Carlo Leva (27 February 1930 – 4 April 2020) was an Italian production designer.

Biography

After beginning his career as second assistant art director in

Genoa Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the List of cities in Italy, sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian ce ...

on the set of ''

The Walls of Malapaga ''The Walls of Malapaga'' ( it, Le mura di Malapaga, french: Au-delà des grilles (''Beyond the Gates'')), is a 1949 French-Italian drama film directed by René Clément and starring Jean Gabin, Isa Miranda and Andrea Checchi. It was a co-produc ...

'', Leva studied

Architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing building ...

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, specializing in production design,

costume design Costume design is the creation of clothing for the overall appearance of a character or performer. Costume may refer to the style of dress particular to a nation, a class, or a period. In many cases, it may contribute to the fullness of the arti ...

and set decoration for

movies A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

and

advertising Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a ...

. In 1962, Leva was hired as assistant art director on Robert Aldrich's ''

Sodom and Gomorrah Sodom and Gomorrah () were two legendary biblical cities destroyed by God for their wickedness. Their story parallels the Genesis flood narrative in its theme of God's anger provoked by man's sin (see Genesis 19:1–28). They are mentioned frequ ...

'', where he met second unit director

Sergio Leone Sergio Leone (; 3 January 1929 – 30 April 1989) was an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter credited as the pioneer of the Spaghetti Western genre and widely regarded as one of the most influential directors in the history of cin ...

, who later hired him as assistant art director on ''

A Fistful of Dollars ''A Fistful of Dollars'' ( it, Per un pugno di dollari, lit=For a Fistful of Dollars titled on-screen as ''Fistful of Dollars'') is a 1964 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood in his first leading role, a ...

'', ''

For a Few Dollars More ''For a Few Dollars More'' ( it, Per qualche dollaro in più) is a 1965 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone. It stars Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef as bounty hunters and Gian Maria Volonté as the primary villain. German actor K ...

'' and ''

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly ''The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'' ( it, Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo, literally "The good, the ugly, the bad") is a 1966 Italian epic spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood as "the Good", Lee Van Clee ...

'' and as set decorator on ''

Once Upon a Time in the West ''Once Upon a Time in the West'' ( , "Once upon a time (there was) the West") is a 1968 epic Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone, who co-wrote it with Sergio Donati based on a story by Dario Argento, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Leone ...

''. He befriended also director

Enzo Muzii Enzo Muzii (13 January 1926 – 2 February 2014) was an Italian film director, writer and photographer. In 1968 he won the Jury Grand Prix at the Berlin International Film Festival for his film ''Something Like Love ''Something Like Love'' ( i ...

, with whom he worked on movies such as ''

Something Like Love ''Something Like Love'' ( it, Come l'amore) is a 1968 Italian drama film directed by Enzo Muzii. It was entered into the 18th Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Silver Bear Extraordinary Prize of the Jury. Cast * Alfred Lynch ...

'', and later worked with many other directors, such as

Federico Fellini Federico Fellini (; 20 January 1920 – 31 October 1993) was an Italian film director and screenwriter known for his distinctive style, which blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and most i ...

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 ...

(for ''

The Cat o' Nine Tails ''The Cat o' Nine Tails'' ( it, Il gatto a nove code) is a 1971 ''giallo'' film written and directed by Dario Argento, adapted from a story by Dardano Sacchetti, Luigi Cozzi, and an uncredited Bryan Edgar Wallace. It stars Karl Malden, Jame ...

'') and

Carol Reed Sir Carol Reed (30 December 1906 – 25 April 1976) was an English film director and producer, best known for ''Odd Man Out'' (1947), '' The Fallen Idol'' (1948), ''The Third Man'' (1949), and '' Oliver!'' (1968), for which he was awarded the ...

. In 2017, Leva took part in the

documentary film A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional film, motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". Bill Nichols (film critic), Bil ...

'' Sad Hill Unearthed'', narrating the reconstruction of the cemetery scene of ''

''.

Death

Leva died in

Alessandria Alessandria (; pms, Lissandria ) is a city and ''comune'' in Piedmont, Italy, and the capital of the Province of Alessandria. The city is sited on the alluvial plain between the Tanaro and the Bormida rivers, about east of Turin. Alessandria ...

on 4 April 2020, at the age of 90, due to a sudden illness.

Partial filmography

Production designer

* ''

Tears on Your Face ''Tears on Your Face'' (Italian: ''Una lacrima sul viso'') is a 1964 Italian " musicarello" film directed by Ettore Maria Fizzarotti. It is named after the Bobby Solo's hit song " Una lacrima sul viso".Daniele Magni, ''Cuori matti - Dizionario dei ...

'' (1964) * ''

Se non avessi più te ''Se non avessi più te'' is a 1965 Italian "musicarello" film directed by Ettore Maria Fizzarotti. Cast *Gianni Morandi as Gianni Traimonti * Laura Efrikian as Carla Todisco * Anna Maria Polani as Isabel de Villalba *Nino Taranto as Ten. An ...

'' (1965) * ''

Non son degno di te ''Non son degno di te'' is a 1965 Italian "musicarello" film directed by Ettore Maria Fizzarotti. Cast *Gianni Morandi as Gianni Traimonti * Laura Efrikian as Carla Todisco * Gino Bramieri as Ginone Traimonti *Nino Taranto as Antonio Todisco ...

'' (1965) * ''

In a Colt's Shadow ''In a Colt's Shadow'' ( it, All'ombra di una colt) is a 1965 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed and written by Giovanni Grimaldi. Story Two professional gunfighters separate after they complete a job in a small Mexican town where they rid i ...

'' (1965) * '' Mi vedrai tornare'' (1966) * ''

'' (1966) * ''

'' (1968) * ''

The Price of Power ''The Price of Power'' ( it, Il prezzo del potere) is a 1969 Spaghetti Western directed by Tonino Valerii. The film stars Giuliano Gemma as the hero Bill Willer who tries to get revenge against the killers of his father while at the same time tr ...

'' (1969) * ''

Angeli senza paradiso ''Angeli senza paradiso'' ("''Angels without Paradise''") is a 1970 Italian "musicarello" directed by Ettore Maria Fizzarotti. It is an unofficial remake of the 1933 film '' Gently My Songs Entreat'' by Willi Forst.Daniele Magni, ''Cuori matti - ...

'' (1970) * ''

'' (1971) * ''

This Kind of Love ''This Kind of Love'' is the 22nd studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Hear Music, on April 29, 2008. Simon's first album of original material since ''The Bedroom Tapes'' in 2000, it is also her most recent albu ...

'' (1972) * ''

Return of Halleluja ''Return of Halleluja'' ( it, Il West ti va stretto, amico... è arrivato Alleluja, also known as ''The West Is Very Close, Amigo'') is a 1972 Italian Spaghetti Western film directed by Giuliano Carnimeo and starring George Hilton. It is the seq ...

'' (1972) * '' Emergency Squad'' (1974) * '' Cross Shot'' (1976) * ''

Mark Strikes Again ''Mark Strikes Again'' ( it, Mark colpisce ancora, also known as ''The .44 Specialist'') is a 1976 Italian '' poliziottesco'' film directed by Stelvio Massi. Originally planned as an original film, during the shoots and the post-production process ...

'' (1976) * ''

Destruction Force ''Destruction Force'' (originally titled ''La banda del trucido'' (''The Numbskull's Gang''), also known as ''Dirty Gang'') is a 1977 Italian poliziottesco directed by Stelvio Massi. It is the second film in which Tomas Milian plays the character ...

'' (1977) * '' The Witness'' (1978)

Art director

* ''

Spirits of the Dead ''Spirits of the Dead'' (french: Histoires extraordinaires, lit=Extraordinary Tales, it, Tre passi nel delirio, lit=Three Steps to Delirium), also known as ''Tales of Mystery and Imagination'', is a 1968 horror anthology film comprising three ...

'' (1968) * '' 32 dicembre'' (1988)

Costume designer

* ''

'' (1971)

Set decorator

* ''

'' (1965) * ''

The Big Gundown ''The Big Gundown'' ( it, La resa dei conti, lit=The Settling of Scores) is a 1966 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Sollima, and starring Lee Van Cleef and Tomas Milian. Plot Possessing a reputation for bringing criminals to justice, ...

'' (1967) * ''

'' (1968) * ''

The Case of the Bloody Iris ''The Case of the Bloody Iris'' (Italian: ''Perché quelle strane gocce di sangue sul corpo di Jennifer?'', lit. "Why those strange drops of blood on Jennifer's body?", originally released in the UK as ''Erotic Blue'') is a 1972 Italian giallo film ...

'' (1972) * ''

'' (1972)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Leva, Carlo 1930 births 2020 deaths Italian art directors Italian production designers Italian costume designers