The Love Specialist
Encyclopedia
The Love Specialist is an Italian-French movie filmed in 1958, and released in the U.S. in 1959 with the title The Love Specialist.
), wins a quiz show jackpot, and uses her winnings (a prize in cash and a brand new Cadillac
car) for a trip to Italy. Her car breaks up near Siena
where she meets Prince Piero di Montalcino (Gassman
), a handsome Italian nobleman. He believes that she must be rich, and she also thinks that he must be wealthy, but that's very far from the truth.
The romance reaches its climax at the traditional Palio
horse race where, after Diana breaks up with the prince upon hearing that he bribed the jockey of the rival contrada
into throwing the race so that his horse could win, she fast-talks the rival horse's owner into letting her ride.
Many of the extras for the horse race scenes were real jockeys, some of which quite known to the Senese. One of them, Pietro De Angelis (nicknamed "Pietrino"), winner of two previous Palio
races, died of a heart attack while the movie was being filmed.
The movie was also a springboard for the career of the sole woman jockey of the modern Palio
horse race, Rosanna Bonelli, nicknamed "Diavola" but better known as "Rompicollo" ("breakneck") from the name of an operetta written by her father. She raced first in a mock Palio
race staged for the shooting crew, in place of the jockey of the "Pantera" team (unbeknownst to the film production) and then as a stuntwoman for Ms. Dors in the victory scenes, riding the mare Gaudenzia. That helped the girl's rise to local fame and to crown her dream to run in the real Palio race of August 16, 1957 racing for the "Aquila" team, her first and last race on Siena
's scenic Piazza del Campo, and although she didn't finish in first place like the film's heroine, she was bestowed the title of "honorary jockey" by the "contrada".
Plot
Diana Dixon, a Texan girl (played by DorsDiana Dors
Diana Dors was an English actress, born Diana Mary Fluck in Swindon, Wiltshire. Considered the English equivalent of the blonde bombshells of Hollywood, Dors described herself as: "The only sex symbol Britain has produced since Lady Godiva."-Early life:Diana Mary Fluck was born in Swindon,...
), wins a quiz show jackpot, and uses her winnings (a prize in cash and a brand new Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
car) for a trip to Italy. Her car breaks up near Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
where she meets Prince Piero di Montalcino (Gassman
Vittorio Gassman
Vittorio Gassman Knight Grand Cross OMRI , popularly known as Il Mattatore, was an Italian theatre and film actor and director...
), a handsome Italian nobleman. He believes that she must be rich, and she also thinks that he must be wealthy, but that's very far from the truth.
The romance reaches its climax at the traditional Palio
Palio di Siena
The Palio di Siena is a horse race that is held twice each year, on July 2 and August 16, in Siena, Italy...
horse race where, after Diana breaks up with the prince upon hearing that he bribed the jockey of the rival contrada
Contrade of Siena
A contrada is a district, or a ward, within an Italian city. The most well-known contrade are probably the 17 contrade of Siena that race in the Palio di Siena...
into throwing the race so that his horse could win, she fast-talks the rival horse's owner into letting her ride.
Cast
- Diana DorsDiana DorsDiana Dors was an English actress, born Diana Mary Fluck in Swindon, Wiltshire. Considered the English equivalent of the blonde bombshells of Hollywood, Dors described herself as: "The only sex symbol Britain has produced since Lady Godiva."-Early life:Diana Mary Fluck was born in Swindon,...
- Diana Dixon - Vittorio GassmanVittorio GassmanVittorio Gassman Knight Grand Cross OMRI , popularly known as Il Mattatore, was an Italian theatre and film actor and director...
- Piero di Montalcino - Franca ValeriFranca ValeriFranca Valeri is an Italian actress.Valeri was born in Milan as Alma Franca Maria Norsa. She adopted her surname in the 1950s as an homage to the French critic and poet, Paul Valéry....
- Contessa Bernardi - Bruce CabotBruce CabotBruce Cabot was an American film actor, best remembered as Jack Driscoll in King Kong . He is also known for his roles in films such as the sixth version of Last of the Mohicans, Fritz Lang's Fury and the western Dodge City.-Early life:Cabot was born Etienne Pelissier Jacques de Bujac in Carlsbad,...
- Mike - Teresa Pellati - Laura
- Tina LattanziTina LattanziTina Lattanzi was an Italian actress and prominent voice artist, dubbing some of the greatest movie stars of all time.A native of Alatri, Tina Lattanzi died in Rome less than two months before her 100th birthday....
- Madre di Piero - Enrico ViarisioEnrico ViarisioEnrico Viarisio was an Italian theatre and cinema actor.Equipped of a fine and elegant humour, Viarisio began his professional theatrical career at the age of 20...
- Il zio di Piero - Nando BrunoNando BrunoNando Bruno was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 84 films between 1938 and 1961.He was born in Florence, Italy and died in Bracciano, Italy.-Selected filmography:* L'ha fatto una signora...
- Papà ferrari - Ronaldo Bonacchi - Tino
Many of the extras for the horse race scenes were real jockeys, some of which quite known to the Senese. One of them, Pietro De Angelis (nicknamed "Pietrino"), winner of two previous Palio
Palio
The oldest extant palio is the Palio di Asti, but the Palio di Siena is better known internationally. There are many other palios that are held throughout the various regions of Italy. Here follows an incomplete list:-Tuscany:...
races, died of a heart attack while the movie was being filmed.
The movie was also a springboard for the career of the sole woman jockey of the modern Palio
Palio
The oldest extant palio is the Palio di Asti, but the Palio di Siena is better known internationally. There are many other palios that are held throughout the various regions of Italy. Here follows an incomplete list:-Tuscany:...
horse race, Rosanna Bonelli, nicknamed "Diavola" but better known as "Rompicollo" ("breakneck") from the name of an operetta written by her father. She raced first in a mock Palio
Palio
The oldest extant palio is the Palio di Asti, but the Palio di Siena is better known internationally. There are many other palios that are held throughout the various regions of Italy. Here follows an incomplete list:-Tuscany:...
race staged for the shooting crew, in place of the jockey of the "Pantera" team (unbeknownst to the film production) and then as a stuntwoman for Ms. Dors in the victory scenes, riding the mare Gaudenzia. That helped the girl's rise to local fame and to crown her dream to run in the real Palio race of August 16, 1957 racing for the "Aquila" team, her first and last race on Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
's scenic Piazza del Campo, and although she didn't finish in first place like the film's heroine, she was bestowed the title of "honorary jockey" by the "contrada".