Ubaldo Arata (23 March 1895 – 7 December 1947) was an Italian

cinematographer The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the photographing or recording of a film, television production, music video or other live action piece. The cinematographer is the ch ...

. Arata worked on more than a hundred films between 1918 and his death in 1947. Arata entered cinema in the

silent era A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, wh ...

, and worked prolifically during the 1920s including on one of the final entries into the long-running

Maciste Maciste () is one of the oldest recurring characters of cinema, created by Gabriele d'Annunzio and Giovanni Pastrone. He is featured throughout the history of the cinema of Italy from the 1910s to the mid-1960s. He is usually depicted as a Hercu ...

series. He was employed on the first Italian

sound film A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

The Song of Love ''The Song of Love'' (also known as ''Le chant d'amour'' or ''Love Song'') is a 1914 painting by Italian metaphysical painter Giorgio de Chirico. It is one of the most famous works by Chirico and an early example of the surrealist style, thoug ...

'' (1930). Until the

fall of Fascism The fall of the Fascist regime in Italy, also known in Italy as 25 Luglio ( it, Venticinque Luglio, ; "25 July"), came as a result of parallel plots led respectively by Count Dino Grandi and King Victor Emmanuel III during the spring and sum ...

, he was one of the leading Italian cinematographers working on

propaganda films Propaganda Films was an American music video and film production company founded in 1986 by producers Steve Golin and Sigurjón Sighvatsson and directors David Fincher, Nigel Dick, Dominic Sena and Greg Gold. By 1990, the company was producin ...

such as ''

Scipione l'africano ''Scipione l'africano'' (1937) — in English ''Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal'' — is an Italian historical film that focuses on Publius Cornelius Scipio (Scipio Africanus) from the time of his election as proconsul until his defeat o ...

'' ( ''Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal'', 1937) and ''

Luciano Serra, Pilot ''Luciano Serra, Pilot'' (Italian: ''Luciano Serra pilota'') is a 1938 Italian war drama film directed by Goffredo Alessandrini and starring Amedeo Nazzari, Germana Paolieri and Roberto Villa. It was screened at the Venice Film Festival in A ...

'' (1938) as well as more straightforward entertainment films. Arata worked with

Roberto Rossellini Roberto Gastone Zeffiro Rossellini (8 May 1906 – 3 June 1977) was an Italian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was one of the most prominent directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing to the movement with films such ...

on the 1945 neorealist drama ''

Rome, Open City ''Rome, Open City'' ( it, Roma città aperta, also released as ''Open City'') is a 1945 Italian neorealist war drama film directed by Roberto Rossellini and co-written by Sergio Amidei, Celeste Negarville and Federico Fellini. Set in Rome in 19 ...

''. He was instrumental in securing the backing of the

distribution Distribution may refer to: Mathematics *Distribution (mathematics), generalized functions used to formulate solutions of partial differential equations * Probability distribution, the probability of a particular value or value range of a vari ...

company Minerva Film for the production's release.Liehm p.329 Following the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Arata worked on several co-productions with Britain and the United States.

Selected filmography

* '' Zingari'' (1920) * '' Maciste in Hell'' (1925) * '' The Courier of Moncenisio'' (1927) * ''

The Last Tsars ''The Last Tsars'' (Italian:''Gli ultimi zar'') is a 1928 Italian silent film directed by Baldassarre Negroni and starring Bartolomeo Pagano, Elena Lunda and Amilcare Taglienti.Molitnero p.14 Cast * Bartolomeo Pagano as Maciste * Elena Lund ...

'' (1928) * ''

The Carnival of Venice The "Carnival of Venice" is based on a Neapolitan folk tune called "O Mamma, Mamma Cara" and popularized by violinist and composer Niccolo Paganini, who wrote twenty variations on the original tune. He titled it "Il Carnevale Di Venezia," Op. 1 ...

'' (1928) * ''

Rails Rail or rails may refer to: Rail transport *Rail transport and related matters *Rail (rail transport) or railway lines, the running surface of a railway Arts and media Film * ''Rails'' (film), a 1929 Italian film by Mario Camerini * ''Rail'' ( ...

'' (1929) * '' Judith and Holofernes'' (1929) * ''

'' (1930) * '' When Naples Sings'' (1930) * ''

Courtyard A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky. Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary ...

'' (1931) * '' The Doctor in Spite of Himself'' (1931) * ''

Before the Jury ''Before the Jury'' (Italian title:''Corte d'Assise'') is a 1931 Italian crime film directed by Guido Brignone and starring Marcella Albani, Lia Franca and Carlo Ninchi. It was made at the Cines Studios in Rome. The film is a precursor to the ...

'' (1931) * '' The Charmer'' (1931) * ''

Paradise In religion, paradise is a place of exceptional happiness and delight. Paradisiacal notions are often laden with pastoral imagery, and may be cosmogonical or eschatological or both, often compared to the miseries of human civilization: in paradis ...

'' (1932) * ''

La Wally ''La Wally'' is an opera in four acts by composer Alfredo Catalani, to a libretto by Luigi Illica, first performed at La Scala, Milan, on 20 January 1892. The libretto is based on a hugely successful ' by Wilhelmine von Hillern (1836–1916), ' ...

'' (1932) * ''

Pergolesi Pergolesi is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, (1710–1736), Italian composer, violinist, and organist * Michael Angelo Pergolesi, 18th-century Italian decorative artist {{Surname Italian-langu ...

'' (1932) * '' The Last Adventure'' (1932) * ''

Together in the Dark ''Together in the Dark'' (Italian: ''Al buio insieme'') is a 1933 Italian comedy film directed by Gennaro Righelli and starring Sandra Ravel, Maurizio D'Ancora and Lamberto Picasso.Mancini p.216 The film's sets were designed by the art director Ga ...

'' (1933) * ''

Everybody's Woman ''Everybody's Woman'' (Italian: ''La signora di tutti'') is a 1934 Italian drama film directed by Max Ophüls and starring Isa Miranda, Memo Benassi and Tatyana Pavlova. It is the only film Max Ophüls made in Italy. The film was a success an ...

'' (1934) * '' Lady of Paradise'' (1934) * ''

Just Married ''Just Married'' is a 2003 American romantic comedy film directed by Shawn Levy, written by Sam Harper, and stars Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy. Produced by Robert Simonds, the film was successful at the box office despite generally negative ...

'' (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) * '' The Wedding March'' (1934) * ''

Villafranca Villafranca (Basque: ''Alesbes'') is a town and municipality located in the province and the autonomous community (Comunidad Foral) of Navarre, northern Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo ...

'' (1934) * ''

Red Passport ''Red Passport'' (Italian: ''Passaporto rosso'') is a 1935 Italian historical drama film directed by Guido Brignone and starring Isa Miranda, Filippo Scelzo and Ugo Ceseri. A group of Italian immigrants to South America join in a revolution. It ...

'' (1935) * ''

Ginevra degli Almieri ''Ginevra degli Almieri'' is a 1935 Italian historical drama film directed by Guido Brignone and starring Elsa Merlini, Amedeo Nazzari and Uberto Palmarini. Merlini had spotted Nazzari during a stage play, and lobbied for his casting in his film ...

'' (1935) * ''

Aldebaran Aldebaran (Arabic: “The Follower”, "الدبران") is the brightest star in the zodiac constellation of Taurus. It has the Bayer designation α Tauri, which is Latinized to Alpha Tauri and abbreviated Alpha Tau or α Tau. Aldebar ...

'' (1935) * ''

King of Diamonds The king of diamonds is a playing card in the standard 52-card deck. King of Diamonds may also refer to: * ''King of Diamonds'' (film), a 1936 Italian comedy film directed by Enrico Guazzoni * ''King of Diamonds'' (TV series), a 1961–62 Ameri ...

'' (1936) * ''

A Woman Between Two Worlds ''A Woman Between Two Worlds'' (Italian: ''Una donna tra due mondi'') is a 1936 Italian Telefoni Bianchi, white telephone drama film directed by Goffredo Alessandrini and starring Isa Miranda, Assia Noris and Giulio Donadio. The film's sets were d ...

'' (1936) * ''

The Amnesiac ''The Amnesiac'' (Italian: ''Lo smemorato'') is a 1936 Italian comedy film directed by Gennaro Righelli and starring Angelo Musco, Checco Durante and Franco Coop.Goble p.66 The film's plot is based on a stage play, inspired by the Bruneri-Canella ...

'' (1936) * ''

The Love of the Maharaja ''The Love of the Maharaja'' (german: Die Liebe des Maharadscha) is a 1936 German drama film directed by Arthur Maria Rabenalt and starring Gustav Diessl, Attila Hörbiger and Hilde von Stolz. It was made as a co-production between the Italian A ...

'' (1936) * ''

'' (1937) * ''

'' (1938) * '' The Widow'' (1939) * ''

Angelica ''Angelica'' is a genus of about 60 species of tall biennial and perennial herbs in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, reaching as far north as Iceland, Lapland, and Greenland. They grow t ...

'' (1939) * ''

Bridge of Glass The Bridge of Glass is a pedestrian partially-covered footbridge spanning Interstate 705 in Tacoma, Washington. It was opened in 2002 as a gift to the city. The Bridge of Glass connects the Museum of Glass on the Thea Foss Waterway to the downt ...

'' (1940) * ''

The King's Jester ''The King's Jester'' ( it, Il re si diverte) is a 1941 Italian historical drama film directed by Mario Bonnard and starring Michel Simon, María Mercader and Rossano Brazzi. The film is an adaptation of the play ''Le roi s'amuse'' by Victor Hug ...

'' (1941) * ''

A Woman Has Fallen ''A Woman Has Fallen'' (Italian: ''È caduta una donna'') is a 1941 Italian drama film directed by Alfredo Guarini and starring Isa Miranda, Rossano Brazzi, and Claudio Gora. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Gustav Abel, Paolo ...

'' (1941) * '' The Story of Tosca'' (1941) * '' Girl of the Golden West'' (1942) * ''

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the Carmen (novella), novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first perfo ...

'' (1942) * ''

Life Begins Anew ''Life Begins Anew'' ( it, La vita ricomincia) is a 1945 Italian melodrama film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Alida Valli, Fosco Giachetti and Eduardo De Filippo. It was the second most popular Italian film during 1945-46 after Roberto ...

'' (1945) * ''

The Innocent Casimiro ''The Innocent Casimiro'' (Italian: ''L'innocente Casimiro'') is a 1945 Italian comedy film directed by Carlo Campogalliani and starring Erminio Macario, Lea Padovani and Olinto Cristina. It is based on a play ''Scandalo al Collegio'' by Mario Am ...

'' (1945) * '' The Adulteress'' (1946) * ''

Teheran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most populo ...

'' (1946) * ''

Fatal Symphony ''Fatal Symphony'' (Italian: ''Sinfonia fatale'') is a 1947 Italian war-melodrama film directed by Victor Stoloff and starring Douglass Montgomery, Marina Berti and Sarah Churchill. It was screened and awarded a prize at the Lugano Festival.Love ...

'' (1947) * '' Call of the Blood'' (1949) * ''

Black Magic Black magic, also known as dark magic, has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or magic for evil and selfish purposes, specifically the seven magical arts prohibited by canon law, as expounded by Johannes Hartlieb in 145 ...

'' (1949)

References

Bibliography

* Liehm, Mira. ''Passion and Defiance: Film in Italy from 1942 to the Present''. University of California Press, 1984. * Wagstaff, Christopher. ''Italian Neorealist Cinema: An Aesthetic Approach''. University of Toronto Press, 2007.

External links

* 1895 births 1947 deaths Italian cinematographers People from Ovada {{Italy-film-bio-stub