Fulvia Franco (21 May 1931 – 15 May 1988) was an

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

actress, model and

beauty pageant A beauty pageant is a competition that has traditionally focused on judging and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants. Pageants have now evolved to include inner beauty, with criteria covering judging of personality, intelligence, ...

titleholder.

Life and career

Born in

Trieste Trieste ( , ; sl, Trst ; german: Triest ) is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is the capital city, and largest city, of the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, one of two autonomous regions which are not subdivided into provi ...

, the daughter of a businessman, Franco won the third edition of the

Miss Italia Miss Italia is a beauty pageant awarding prizes every year to young, female contestants from Italy. Since the first edition of the contest in 1939 many of the contestants have gone on to notable careers in television and film. History The forer ...

beauty contest held in 1948 in

Stresa Stresa is a town and ''comune'' of about 4,600 residents on the shores of Lake Maggiore in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, about northwest of Milan. It is situated on road and rail routes to the Simpl ...

. As the winner, Franco was also awarded a small role in an upcoming movie, ''

Totò al giro d'Italia ''Toto Tours Italy'' ( it, Totò al giro d'Italia) is a 1948 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Totò. The film features cameos of famous cyclists and other sportsmen of the time: Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Fiorenzo Magn ...

'', starring

Totò Antonio Griffo Focas Flavio Angelo Ducas Comneno Porfirogenito Gagliardi de Curtis di Bisanzio (15 February 1898 – 15 April 1967), best known by his stage name Totò (), or simply as Antonio de Curtis, and nicknamed ''il Principe della risata ...

, who was a member of the jury. Thanks to the success of the film, Franco continued her film career, even appearing in leading roles; her most significant and critically appreciated role was the sensual widow in ''L’avventura di un soldato'', the directorial debut of

Nino Manfredi Saturnino "Nino" Manfredi (22 March 1921 – 4 June 2004) was an Italian actor, voice actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, comedian, singer, author, radio personality and television presenter. He was one of the most prominent Italian a ...

which was part of the

anthology film An anthology film (also known as an omnibus film, package film, or portmanteau film) is a single film consisting of several shorter films, each complete in itself and distinguished from the other, though frequently tied together by a single theme ...

L'amore difficile ''L'amore difficile'' (internationally released as ''Of Wayward Love'' and as ''Sex Can Be Difficult'') is a 1962 Italian comedy anthology film. The film represents the directorial debut of the four authors, who were however all experienced in ot ...

''. Franco was married to the actor and boxer

Tiberio Mitri Tiberio Mitri (12 July 1926 in Trieste – 12 February 2001 in Rome) was an Italian boxer who fought from 1946 to 1957. During his career, Mitri was the Italian and European middleweight champion. Mitri's professional debut, was 1 August 1946, ...

for about twenty years, and she starred with him on several

fotoromanzi Photo comics are a form of sequential storytelling that uses photographs rather than illustrations for the images, along with the usual comics conventions of narrative text and word balloons containing dialogue. They are sometimes referred to ...

Partial filmography

* ''

Toto Tours Italy ''Toto Tours Italy'' ( it, Totò al giro d'Italia) is a 1948 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Totò. The film features cameos of famous cyclists and other sportsmen of the time: Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Fiorenzo M ...

'' (1948) - Miss Italia * '' Romanticismo'' (1949) - Mrs. Pochini * ''

Toto in Color ''Toto in Color'' (Italian: ''Totò a colori'') is a 1952 Italian comedy film, and was the first Italian color film shot with the Ferraniacolor system. The film was directed by Steno and starred the comic actor Totò. Plot Antonio Scannagatti is ...

'' (1952) - Poppy * '' Il romanzo della mia vita'' (1952) - Clara Ricci * '' Primo premio: Mariarosa'' (1952) * ''

Beauties on Motor Scooters ''Beauties on Motor Scooters'' (Italian: ''Bellezze in moto-scooter'') is a 1952 Italian comedy film by Carlo Campogalliani and starring Isa Barzizza, Virginia Belmont and Fulvia Franco.Gennari p.185 Partial cast * Isa Barzizza as Laura * Virg ...

'' (1952) - Marcella * ''

Finalmente libero! ''Finalmente libero!'' (i. e. "Finally free!") is a 1953 Italian comedy film written and directed by Mario Amendola and Ruggero Maccari and starring Carlo Dapporto and Nadia Gray.Ezio Colombo. "Finalmente libero!" (review). ''Festival'' (71). 8 Ma ...

'' (1953) - Giuditta * '' Matrimonial Agency'' (1953) - Mara * ''

Tripoli, Beautiful Land of Love ''Tripoli, Beautiful Land of Love'' (Italian: ''Tripoli, bel suol d'amore'') is a 1954 Italian comedy war film directed by Ferruccio Cerio and starring Alberto Sordi, Lyla Rocco and Fulvia Franco.Chiti & Poppi p.376 It takes its title from a trad ...

'' (1954) - Nadia * ''Bertoldo, Bertoldino e Cacasenno'' (1954) - Ortensia * ''

Toto in Hell ''Toto in Hell'' ( it, Totò all'inferno) is a 1955 Italian fantasy-comedy film directed by Camillo Mastrocinque. Italian cult horror film director Lucio Fulci co-wrote the screenplay. Plot Antonio Marchi, a depressed thief, after several attem ...

'' (1955) - Una moglie * ''Carovana di canzoni'' (1955) * ''

Le avventure di Giacomo Casanova ''Le avventure di Giacomo Casanova'' (a.k.a. ''The Sins of Casanova'') is a 1955 Italian comedy film directed by Steno. It stars Gabriele Ferzetti, Corinne Calvet and Irène Galter. Famed horror film director Lucio Fulci wrote the script, one of ...

'' (1955) - Bettina * ''La rossa'' (1955) - Amelia - detta 'La Rossa' * ''La moglie è uguale per tutti'' (1955) - Agatina Cuccurullo * ''Scapricciatiello'' (1955) - Carmela * ''La catena dell'odio'' (1955) - Lidia * ''Donne, amore e matrimoni'' (1956) - Maria * ''

The Knight of the Black Sword ''The Knight of the Black Sword'' (Italian: ''Il cavaliere dalla spada '') is a 1956 Italian historical adventure film directed by and Luigi Capuano and starring Marina Berti, Steve Barclay Stephen Paul Barclay (born 3 May 1972) is a Br ...

'' (1957) - Livia * ''Le belle dell'aria'' (1957) - Edmunda * ''

The Lady Doctor ''The Lady Doctor'' ( it, Totò, Vittorio e la dottoressa, also known as ''Totò, Vittorio and the Doctor'') is a 1957 Italian comedy film directed by Camillo Mastrocinque. Plot Michele and Gennaro work as attendants in the investigation agency ...

'' (1957) - Caterina * '' Peppino, le modelle e chella là'' (1957) - Lucia * ''Onore e sangue'' (1957) - Arturo's Fiancée * ''Buongiorno primo amore!'' (1957) - Leandra * ''A sud niente di nuovo'' (1957) - Fulvia * ''

Tempest Tempest is a synonym for a storm. '' The Tempest'' is a play by William Shakespeare. Tempest or The Tempest may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Films * ''The Tempest'' (1908 film), a British silent film * ''The Tempest'' (1911 film), a ...

'' (1958) - Palaska * ''

Hercules Unchained ''Hercules Unchained'' ( it, Ercole e la regina di Lidia , "Hercules and the Queen of Lydia") is a 1959 Italian-French epic fantasy feature film starring Steve Reeves and Sylva Koscina in a story about two warring brothers and Hercules' tribulat ...

'' (1959) - Anticlea - Mother of Ulysses * ''The Black Archer'' (1959) - La zingara * ''

Some Like It Cold ''Some Like It Cold'' ( it, A noi piace freddo...!, also known as ''We Like It Cold'') is a 1960 Italian war-comedy film directed by Steno. Cast * Ugo Tognazzi: Ugo Bevilacqua * Raimondo Vianello: Count Raimondo * Yvonne Furneaux: Rosal ...

'' (1961) - Luisa * ''

Of Wayward Love ''L'amore difficile'' (internationally released as ''Of Wayward Love'' and as ''Sex Can Be Difficult'') is a 1962 Italian comedy anthology film. The film represents the directorial debut of the four authors, who were however all experienced in oth ...

'' (1962) - La vedova (segment "L'avventura di un soldato") * ''

Obiettivo ragazze ''Obiettivo ragazze'' is a 1963 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring the comic duo Franco and Ciccio. Plot Four ex-soldiers meet and reminisce about the times they were in the military: a parachutist mistaking his sergeant ...

'' (1963) - Dolores * '' Hercules, Samson and Ulysses'' (1963) - Ithaca Queen * ''

High Infidelity ''High Infidelity'' ( it, Alta infedeltà) is a 1964 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli, Elio Petri, Franco Rossi and Luciano Salce. Cast ;"Scandaloso" segment * Nino Manfredi as Francesco * Fulvia Franco as Raffaella * John Phi ...

'' (1964) - Raffaella (segment "Scandaloso") * ''Queste pazze pazze donne'' (1964) - The Lady ('Pochi ma buoni' * ''

Massacre at Marble City ''Massacre at Marble City'' (german: Die Goldsucher von Arkansas, french: Les chercheurs d'or de l'Arkansas, it, Alla conquista dell'Arkansas, released in U.K. as ''Conquerors of Arkansas'') is a 1964 German-French-Italian western film directed ...

'' (1964) - Ilona * ''

Letti sbagliati ''Letti sbagliati'' is a 1965 Italian comedy film directed by Steno starring the comic duo Franco and Ciccio. Cast * Franco Franchi ... (segment "La seconda moglie") * Ciccio Ingrassia ... (segment "La seconda moglie") *Lando Buzzanca ... (s ...

'' (1965) - La moglie du Filippo (segment "00-Sexy, missione bionda platino") * '' A Coffin for the Sheriff'' (1965) - Lulu Belle * ''

L'armata Brancaleone ''L'armata Brancaleone'' (known in English-speaking countries as ''For Love and Gold'' or ''The Incredible Army of Brancaleone'') is an Italian comedy film released on April 7, 1966, written by the duo Age & Scarpelli and directed by Mario Monice ...

'' (1966) - Luisa * ''

Two Sons of Ringo ''Two Sons of Ringo'' ( it, I due figli di Ringo) is a 1966 Italian western-parody film starring the comic duo Franco and Ciccio. It was the last film directed by Giorgio Simonelli who, for health reasons, left the production just before the end of ...

'' (1966) - Margaret * ''Una rete piena di sabbia'' (1966) * ''Il magnifico Texano'' (1967) - Estella * ''

Brutti di notte The Bruttians (alternative spelling, Brettii) ( la, Bruttii) were an ancient Italic people. They inhabited the southern extremity of Italy, from the frontiers of Lucania to the Sicilian Straits and the promontory of Leucopetra. This roughly corresp ...

'' (1968) - Madame Ananas * ''

Don Chisciotte and Sancio Panza ''Don Chisciotte and Sancio Panza'' ( it, Don Chisciotte e Sancio Panza) is an Italian 1968 comedy film written and directed by Giovanni Grimaldi and starring the comic duo Franco and Ciccio. It is based on the Miguel de Cervantes' novel ''Don Qui ...

'' (1968) - Duchess * ''Mercanti di vergini'' (1969) * ''Tara Pokì'' (1971) - Donna Grazia (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Franco, Fulvia 1931 births 1988 deaths Actors from Trieste Italian beauty pageant winners Italian film actresses 20th-century Italian actresses