''Marionette'' is a 1939 Italian

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

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 ...

and starring Beniamino Gigli,

Carla Rust Carla Rust (15 September 1908 – 27 December 1977) was a German film actress. She appeared as a leading lady in a number of films during the Nazi era. She was married to the actor Sepp Rist. Selected filmography * ''Don't Lose Heart, Suzan ...

and

Lucie Englisch Lucie Englisch (8 February 1902, in Baden bei Wien – 12 October 1965) was an Austrian actress. She was married to the actor Heinrich Fuchs. Selected filmography * ''The Night Belongs to Us'' (1929) * ''Three Days Confined to Barracks'' (1930 ...

. It featured the onscreen debut of Marcello Mastroianni as an uncredited extra.Dewey p.26 Produced by the Italian-German company

Itala Film Itala Film was an Italian film production company. Silent era It was founded during the silent era. In 1905, industrialists Carlo Rossi and William Remmert established a company in Turin, recruiting filmmakers from Pathé. Two years later, they ...

, it was shot at the

Cinecittà Studios Cinecittà Studios (; Italian for Cinema City Studios), is a large film studio in Rome, Italy. With an area of 400,000 square metres (99 acres), it is the largest film studio in Europe, and is considered the hub of Italian cinema. The studios we ...

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 ...

. The film's sets were designed by the art director

Guido Fiorini Guido Fiorini (1897–1966) was an Italian engineer, architect and art director.Poretti p.128 He was associated with the futurist movement. Selected filmography * ''Loyalty of Love'' (1934) * '' Just Married'' (1934) * ''Red Passport'' (1935) * ' ...

. A separate German version '' Dir gehört mein Herz'' was also made.

Cast

* Beniamino Gigli as Il tenore Mario Rossi *

as Gloria Bakermann *

as Nannina, la falsa contessa Veranuzzi * Paul Kemp as Rico *

Theo Lingen Theo Lingen (; 10 June 1903 – 10 November 1978), born Franz Theodor Schmitz, was a German actor, film director and screenwriter. He appeared in more than 230 films between 1929 and 1978, and directed 21 films between 1936 and 1960. Life and c ...

as Luigi *

Richard Romanowsky Richard Romanowsky (21 April 1883 – 22 July 1968) was an Austrian actor. He appeared in 45 films between 1932 and 1961. Selected filmography * '' Two in a Car'' (1932) * ''Adventure on the Southern Express'' (1934) * '' Farewell Waltz'' ...

as Il maestro Galli *

Romolo Costa Romolo Costa (26 February 1897 - 1 January 1965) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Biography Costa appeared in more than seventy films and television series between 1934 and 1964 and he was a character actor who generally appeared in support ...

as Frank Davis *

Guglielmo Barnabò Guglielmo Barnabò (11 May 1888 – 31 May 1954) was an Italian stage and film actor. He appeared in more than 90 films between 1926 and 1954. Life and career Born in Ancona, Barnabò made his stage debut in 1921 at the Greek Theatre of ...

as Un contadino *

Nicola Maldacea Nicola Maldacea (29 October 1870 – 5 March 1945) was an Italian actor, comedian and singer.Dina Romano Dina Romano (born Geltrude Ricci; 16 February 1876 – 7 November 1957) was an Italian stage and film actress. She appeared in more than fifty films during her career including '' The Materassi Sisters'' (1944).Landy p.285 Selected filmography * ...

as Emilia, una contadina * Heinz Salfner as Lo zio di Gloria *

Friedrich Ettel Friedrich Ettel (8 June 1890 – 12 March 1941) was a Swiss film actor. Ettel was born in Zurich and died at the age of 50 in Berlin, Germany. Selected filmography * ''Ludwig II, King of Bavaria'' (1929) * '' Two People'' (1930) * '' Louise, Qu ...

as Astori, l'impresario *

Erich Kestin Erich Kestin (25 June 1895 – 22 May 1969) was a German actor. He appeared in more than 50 films shows between 1930 and 1953. Selected filmography * ''Dolly Gets Ahead'' (1930) * '' The Tiger Murder Case'' (1930) * ''The Stolen Face'' (19 ...

as Francesco, il maggiordomo * Marcello Mastroianni as Extra

References

Bibliography

* Donald Dewey. ''Marcello Mastroianni: His Life and Art''. Carol Publishing Group, 1993.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Marionette (Film) 1939 films Italian comedy films 1930s Italian-language films 1939 comedy films Italian black-and-white films Films directed by Carmine Gallone Italian multilingual films Films shot at Cinecittà Studios 1939 multilingual films