Bellissima (1952)

A woman from the low class desperately tries to get her daughter into the movies.

Director:

Luchino Visconti

Writers:

Cesare Zavattini (story), Suso Cecchi D'Amico (screenplay),

Stars:

Anna Magnani, Walter Chiari, Tina Apicella

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anna Magnani	...	Maddalena Cecconi
Walter Chiari	...	Alberto Annovazzi
Tina Apicella	...	Maria Cecconi
Gastone Renzelli	...	Spartaco Cecconi
Tecla Scarano	...	Tilde Spernanzoni
Lola Braccini	...	Photographer's Wife
Arturo Bragaglia	...	Photographer
Nora Ricci	...	Laundry Worker
Vittorina Benvenuti
Linda Sini	...	Mimmetta
Teresa Battaggi	...	Snob Mother
Gisella Monaldi	...	Door-keeper
Amalia Pellegrini
Luciana Ricci
Giuseppina Arena

Storyline

Film director Blasetti is looking for a little girl for his new movie. Along with other mothers, Maddelena takes her daugther to Cinecittà, hoping she'll be selected and become a star. She is ready to sacrifice anything for little Maria, even if her husband would prefer they save their little money for the rent, instead of paying teachers, hairdressers or bribes for her illusions.

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Plot Keywords:

disillusionment | humiliation | open air cinema | motion picture industry | rehearsal | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

15 May 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bellísima

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

CEI Incom

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The poem Maria recites is "Addio a Venezia" (1849) by Arnaldo Fusinato.

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Connections

References Do You Love Me (1946)

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Soundtracks

"L'elisir d'amore"
(excerpts)
By Gaetano Donizetti

User Reviews

A masterpiece about the "dream industry" and shattered dreams

A wonderful, poignant masterpiece by the great Visconti and Anna-the-Great-Magnani. On the surface, it is a simple story about a mother's obsession to use her little daughter's appearance to escape the poverty of post-war Italy. What transpires is the cruel truth about the beauty- and illusion-making industry (cinema), with all its inherent cynicism, at a time when hunger for the daily bread was equaled by hunger for fantasy and beauty.

I've seen this movie only once, ages ago, and it still remains with me as one of the most unforgettable films I have ever seen. In a world that has seen hundreds of thousands of films that is no small feat.