Rossano Brazzi
Encyclopedia
Biography
Brazzi was born in BolognaBologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
to Adelmo and Maria (née Ghedini) Brazzi. He attended San Marco University in Florence, Italy, where he was raised from the age of four. He made his film debut in 1939.
He was propelled to international fame with his role in the English-language film Three Coins in the Fountain
Three Coins in the Fountain (1954 film)
Three Coins in the Fountain is the 1954 film that introduced the song of the same name, which became an enduring standard. It tells the story of three American girls looking for romance in Rome while employed at the American Embassy...
(1954), followed by the leading male role in David Lean
David Lean
Sir David Lean CBE was an English film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor best remembered for big-screen epics such as The Bridge on the River Kwai , Lawrence of Arabia ,...
's Summertime (1955), opposite Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
. His other notable English-language films include The Barefoot Contessa
The Barefoot Contessa
The Barefoot Contessa is a 1954 film about the life and loves of fictional Spanish sex symbol Maria Vargas. It was written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and stars Humphrey Bogart, Ava Gardner and Edmond O'Brien....
(1954), The Story of Esther Costello
The Story of Esther Costello
The Story of Esther Costello is a 1957 British drama film starring Joan Crawford, Rossano Brazzi, and Heather Sears . The film is an exposé of large-scale fundraising. The Story of Esther Costello was produced by David Miller and Jack Clayton with Miller directing...
(1957), South Pacific (1958), Count Your Blessings
Count Your Blessings (film)
Count Your Blessings is a 1959 drama film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Jean Negulesco, written and produced by Karl Tunberg, based on the 1951 novel The Blessing by Nancy Mitford. The music score was by Franz Waxman and the cinematography by George J. Folsey and Milton R. Krasner...
(1959),The Light in the Piazza
The Light in the Piazza (film)
The Light in the Piazza is a 1962 film adaptation of the Elizabeth Spencer novel of the same title. It was directed by Guy Green and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer....
(1962), and The Italian Job
The Italian Job
The Italian Job is a 1969 British caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley and directed by Peter Collinson. Subsequent television showings and releases on video have established it as an institution in the United Kingdom....
(1969).
Marriages
In 1940, Brazzi married baronBaron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
ess Lidia Bertolini (1921–1981) to whom he was married until her death in 1981. The couple had no children. In 1982, he married Ilse Fischer, a German national, who had been the couple's housekeeper for many years. This marriage was also childless.
However, he did father a son (born 24 July 1955) by a relationship with Llewella Humphreys, daughter of Murray Humphreys
Murray Humphreys
Llewelyn Morris Humphreys , was a Chicago mobster of Welsh descent who was the chief political and labor racketeer in the Chicago Outfit during Prohibition...
.
Selected filmography
- We the LivingWe the LivingWe the Living is the first novel published by the Russian-American novelist Ayn Rand. It was also Rand's first statement against communism. First published in 1936, it is a story of life in post-revolutionary Russia. Rand observes in the foreword to this book that We the Living was the closest she...
(1942) - Little WomenLittle WomenLittle Women is a novel by American author Louisa May Alcott . The book was written and set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts. It was published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869...
(1949) - Three Coins in the FountainThree Coins in the Fountain (1954 film)Three Coins in the Fountain is the 1954 film that introduced the song of the same name, which became an enduring standard. It tells the story of three American girls looking for romance in Rome while employed at the American Embassy...
(1954) - The Barefoot ContessaThe Barefoot ContessaThe Barefoot Contessa is a 1954 film about the life and loves of fictional Spanish sex symbol Maria Vargas. It was written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and stars Humphrey Bogart, Ava Gardner and Edmond O'Brien....
(1954) - Summertime (1955)
- Loser Takes AllLoser Takes All (film)Loser Takes All is a 1956 British comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Glynis Johns, Rossano Brazzi and Robert Morley. It was based on a screenplay by Graham Greene.-Cast:* Glynis Johns as Cary* Rossano Brazzi as Bertrand...
(1956) - Legend of the LostLegend of the LostLegend of the Lost is a 1957 Italy/U.S. adventure film starring John Wayne, Sophia Loren, and Rossano Brazzi. The location shooting for the film took place near Tripoli, Libya.-Plot:...
(1957) - The Story of Esther CostelloThe Story of Esther CostelloThe Story of Esther Costello is a 1957 British drama film starring Joan Crawford, Rossano Brazzi, and Heather Sears . The film is an exposé of large-scale fundraising. The Story of Esther Costello was produced by David Miller and Jack Clayton with Miller directing...
(1957) - South PacificSouth Pacific (film)South Pacific is a 1958 musical romance film adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific, and based on James A. Michener's Tales of the South Pacific...
(1958) - A Certain SmileA Certain Smile (film)A Certain Smile is a 1958 drama film directed by Jean Negulesco, based on the book of the same name.-Cast:* Rossano Brazzi as Luc Ferrand* Joan Fontaine as Françoise Ferrand* Bradford Dillman as Bertrand Griot* Christine Carère as Dominique Vallon...
(1958) - Count Your BlessingsCount Your Blessings (film)Count Your Blessings is a 1959 drama film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Jean Negulesco, written and produced by Karl Tunberg, based on the 1951 novel The Blessing by Nancy Mitford. The music score was by Franz Waxman and the cinematography by George J. Folsey and Milton R. Krasner...
(1959) - Siege of SyracuseL' Assedio di Siracusa (film)The Siege of Syracuse is a 1960 historical drama film about the Roman Siege of Syracuse. It took place between 214 and 212 B.C., during the Second Punic War with Carthage.The film was directed by Pietro Francisci.-Cast:...
(1960) - Three Fables of LoveThree Fables of LoveThree Fables of Love is a 1962 French-Italian-Spanish comedy film starring Anna Karina. It was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy at the 67th Venice International Film Festival.-Cast:* Manuel Alexandre* Ángel Álvarez...
(1962) - The Light in the PiazzaThe Light in the Piazza (film)The Light in the Piazza is a 1962 film adaptation of the Elizabeth Spencer novel of the same title. It was directed by Guy Green and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer....
(1962) - RedheadRedhead (film)Redhead is a 1962 German-Italian drama film directed by Helmut Käutner. It was entered into the 12th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Ruth Leuwerik - Franziska Lukas* Rossano Brazzi - Fabio* Giorgio Albertazzi - Patrick O'Malley...
(1962) - Rome AdventureRome AdventureRome Adventure, also known as Lovers Must Learn, is a 1962 romantic drama film, based on Irving Fineman's novel. It was directed by Delmer Daves and stars Troy Donahue, Angie Dickenson, and Suzanne Pleshette.-Plot:...
(1962) - Dark PurposeDark PurposeDark Purpose is a 1964 film directed by George Marshall and starring Shirley Jones, Rossano Brazzi, and George Sanders.-Cast:*Shirley Jones as Karen Williams*Rossano Brazzi as Count Paolo Barbarelli*George Sanders as Raymond Fountaine...
(1964) - The Christmas That Almost Wasn'tThe Christmas That Almost Wasn'tThe Christmas That Almost Wasn't is a 1966 film that stars Rossano Brazzi and Paul Tripp. The movie had traditional December airings on Home Box Office during the 1970s and early 1980s. The title in Italian is known as 'Natale che quasi non fu'....
(1966) - The BoboThe BoboThe Bobo is a 1967 British comedy film starring Peter Sellers and co-starring his then-wife Britt Ekland. Based on the 1959 novel Olimpia by Burt Cole, also known as Thomas Dixon, Sellers is featured as the would-be singing matador, Juan Bautista...
(1967) - Krakatoa, East of JavaKrakatoa, East of JavaKrakatoa, East of Java is a movie starring Maximilian Schell and Brian Keith. This film was nominated for Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.-Plot:...
(1969) - The Italian JobThe Italian JobThe Italian Job is a 1969 British caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley and directed by Peter Collinson. Subsequent television showings and releases on video have established it as an institution in the United Kingdom....
(1969) - Omen III: The Final ConflictOmen III: The Final ConflictOmen III: The Final Conflict is a 1981 British/American horror film directed by Graham Baker and the third installment in The Omen series...
(1981) - The Far PavilionsThe Far PavilionsThe Far Pavilions is an epic novel of British-Indian history by M. M. Kaye, first published in 1978, which tells the story of an English officer during the Great Game. The novel, rooted deeply in the romantic epics of the 19th century, has been hailed as a masterpiece of storytelling...
(1984) - Russicum - I giorni del diavolo (1989) aka The Third Solution