Paolo Cavara
Encyclopedia
Paolo Cavara has been a screenwriter and a movie director. He was born in Bologna(Italy)in 1926.
’s Sixth Continent experience). Then Cavara worked for a series of Italian National TV films led by Giorgio Moser. But he worked as assistant director too (Timbuctu and Naked Maya, a 1958 great production by Henry Koster
).
In 1962 Cavara and Prosperi conceived and directed with Gualtiero Jacopetti
first shockumentary of the history: Mondo Cane
. Cavara travelled in every part of the world, from Africa to Asia, Europe to Japan, putting his life continuing in dangerous. At last he met again Jacopetti in Las Vegas, and together suffered for an automobile accident where Belinda Lee
forgot her life. The film landed to Cannes' Festival.
Following success Jacopetti tried unjustly to appropriate all merits exposin’ ridiculously himself to mediatic reflectors. He edited that film but he didn’t realize it. He was imprisoned in Hong Kong when co-authors were at work, and months later he come back on set when film was quite concluded.
Next year La donna nel mondo
(Women of the world) was edited with inferior materials of that film. Mondo Cane
launched Cavara as author and director. From that moment he doesn’t stop making films, nevertheless that experience leaved a sign for future projects. Havin’ left his associates he directed the forewarding Malamondo, an “antimondo” on European youth, and in 1967 Wild Eye (with Alberto Moravia
and Tonino Guerra
screentwriters added), a definitively breakaway of the genre conducted with spectacular ability that anticipated reflections on cinema making cinema with ambiguous and conscious perspective. Wild eye won Atlanta Festival and landed in Moscow where received thirty five minutes of applauses.
He did continue with charming, inverted war genre formula's drama The Ravine and David McCallum
as protagonist (a promise of ’69 Venice Festival), and in ‘71 Black belly of the tarantula
, a cult thriller with a big cast, balanced between documentaries scenes and a human and amazing inspector Giancarlo Giannini
.
Following along many others good European successes (comedies, western, TV movie…). A remarkable example is Plot of fear
(his second thriller) with Michele Placido
and Eli Wallach
, where Cavara exposed in a new and radical shape traditional elements of gothic, police film, and Italian giallo.
Not identified as a conventional director Cavara searched attention, in his not long professional career, on controversial subjects and film characters doing follow his great skilful sensibility for visual contrasts.
He died in Rome in 1982.
Biography
During the Fifties, he studied architecture in Florence University, then he realized documentaries for scientific trips, and emerged as a pioneer of the underwater cinematography (one of these shipments is the important 1951 voyage to Ceylon along with Franco Prosperi documented by local news, that anticipated Folco QuiliciFolco Quilici
Folco Quilici is an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 22 films between 1952 and 2005.-External links:...
’s Sixth Continent experience). Then Cavara worked for a series of Italian National TV films led by Giorgio Moser. But he worked as assistant director too (Timbuctu and Naked Maya, a 1958 great production by Henry Koster
Henry Koster
Henry Koster was born Hermann Kosterlitz in Berlin, Germany. He became a film director and later moved to Hollywood. Koster's father, a salesman, left home when Henry was a young man...
).
In 1962 Cavara and Prosperi conceived and directed with Gualtiero Jacopetti
Gualtiero Jacopetti
Gualtiero Jacopetti was an Italian director of documentary films.He was born in Barga, in northern Tuscany...
first shockumentary of the history: Mondo Cane
Mondo cane
Mondo cane is a documentary written and directed by Italian filmmakers Paolo Cavara, Franco Prosperi and Gualtiero Jacopetti. The film consists of a series of travelogue vignettes that provide glimpses into cultural practices around the world with the intention to shock or surprise Western film...
. Cavara travelled in every part of the world, from Africa to Asia, Europe to Japan, putting his life continuing in dangerous. At last he met again Jacopetti in Las Vegas, and together suffered for an automobile accident where Belinda Lee
Belinda Lee
Belinda Lee was an English actress.Born in Budleigh Salterton, England, Lee was signed to a film contract in 1954 by the Rank Studios after being seen performing as a student of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art...
forgot her life. The film landed to Cannes' Festival.
Following success Jacopetti tried unjustly to appropriate all merits exposin’ ridiculously himself to mediatic reflectors. He edited that film but he didn’t realize it. He was imprisoned in Hong Kong when co-authors were at work, and months later he come back on set when film was quite concluded.
Next year La donna nel mondo
La donna nel mondo
La donna nel mondo is a 1963 mondo documentary film made by Italians Gualtiero Jacopetti, Paolo Cavara and Franco Prosperi. Original music was composed by Riz Ortolani and Nino Oliviero...
(Women of the world) was edited with inferior materials of that film. Mondo Cane
Mondo cane
Mondo cane is a documentary written and directed by Italian filmmakers Paolo Cavara, Franco Prosperi and Gualtiero Jacopetti. The film consists of a series of travelogue vignettes that provide glimpses into cultural practices around the world with the intention to shock or surprise Western film...
launched Cavara as author and director. From that moment he doesn’t stop making films, nevertheless that experience leaved a sign for future projects. Havin’ left his associates he directed the forewarding Malamondo, an “antimondo” on European youth, and in 1967 Wild Eye (with Alberto Moravia
Alberto Moravia
Alberto Moravia, born Alberto Pincherle was an Italian novelist and journalist. His novels explored matters of modern sexuality, social alienation, and existentialism....
and Tonino Guerra
Tonino Guerra
Tonino Guerra is an Italian poet, writer and screenwriter who has collaborated with some of the most prominent film directors of the world.-Biography:Guerra was born in Santarcangelo di Romagna....
screentwriters added), a definitively breakaway of the genre conducted with spectacular ability that anticipated reflections on cinema making cinema with ambiguous and conscious perspective. Wild eye won Atlanta Festival and landed in Moscow where received thirty five minutes of applauses.
He did continue with charming, inverted war genre formula's drama The Ravine and David McCallum
David McCallum
David Keith McCallum, Jr. is a Scottish actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian-born secret agent, in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., as interdimensional operative Steel in Sapphire & Steel, and Dr...
as protagonist (a promise of ’69 Venice Festival), and in ‘71 Black belly of the tarantula
Black Belly of the Tarantula
The Black Belly of the Tarantula is a 1971 Italian film directed by Paolo Cavara. It is one of many Italian giallo films to be inspired by Dario Argento's successful debut thriller The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. The film was shot on location in Rome, Italy in 1970...
, a cult thriller with a big cast, balanced between documentaries scenes and a human and amazing inspector Giancarlo Giannini
Giancarlo Giannini
Giancarlo Giannini is an Italian actor and dubber.Giannini was born La Spezia, Liguria, Italy. He studied at the Accademia Nazionale d'Arte Drammatica in Rome, and made his film debut in a small part in Fango sulla metropoli in 1965...
.
Following along many others good European successes (comedies, western, TV movie…). A remarkable example is Plot of fear
Plot of Fear
Plot of Fear is an Italian mystery-thriller movie directed in 1974 by Paolo Cavara. The movie also includes a well-known animated erotic insert directed by Gibba in which, as said by Marco Giusti, "the great Gibba broke out in all kinds of sado-masochistic excess".- Cast :*Corinne Cléry:...
(his second thriller) with Michele Placido
Michele Placido
Michele Placido is an internationally known Italian actor and director. He is best known for the role of Corrado Cattani in the TV series La Piovra.-Life and career:...
and Eli Wallach
Eli Wallach
Eli Herschel Wallach is an American film, television and stage actor, who gained fame in the late 1950s. For his performance in Baby Doll he won a BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer and a Golden Globe nomination. One of his most famous roles is that of Tuco in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...
, where Cavara exposed in a new and radical shape traditional elements of gothic, police film, and Italian giallo.
Not identified as a conventional director Cavara searched attention, in his not long professional career, on controversial subjects and film characters doing follow his great skilful sensibility for visual contrasts.
He died in Rome in 1982.
Filmography (excerpt)
- Mondo CaneMondo caneMondo cane is a documentary written and directed by Italian filmmakers Paolo Cavara, Franco Prosperi and Gualtiero Jacopetti. The film consists of a series of travelogue vignettes that provide glimpses into cultural practices around the world with the intention to shock or surprise Western film...
(1962) - La donna nel mondoLa donna nel mondoLa donna nel mondo is a 1963 mondo documentary film made by Italians Gualtiero Jacopetti, Paolo Cavara and Franco Prosperi. Original music was composed by Riz Ortolani and Nino Oliviero...
(Women of the world) (1963) - Malamondo (1964)
- Witchdoctor in tails (1966)
- Wild Eye (1967)
- The Ravine (1969)
- Black belly of the tarantulaBlack Belly of the TarantulaThe Black Belly of the Tarantula is a 1971 Italian film directed by Paolo Cavara. It is one of many Italian giallo films to be inspired by Dario Argento's successful debut thriller The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. The film was shot on location in Rome, Italy in 1970...
(1971) - Deaf Smith & Johnny Ears (1972)
- VirilityVirilityVirility refers to any of a wide range of masculine characteristics viewed positively. It is not applicable to women or to negative characteristics. The Oxford English Dictionary says virile is "marked by strength or force." Virility is commonly associated with vigour, health, sturdiness, and...
(1974) - Plot of FearPlot of FearPlot of Fear is an Italian mystery-thriller movie directed in 1974 by Paolo Cavara. The movie also includes a well-known animated erotic insert directed by Gibba in which, as said by Marco Giusti, "the great Gibba broke out in all kinds of sado-masochistic excess".- Cast :*Corinne Cléry:...
(1976) - MirandolinaMirandolinaMirandolina is a comic opera in three acts by Bohuslav Martinů, with a libretto by the composer after Carlo Goldoni's comedy The Mistress of the Inn ....
(1980)