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, ...

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 born ...

, and rivals, Doris Duranti,

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. 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 Italian soldier who became a national hero of the Duchy of Savoy for his sacrifice in the defence of Turin against the French troops. Early life Micca was born ...

'', 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'' (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 Umber ...

's work, directed by Alessandro Blasetti) 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''), 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 ...

'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'', 1946, directed by Duilio Coletti), after

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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 aw ...

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

's '' Le notti bianche'' (1957) and appeared in '' Le streghe'' (1967). After years of retirement, she returned in 1975 to appear in the horror film '' Profondo rosso'' (''Deep Red'', directed by Dario Argento) 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 t ...

'' (1938, directed by Gennaro Righelli) *'' Ettore Fieramosca'' (1938, directed by Alessandro Blasetti) - Fulvia *'' I, His Father'' (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 Duilio Coletti) (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 acting ...

) - Olimpia Zeno *'' L'eredità in corsa'' (1939, directed by Oreste Biancoli) - 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 Valeria ...

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

Boccaccio Giovanni Boccaccio (, , ; 16 June 1313 – 21 December 1375) was an Italian writer, poet, correspondent of Petrarch, and an important Renaissance humanist. Born in the town of Certaldo, he became so well known as a writer that he was some ...

'' (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 ...

) - Elena *'' Manovre d'amore'' (1940, directed by Gennaro Righelli) - Agnese, l'istitutrice *'' Caravaggio'' (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'' (1941, directed by Mario Mattoli) - 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'' (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'' (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 *'' The Jester's Supper'' (1942, directed by Alessandro Blasetti) - 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 ...

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

'' (1943, directed by

) - Giovanna Bragana *'' Enrico IV'' (1943, directed by Giorgio Pàstina) - Matilde Spina / Frida *'' A Little Wife'' (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) - Laura Acquaviva *'' The Materassi Sisters'' (1944, directed by Ferdinando Maria Poggioli) - Peggy *'' La resa di Titì'' (1945, directed by Giorgio Bianchi) - Paola De Marchi *'' Due lettere anonime'' (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 '' Angel ...

'' (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. Sele ...

) - 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'' (1947, directed by Gilberto Gascon) - Elena * '' Prelude to Madness'' (1948, directed by Gianni Franciolini (doppiata da Lydia Simoneschi) - Elena Leonardi *'' Romanticismo'' (1949, directed by Clemente Fracassi) - Giuditta Ansperti *'' Sicilian Uprising'' (1949, directed by Giorgio Pàstina) - Elena Di Caltabellotta *'' Il moschettiere fantasma'' (1952, directed by Max Calandri) - Marina Venier *'' Carne inquieta'' (1952, directed by Silvestro Prestifilippo) - Marchesa di Francavilla *'' Le notti bianche'' (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 ...

) *'' Le streghe'' (1967, directed by Luchino Visconti) - Ex-actress (segment "Strega Bruciata Viva, La") *'' Profondo rosso'' (1975, directed by Dario Argento) - 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