Bernardino Zapponi
Encyclopedia
Bernardino Zapponi was an Italian novelist and screenwriter best known for his films written in collaboration with Federico Fellini
.
in 1927. He began his literary career writing for Orlando and Marc'Aurelio, two well-established Italian satirical magazines, later branching out into radio and television.
An expert in literary innovation, Zapponi founded the cult magazine Il Delatore (The Spy), published four novels including Gobal, a famous collection of short stories, as well as songs, plays and theatre sketches. Revered for his work with Fellini, he also collaborated on films by Dino Risi and co-wrote Dario Argento
's Deep Red
.
after Fellini had abandoned his ambitious project, The Voyage of G. Mastorna. While recovering from a devastating illness (provoked by the Mastorna fiasco), Fellini read Zapponi's Gobal and hoped to convince French producer, Raymond Eger, of financing one of its short stories. The story in question, The Driver, was a macabre tale of a chauffeur demolishing the car he doesn't own. Interested solely in screen adaptations of work by Edgar Allan Poe
, Eger rejected the proposal. Fellini then instructed his assistant Liliana Betti to read and summarize all of Poe's tales for him. Although tempted by several stories, it was Never Bet the Devil Your Head with the protagonist Toby Dammit that fired his imagination. Zapponi read a news item while scouting locations with Fellini that concerned the collapsed Ariccia Bridge in the Castelli Romani quarter outside Rome. Visiting the area at night, they were deeply impressed by the bridge's ruined splendor and decided to make it a crucial element in the death of Toby Dammit.
In addition to Toby Dammit, Zapponi collaborated on Fellini: A Director's Notebook
, Satyricon
, I clowns
, Roma
, Fellini's Casanova
, and City of Women
, for a total of seven films with the Italian director.
Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI , was an Italian film director and scriptwriter. Known for a distinct style that blends fantasy and baroque images, he is considered one of the most influential and widely revered filmmakers of the 20th century...
.
Biography
Zapponi was born in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1927. He began his literary career writing for Orlando and Marc'Aurelio, two well-established Italian satirical magazines, later branching out into radio and television.
An expert in literary innovation, Zapponi founded the cult magazine Il Delatore (The Spy), published four novels including Gobal, a famous collection of short stories, as well as songs, plays and theatre sketches. Revered for his work with Fellini, he also collaborated on films by Dino Risi and co-wrote Dario Argento
Dario Argento
Dario Argento is an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his work in the horror film genre, particularly in the subgenre known as giallo, and for his influence on modern horror and slasher movies....
's Deep Red
Deep Red
Profondo Rosso is a 1975 giallo film directed and written by Dario Argento and co-written by Bernardino Zapponi. It was released on March 7, 1975 in Italy and June 11, 1976 in the United States. The film's score was composed and performed by Goblin...
.
Fellini, Poe and Toby Dammit
Zapponi first met Fellini in July 1967 during pre-production of the Toby Dammit segment in the omnibus film, Histoires extraordinairesHistoires extraordinaires
Histoires extraordinaires is a 1968 "omnibus" film comprising three segments...
after Fellini had abandoned his ambitious project, The Voyage of G. Mastorna. While recovering from a devastating illness (provoked by the Mastorna fiasco), Fellini read Zapponi's Gobal and hoped to convince French producer, Raymond Eger, of financing one of its short stories. The story in question, The Driver, was a macabre tale of a chauffeur demolishing the car he doesn't own. Interested solely in screen adaptations of work by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
, Eger rejected the proposal. Fellini then instructed his assistant Liliana Betti to read and summarize all of Poe's tales for him. Although tempted by several stories, it was Never Bet the Devil Your Head with the protagonist Toby Dammit that fired his imagination. Zapponi read a news item while scouting locations with Fellini that concerned the collapsed Ariccia Bridge in the Castelli Romani quarter outside Rome. Visiting the area at night, they were deeply impressed by the bridge's ruined splendor and decided to make it a crucial element in the death of Toby Dammit.
In addition to Toby Dammit, Zapponi collaborated on Fellini: A Director's Notebook
Fellini: A Director's Notebook
Fellini: A Director's Notebook is an Italian documentary directed by Federico Fellini shot in 16mm and first broadcast in the United States on NBC in 1969.- Plot :...
, Satyricon
Satyricon (film)
Satyricon is a 1969 Italian fantasy drama film written and directed by Federico Fellini. It is loosely based on Petronius's work, Satyricon, a series of bawdy and satirical episodes written during the reign of the emperor Nero and set in imperial Rome.-Plot:The film opens on a graffiti-covered...
, I clowns
I Clowns
I clowns is a 1970 television film by Federico Fellini about the human fascination with clowns and circuses...
, Roma
Roma (1972 film)
Roma, also known as Fellini's Roma, is a 1972 semi-autobiographical, poetic film depicting director Federico Fellini's move from his native Rimini to Rome as a youth. It is formed by a series of loosely connected episodes. The plot is minimal, and the only character to develop significantly is...
, Fellini's Casanova
Fellini's Casanova
Fellini's Casanova is a 1976 Italian film by director Federico Fellini, adapted from the autobiography of Giacomo Casanova, the 18th century adventurer and writer....
, and City of Women
City of Women
City of Women is a 1980 film written and directed by Federico Fellini. Amid Fellini's characteristic combination of dreamlike, outrageous, and artistic imagery, Marcello Mastroianni plays Snàporaz, a man who voyages through male and female spaces toward a confrontation with his own attitudes...
, for a total of seven films with the Italian director.
Prose
- Gobal
- Trasformazioni
- Nostra Signora dello Spasimo: l'inquisizione e i sistemi inquisitori
- Passione
Theatre
- Italiani si nasce (1961)
- Se il tempo fosse un gambero (1987)
- La strada (1999) - a musical co-written with Tullio PinelliTullio PinelliTullio Pinelli was an Italian screenwriter best known for his work on the Federico Fellini classics I Vitelloni, La strada, La Dolce Vita and 8½.-Biography:...
and based on the film directed by Fellini