Mario Soldati (17 November 1906 – 19 June 1999) 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 ...

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, ...

and

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, pr ...

. In 1954 he won the

Strega Prize The Strega Prize ( it, Premio Strega ) is the most prestigious Italian literary award. It has been awarded annually since 1947 for the best work of prose fiction written in the Italian language by an author of any nationality and first published ...

for ''Lettere da Capri.'' He directed several works adapted from novels, and worked with leading Italian actresses, such as

Sophia Loren Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone (; born 20 September 1934), known professionally as Sophia Loren ( , ), is an Italian actress. She was named by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest female stars of Classical Hollywood ci ...

and

Gina Lollobrigida Luigia "Gina" Lollobrigida (born 4 July 1927) is an Italian actress, photojournalist, and politician. She was one of the highest-profile European actresses of the 1950s and early 1960s, a period in which she was an international sex symbol. As o ...

Biography

A native of

Turin Turin ( , Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ; it, Torino ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in Northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital ...

, Soldati attended the ''Liceo Sociale'', a

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

school, and finished secondary school at age 17. He then studied humanities at the

University of Turin The University of Turin (Italian language, Italian: ''Università degli Studi di Torino'', UNITO) is a public university, public research university in the city of Turin, in the Piedmont (Italy), Piedmont region of Italy. It is one of the List ...

. At that time, the University was a hotbed of intellectual activity and the young Soldati would meet and befriend the likes of activist and writer

Carlo Levi Carlo Levi () (29 November 1902 – 4 January 1975) was an Italian painter, writer, activist, communist, and doctor. He is best known for his book '' Cristo si è fermato a Eboli'' (''Christ Stopped at Eboli''), published in 1945, a memoir of ...

and journalist

Giacomo Debenedetti Giacomo Debenedetti (Biella, 1901 – Rome, 1967) was an Italian writer, essayist and literary critic. He was one of the greatest interpreters of literary criticism in Italy in the 20th century, one of the first to embrace the lessons of psychoanal ...

, who were his seniors. He later studied History of Art at the University of Rome. He started publishing novels in 1929. He achieved the widest notice with ''America primo amore'', published in 1935, a memoir of the time he spent teaching at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

. He won literary awards for his work, most notably the

for ''Lettere da Capri'' in 1954. Also interested in film, Soldati began directing in 1938. His most well-known films are ''

Piccolo mondo antico ''Piccolo mondo antico'' (literally: Little Ancient World), known in English as ''Old-Fashioned World '', is a 1941 Italian drama film directed by Mario Soldati and based on the 1895 novel by Antonio Fogazzaro. It belongs to the movies of the ca ...

'' (1941) and ''Malombra'' (1942) with

Isa Miranda Isa Miranda (born Ines Isabella Sampietro; 5 July 1909 – 8 July 1982) was an Italian actress with an international film career. Biography Miranda was born Ines Isabella Sampietro in Milan, the daughter of atreet car conductor in Mian. When ...

, both based on novels by

Antonio Fogazzaro Antonio Fogazzaro (; 25 March 1842 – 7 March 1911) was an Italian novelist and proponent of Liberal Catholicism. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature seven times. Biography Fogazzaro was born in Vicenza to a wealthy family. In ...

. These two films belong to the early 1940s movement in

Italian cinema The cinema of Italy (, ) comprises the films made within Italy or by Italian directors. Since its beginning, Italian cinema has influenced film movements worldwide. Italy is one of the birthplaces of art cinema and the stylistic aspect of film ha ...

known as ''

calligrafismo Calligrafismo (, "caligraphism") is an Italian style of filmmaking relating to some films made in Italy in the first half of the 1940s and endowed with an expressive complexity that isolates them from the general context. Calligrafismo is in a sh ...

.'' Other popular films were ''Eugenie Grandet'', based on Balzac's novel, with

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, ...

; ''Fuga in Francia'' (1948); ''The River Girl'' (starring

), and ''La provinciale'' (starring

). Soldati also regularly published articles in Italian newspapers, including '' Il Mondo'', '' Il Corriere della Sera'', ''

La Stampa ''La Stampa'' (meaning ''The Press'' in English) is an Italian daily newspaper published in Turin, Italy. It is distributed in Italy and other European nations. It is one of the oldest newspapers in Italy. History and profile The paper was fou ...

, Avanti,

L'Unità ''l'Unità'' (, lit. 'the Unity') was an Italian newspaper, founded as the official newspaper of the Italian Communist Party (PCI) in 1924. It was supportive of that party's successor parties, the Democratic Party of the Left, Democrats of th ...

''and '' Il Giorno''. He died at

Lerici Lerici ( lij, Lerxi, locally ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of La Spezia in Liguria (northern Italy), part of the Italian Riviera. It is situated on the coast of the Gulf of La Spezia, southeast of La Spezia. It is known as the plac ...

in 1999.

Legacy and honors

*1954,

for ''Lettere da Capri'' *2010, his 1950 film ''

I'm in the Revue ''I'm in the Revue'' ( it, Botta e risposta) is a 1950 French-Italian comedy film directed by Mario Soldati. It was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy at the 67th Venice International Film Festival. Cast * Nino Taranto - L'Habi ...

'' was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy at the

67th Venice International Film Festival The 67th annual Venice International Film Festival held in Venice, Italy, took place from 1 to 11 September 2010. American film director and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino was the head of the Jury. The opening film of the festival was Darren Aro ...

Filmography

* ''

The Table of the Poor ''The Table of the Poor'' (Italian: ''La tavola dei poveri'') is a 1932 Italian drama film directed by Alessandro Blasetti and starring Raffaele Viviani, Leda Gloria and Salvatore Costa. It was based on a play by Viviani set in Naples. It was s ...

'' (1932) * '' What Scoundrels Men Are!'' (1932) * ''

The Opera Singer ''The Opera Singer'' ( it, La cantante dell'opera) is a 1932 Italian musical film directed by Nunzio Malasomma and starring Gianfranco Giachetti, Germana Paolieri and Isa Pola.Ricci p.142 Cast * Gianfranco Giachetti as Papussa * Germana Pao ...

'' (1932) * ''

Steel Steel is an alloy made up of iron with added carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistan ...

'' (1933) * ''

Giallo In Italian cinema, ''Giallo'' (; plural ''gialli'', from ''giallo'', Italian for yellow) is a genre of mystery fiction and thrillers that often contains slasher, crime fiction, psychological thriller, psychological horror, sexploitation, and, ...

'' (1933) * '' The Great Appeal'' (1936) * ''

But It's Nothing Serious ''But It's Nothing Serious'' (Italian: ''Ma non è una cosa seria'') is a 1936 Italian " white-telephones" romantic comedy film directed by Mario Camerini and starring Vittorio De Sica, Elisa Cegani and Assia Noris.Cardullo p.268 It is based on a ...

'' (1936) * ''

The Countess of Parma ''The Countess of Parma'' (Italian: ''La contessa di Parma'') is a 1937 Italian " white-telephones" comedy film directed by Alessandro Blasetti and starring Elisa Cegani, Antonio Centa and María Denis. Marcella, a mannequin working in a fashion ...

'' (1936) * '' The Woman of Monte Carlo'' (''La signora di Montecarlo'') (1938) * ''

Princess Tarakanova Princess Tarakanova (c. 1745 – ) was a pretender to the Russian throne. She styled herself, among other names, ''Knyazhna Yelizaveta Vladimirskaya'' (Princess of Vladimir), ''Fräulein Frank'', and ''Madame Trémouille''. Tarakanova ('' ...

'' (1938) * ''

Tonight at Eleven ''Tonight at Eleven'' (Italian: ''Stasera alle undici'') is a 1938 Italian " white-telephones" mystery film directed by Oreste Biancoli and starring John Lodge, Francesca Braggiotti and Ivana Claar.Chiti & Poppi p.430. It was shot at the Cineci ...

'' (1938) * ''

I Want to Live with Letizia ''I Want to Live with Letizia'' (Italian: ''Voglio vivere con Letizia'') is a 1938 Italian " white-telephones" comedy film directed by Camillo Mastrocinque and starring Assia Noris, Gino Cervi and Umberto Melnati.Chiti & Poppi p.414 It was shot ...

'' (1938) * '' The Cuckoo Clock'' (1938) * ''

Two Million for a Smile ''Two Million for a Smile'' (Italian: ''Due milioni per un sorriso'') is a 1939 Italian " white-telephones" comedy film directed by Carlo Borghesio and Mario Soldati and starring Enrico Viarisio, Giuseppe Porelli and Elsa De Giorgi.Curti p.22 It ...

'' (1939) * ''

The Document ''The Document'' (Italian: ''Il documento'') is a 1939 Italian " white-telephones" comedy film directed by Mario Camerini and starring Ruggero Ruggeri, Armando Falconi and María Denis.Stewart p.71 It was made at the Cinecittà Studios in Rome. ...

'' (1939) * '' Castles in the Air'' (1939) * '' Dora Nelson'' (1939) * ''

A Romantic Adventure ''A Romantic Adventure'' (Italian: ''Una romantica avventura'') is a 1940 Italian historical drama film directed by Mario Camerini and starring Assia Noris, Gino Cervi and Leonardo Cortese.Aprà p.111 It is inspired by the 1883 short story ''The ...

'' (1940) * '' Tutto per la donna'' (1940) * '' Saint Rogelia'' (1940) * ''

The Sin of Rogelia Sanchez ''The Sin of Rogelia Sanchez'' (Italian:''Il peccato di Rogelia Sanchez'') is a 1940 Italian drama film directed by Carlo Borghesio and Roberto de Ribón and starring Germaine Montero, Juan de Landa and Rafael Rivelles.Balma p.128 It was made at ...

'' (1940) * ''

'' (1941) * '' A Pistol Shot'' (1942) * '' Tragic Night'' (1942) * '' Malombra'' (1942) * '' In High Places'' (''Quartieri alti'') (1945) * ''

His Young Wife ''His Young Wife'' ( it, Le miserie del signor Travet) is a 1945 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Soldati. It was entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Carlo Campanini - Monsù Ignazio Travet * Vera Carmi - Madama Rosa Trave ...

'' (''Le miserie del Signor Travet'') (1945) * ''

Daniele Cortis ''Daniele Cortis'' (also known as ''Elena'') is a 1947 Italian drama film directed by Mario Soldati and starring Vittorio Gassman, Sarah Churchill and Gino Cervi. The film (set in nineteenth-century Italy) follows the impossible love affair bet ...

'' (also known as ''Elena'') (1947) * '' Eugenie Grandet'' (''Eugenia Grandet'') (1947) * '' Flight Into France'' (''Fuga in Francia'') (1948) * '' Chi è Dio'' (1948) * ''

'' (''Botta e risposta'') (1950) * ''

Her Favourite Husband ''Her Favourite Husband'' (also known by the alternative titles ''The Taming of Dorothy'' and ''Quel bandito sono io'') is a 1950 British-Italian comedy film directed by Mario Soldati and starring Jean Kent, Robert Beatty and Margaret Rutherf ...

'' (''The Taming of Dorothy''; ''Quel bandito sono io'') (1950) * ''

Women and Brigands ''Women and Brigands'' (Italian: ''Donne e briganti'') is a 1950 French-Italian historical melodrama film directed by Mario Soldati and starring Amedeo Nazzari, Maria Mauban and Jean Chevrier. It is based on the story of the legendary guerilla ...

'' (1950) * '' O.K. Nero'' (''O.K. Nerone'') (1951) * '' È l'amor che mi rovina'' (1951) * '' Three Corsairs'' (''I tre corsari'') (1952) * ''

Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair ''Jolanda, the Daughter of the Black Corsair'', also known as ''Yolanda'' ( it, Jolanda, la figlia del corsaro nero) is a 1953 Italian film directed by Mario Soldati, and based on the novel Yolanda, the Black Corsair's Daughter by Emilio Salgari ...

'', a.k.a. ''Yolanda'' (''Jolanda, la figlia del corsaro nero'') (1952) * ''

The Adventures of Mandrin ''The Adventures of Mandrin'' (Italian: ''Le Avventure di Mandrin'') is a 1952 French-Italian historical adventure film directed by Mario Soldati and starring Raf Vallone, Silvana Pampanini and Jacques Castelot. It was released under a variety of ...

'' (1952) * '' The Dream of Zorro'' (1952) * '' The Wayward Wife'' (''La provinciale'') (1953) * ''

Of Life and Love ''Of Life and Love'' ( it, Questa è la vita) is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Aldo Fabrizi, Giorgio Pastina, Mario Soldati and Luigi Zampa. Plot The film tells four episodes from stories written by Luigi Pirandello (from the work: ...

'' (''Questa è la vita'') (1954) * '' The Stranger's Hand'' (1954) * ''

The River Girl ''The River Girl'' (Italian: ''La donna del fiume'') is a 1955 French-Italian melodrama film directed by Mario Soldati and starring Sophia Loren, Gérard Oury and Rik Battaglia. Plot After discovering that she is pregnant, a peasant girl is dese ...

'' (''La donna del fiume'') (1955) * ''

The Virtuous Bigamist ''The Virtuous Bigamist'' (french: Sous le ciel de Provence, it, Era di venerdì 17) is a 1956 French-Italian comedy drama film directed by Mario Soldati. It is a remake of the Italian film ''Four Steps in the Clouds'', written by Giuseppe Amato ...

'' (''Sous le ciel de Provence'') (1956) * '' Italia piccola'' (1957) * '' Count Max'' (1957) * '' Policarpo'' (''Policarpo, ufficiale di scrittura'') (1959)

References

External links

*
Mario Soldati mostra virtuale
{{DEFAULTSORT:Soldati, Mario 1906 births 1999 deaths Film people from Turin Italian film directors Italian male journalists Strega Prize winners University of Turin alumni Columbia University faculty Premio Campiello winners 20th-century Italian journalists Writers from Turin 20th-century Italian male writers