless scene. Her most remembered role was in the film

Luchino Visconti Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo (; 2 November 1906 – 17 March 1976) was an Italian filmmaker, stage director, and screenwriter. A major figure of Italian art and culture in the mid-20th century, Visconti was one of the fat ...

's ''

Ossessione ''Ossessione'' (, English: ''Obsession'') is a 1943 Italian film based on the 1934 novel '' The Postman Always Rings Twice'' by James M. Cain. Luchino Visconti’s first feature film, it is considered by many to be the first Italian neorealist fi ...

'' (1943), in which she played Giovanna, the ill-fated female protagonist. Calamai was offered the role in ''

L'adultera ''The Adulteress'' (Italian: ''L'adultera'') is a 1946 Italian melodrama film directed by Duilio Coletti and starring Clara Calamai, Roldano Lupi and Carlo Ninchi. It was shot at the Scalera Studios in Rome. Calamai received the Nastro d'Argento ...

'' (''The Adulteress'', 1946, directed by

Duilio Coletti Duilio Coletti (28 December 1906 – 22 May 1999) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 29 films between 1934 and 1977. Career Born in Penne, Abruzzo, he took a degree in medicine and surgery and practiced the profession ...

), after

Anna Magnani Anna Maria Magnani (; 7 March 1908 – 26 September 1973) was an Italian actress.Obituary ''Variety'', 3 October 1973, pg. 47 She was known for her explosive acting and earthy, realistic portrayals of characters. Born in Rome, she worked her ...

had to turn it down, and Calamai was awarded the

Nastro d'Argento 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 ...

(Silver Ribbon) in 1946 for

best actress Best Actress is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organisations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actresses in a film, television series, television film or play. The first Best Actress awar ...

for her performance in the film. She played a prostitute in

's ''

Le notti bianche ''White Nights'' ( it, Le notti bianche, french: Nuits blanches) is a 1957 romantic drama film directed by Luchino Visconti, based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s 1848 short story of the same name. It was written for the screen by Visconti and Suso Cec ...

'' (1957) and appeared in ''

Le streghe ''The Witches'' ( it, Le streghe) is a 1967 ''commedia all'italiana'' anthology film produced by Dino De Laurentiis in 1965. It consists of five comic stories, directed by Luchino Visconti, Franco Rossi, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Mauro Bolognini a ...

'' (1967). After years of retirement, she returned in 1975 to appear in the horror film ''

Profondo rosso ''Deep Red'' ( it, Profondo rosso), also known as ''The Hatchet Murders'', is a 1975 Italian Thriller film, thriller- giallo film directed by Dario Argento and co-written by Argento and Bernardino Zapponi. It stars David Hemmings as a musician wh ...

'' (''Deep Red'', directed by

Dario Argento Dario Argento (; born 7 September 1940) is an Italian film director, producer, screenwriter, actor and film critic, critic. His influential work in the horror film, horror genre during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in the subgenre known as ...

) as the eccentric matriarch, Marta.

Personal life

On 19 May 1945 she married explorer, and documentary film maker Count Leonardo Bonzi with whom she had two daughters. The marriage was annulled in November 1959, and she lived with Captain of Aviation Valerio Andreoni. Calamai died of a stroke in Rimini on 21 September 1998.

Partial filmography

*''

'' (1938, directed by

) - La contessa de Lassere *'' Il destino in tasca'' (1938, directed by Gennaro Righelli) *''

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 the ...

'' (1938, directed by

Gennaro Righelli Gennaro Righelli (12 December 1886 – 6 January 1949) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and actor. He directed more than 110 films in Italy and Germany between 1910 and 1947. In 1930, he directed the first Italian sound film, ''T ...

) *''

Ettore Fieramosca Ettore Fieramosca (born Ferramosca) (Capua, 1476 – Valladolid, 20 January 1515) was an Italian condottiero and nobleman during the Italian Wars. His father was Rainaldo, baron of Rocca d'Evandro, and it is thought that his mother was a noble wo ...

'' (1938, directed by

) - Fulvia *''

I, His Father ''I, His Father'' (Italian: ''Io, suo padre'') is a 1939 Italian sports drama film directed by Mario Bonnard and starring Erminio Spalla, Mariella Lotti and Clara Calamai. It was shot at the Scalera Studios in Rome. The film's sets were designed ...

'' (1939, directed by

Mario Bonnard Mario Bonnard (24 December 1889 – 22 March 1965) was an Italian actor and film director. Bonnard was born and died in Rome. He began his cinematic career as an actor becoming a popular romantic lead in numerous silent films made before World ...

) - Renata *''

The Fornaretto of Venice ''The Fornaretto of Venice'' (Italian: ''Il fornaretto di Venezia'') is a 1939 Italian historical drama film directed by Duilio Coletti and starring Roberto Villa, Elsa De Giorgi and Clara Calamai.Forgacs & Gundle p.162 It is an adaptation of the ...

'' (1939, directed by

) (doppiata da

Tina Lattanzi Tina Lattanzi (born Annunziata Concetta Costantini; 5 December 1897 – 25 October 1997) was an Italian actress and voice actress. Biography A native of Licenza and the daughter of Ercole Costantini and Geltrude Montori, Lattanzi began her actin ...

) - Olimpia Zeno *'' L'eredità in corsa'' (1939, directed by

Oreste Biancoli Oreste Biancoli (20 February 1897 – 25 November 1971) was an Italian screenwriter and film director. He wrote for more than 90 films between 1930 and 1986. He also directed nine films between 1938 and 1952. He was born in Bologna, Italy ...

) - Lilli *''

The Silent Partner ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1939, directed by

Roberto Roberti Vincenzo Leone (24 July 1879 – 10 January 1959), known professionally as Roberto Roberti, was an Italian actor, screenwriter and film director. He made over sixty films, mostly during the silent era. He was married to the actress Bice Valerian ...

) - La moglie di Prado *'' Le sorprese del vagone letto'' (1940, directed by

Gian Paolo Rosmino Gianpaolo Rosmino (2 July 1888 – 20 July 1982) was an Italian actor and film director. Rosmino enjoyed a lengthy screen career. After making his debut in the silent era in 1913 he appeared in more than 80 films and television series up to 1965 ...

) - La canzonettista *''

Boccaccio Giovanni Boccaccio (, , ; 16 June 1313 – 21 December 1375) was an Italian people, Italian writer, poet, correspondent of Petrarch, and an important Renaissance humanism, Renaissance humanist. Born in the town of Certaldo, he became so we ...

'' (1940, directed by Marcello Albani) - Giannina, falso Boccaccio *'' Captain Fracasse'' (1940, directed by Duilio Coletti) (doppiata da

) - Iolanda De Foix *'' Goodbye Youth'' (1940, directed by

Ferdinando Maria Poggioli Ferdinando Maria Poggioli (15 December 1897 – 2 February 1945) was an Italian screenwriter, film editor and director. He directed fifteen films including the 1940 melodrama '' Goodbye Youth''.Gundle p.56 He had previously worked as assistant di ...

) - Elena *'' Manovre d'amore'' (1940, directed by Gennaro Righelli) - Agnese, l'istitutrice *''

Caravaggio Michelangelo Merisi (Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi) da Caravaggio, known as simply Caravaggio (, , ; 29 September 1571 – 18 July 1610), was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life. During the final four years of hi ...

'' (1941, directed by

Goffredo Alessandrini Goffredo Alessandrini (20 November 1904, in Cairo – 16 May 1978, in Rome) was an Italian scriptwriter and film director. He also acted, edited, and produced some films. He practiced athletics in his youth, and won a title of Italian champion ...

) - Madonna Giaconella *'' Il re del circo'' (1941, directed by

Hans Hinrich Hans Hinrich (27 November 1903 – 20 October 1974) was a German film director and actor. He initially worked in Germany but later also worked in Italy where he was usually credited as ''Giovanni Hinrich''. Hinrich was a noted theatre director, ...

) - Bianca *'' I mariti - Tempesta d'amore'' (1941, directed by

Camillo Mastrocinque Camillo Mastrocinque (11 May 1901 – 23 April 1969) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed more than 60 films between 1937 and 1968, and is known to horror film fans for directing ''Terror in the Crypt'' (1964) starring ...

) - Clara Ferri *''

Light in the Darkness ''Light in the Darkness'' (Italian: ''Luce nelle tenebre'') is a 1941 Italian drama film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Fosco Giachetti, Alida Valli and Clara Calamai.Gundle p.215 The film's sets were designed by the art director Ottavio ...

'' (1941, directed by

Mario Mattoli Mario Mattoli (; 30 November 1898 – 26 February 1980) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 86 films between 1934 and 1966. His 1939 film ''Defendant, Stand Up!'' was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy ...

) - Amelia Gioiosi *'' Brivido'' (1941, directed by

Giacomo Gentilomo Giacomo Gentilomo (5 April 1909 – 16 April 2001) was an Italian film director and painter. Biography Born in Trieste, at very young age Gentilomo moved to Rome, where at 21 years old he entered the cinema industry, working as a script survivo ...

) - Federica Usticky *''

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, directed by

Enrico Guazzoni Enrico Guazzoni (18 December 1876 – 23 September 1949) Birth name Enrico Guazzone. Additionally, document states in lower right, "è morte in Roma in 23-9-49 / died in Rome 23 September 1949". was an Italian screenwriter and film director. G ...

) - Ada *''

The Adventuress from the Floor Above ''The Adventuress from the Floor Above'' (Italian: ''L'avventuriera del piano di sopra'') is a 1941 Italian " white-telephones" comedy film directed by Raffaello Matarazzo and starring Vittorio De Sica, Clara Calamai and Giuditta Rissone. It was ma ...

'' (1941, directed by

Raffaello Matarazzo Raffaello Matarazzo (17 August 1909 – 17 May 1966) was an Italian filmmaker. Life Matarazzo started writing film reviews for the Roman newspaper ''Il Tevere'' before re-editing scripts for the Italian film company Cines. His first films w ...

) - Biancamaria Rossi *''

'' (1942, directed by

) - Ginevra *''

The Queen of Navarre ''The Queen of Navarre'' (Italian: ''La regina di Navarra'') is a 1942 Italian " white-telephones" historical film directed by Carmine Gallone and starring Elsa Merlini, Gino Cervi and Renato Cialente.Nowell-Smith, Hay & Volpi p.57 It was made at t ...

'' (1942, directed by

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 ...

) - Isabella del Portogallo *'' La guardia del corpo'' (1942, directed by

Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia (8 July 1894 – 4 January 1998) was an Italian film director whose career spanned from the 1930s to the mid-1960s. He mainly directed adventure pictures and popular comedies, including some starring Totò. His 1942 f ...

) - Adriana *'' Le vie del cuore'' (1942, directed by Camillo Mastrocinque) - La baronessa Emilia Carpineti *''

'' (1943, directed by

) - Giovanna Bragana *''

Enrico IV ''Henry IV'' ( ) is an Italian play ''(Enrico IV)'' by Luigi Pirandello written in 1921 and premiered to general acclaim at the Teatro Manzoni in Milan on 24 February 1922. A study on madness with comic and tragic elements, it is about a man ...

'' (1943, directed by Giorgio Pàstina) - Matilde Spina / Frida *''

A Little Wife ''A Little Wife'' (Italian: ''Una piccola moglie'') is a 1943 Italian " white-telephones" drama film directed by Giorgio Bianchi and starring Fosco Giachetti, Assia Noris and Clara Calamai.Chiti & Poppi p.435 It was shot at the Cinecittà Studios ...

'' (1943, directed by Giorgio Bianchi) - Isa * ''

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, directed by

Gianni Franciolini Gianni Franciolini (1 June 1910 – 1 January 1960) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 19 films between 1939 and 1959. Life and career Born in Florence, in 1929 he moved to Paris to study journalism; there he came in ...

) - Laura Acquaviva *''

The Materassi Sisters ''The Materassi Sisters'' (Italian: ''Sorelle Materassi'') is a 1944 Italian comedy film directed by Ferdinando Maria Poggioli and starring Emma Gramatica, Irma Gramatica and Olga Solbelli.Reich & Garofalo p.268 The film is an adaptation of the 193 ...

'' (1944, directed by Ferdinando Maria Poggioli) - Peggy *''

La resa di Titì 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 Figure 8 ( ...

'' (1945, directed by Giorgio Bianchi) - Paola De Marchi *''

Due lettere anonime ''Due lettere anonime'', internationally released as ''Two Anonymous Letters'', is a 1945 Italian war-melodrama film directed by Mario Camerini. For this film Andrea Checchi won a Silver Ribbon for Best Actor. Cast * Clara Calamai: Gina * And ...

'' (1945, directed by

Mario Camerini Mario Camerini (6 February 1895 – 4 February 1981) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. The cousin of Augusto Genina, he made the most well-known films in Italy during the 1930s, most of them comedies starring Vittorio De Sica. H ...

) - Gina *'' The Adulteress'' (1946, directed by Duilio Coletti) - Velca *''

The Tyrant of Padua ''The Tyrant of Padua'' (Italian: ''Il tiranno di Padova'') is a 1946 Italian historical film directed by Max Neufeld and starring Clara Calamai, Carlo Lombardi and Elsa De Giorgi.Brunetta, p. 150. It is an adaptation of the 1835 play '' Angelo, ...

'' (1946, directed by

Max Neufeld Max Neufeld (13 February 1887 – 2 December 1967) was an Austrian film director, actor and screenwriter. He directed 70 films between 1919 and 1957. He directed the 1934 film '' The Song of the Sun'', which starred Vittorio De Sica. Select ...

) - Tisbe *'' Il mondo vuole così'' (1946, directed by Giorgio Bianchi) - Carla *'' Last Love'' (1947, directed by

Luigi Chiarini Luigi Chiarini (20 June 1900 – 12 November 1975) was an Italian film theorist, essayist, screenwriter and film director. Life and career Born in Rome, Chiarini wrote extensively about film theory and in 1935 he founded the drama school Centr ...

) - Maria, la canzonetista *''

When the Angels Sleep ''When the Angels Sleep'' (Spanish: ''Cuando los ángeles duermen'') is a 1947 Spanish-Italian drama film directed by Ricardo Gascón and starring Amedeo Nazzari, Clara Calamai and Maria Eugénia. In Italian the film's title is '' Quando gli angel ...

'' (1947, directed by Gilberto Gascon) - Elena * ''

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, directed by

(doppiata da

Lydia Simoneschi Lydia Simoneschi (4 April 1908 – 5 September 1981) was an Italian actress and voice actress. During her career, she gave her voice to actresses mainly during the Golden Ages. Biography Born in Rome and the daughter of silent film actor and dire ...

) - Elena Leonardi *'' Romanticismo'' (1949, directed by

Clemente Fracassi Clemente Fracassi (5 March 1917 – 2 February 1993) was an Italian film producer, director and screenwriter. His career spanned from 1939 to 1967. Selected filmography * '' To Live in Peace'' (1947 - producer) * ''Senza pietà'' (1948 - p ...

) - Giuditta Ansperti *''

Sicilian Uprising ''Sicilian Uprising'' or ''Sicilian Vespers'' (Italian: ''Vespro siciliano'') is a 1949 Italian historical drama film directed by Giorgio Pastina and starring Marina Berti, Clara Calamai and Roldano Lupi.Gesù p.315 The film is set in 1282, showin ...

'' (1949, directed by Giorgio Pàstina) - Elena Di Caltabellotta *'' Il moschettiere fantasma'' (1952, directed by Max Calandri) - Marina Venier *''

Carne inquieta ''Carne inquieta'' is a 1952 Italian melodrama film A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically c ...

'' (1952, directed by Silvestro Prestifilippo) - Marchesa di Francavilla *''

'' (1957, directed by Luchino Visconti) - La prostituta *'' Afrodite, dea dell'amore'' (1958, directed by Mario Bonnard) - Stenele *'' Tom Jones'' (1960,

TV Mini-Series A miniseries or mini-series is a television series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. "Limited series" is another more recent US term which is sometimes used interchangeably. , the popularity of miniseries format h ...

) *''

'' (1967, directed by Luchino Visconti) - Ex-actress (segment "Strega Bruciata Viva, La") *''

'' (1975, directed by

) - Marta *'' La peccatrice'' (1975, directed by Pier Luigi Pavoni) - Michele's Mother (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Calamai, Clara 1909 births 1998 deaths Nastro d'Argento winners People from Prato 20th-century Italian actresses