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

Featured in Volver (2006)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Very beautiful; Magnani at her best

If you see only one film by Anna Magnani, see BELLISSIMA. The is "La Magnani" at her comic best. Get the video with English subtitles because even if your italian is good, the verbal onslaught is thick and fast. Preferably one should see this film on the big screen to get the full impact of Magnani's performance. She plays a stage mother who is trying to get her young, tiny little girl into the movies. Magnani's warmth, wit, slyness and sheer volcanic beauty leap from the screen. I am amazed that Hollywood has not re-made this film. It would be the perfect vehicle for Barbra Streisand or Bette Midler and would assure them of an Oscar nomination. Unlike her English language roles, such as "The Rose Tattoo" or "The Secret of Santa Vittoria", in BELLISSIMA Magnani acts in her native italian voice. It makes all the difference in the world. When she acted in English, she was stilted and restrained; the language barrier, although she made super-human, heroic efforts to master English, is nonetheless felt. But in her native tongue, Magnani lets loose with a bravura performance. I defy anyone not to fall in love with her after watching BELLISSIMA.