Just a few days ago I watched my first Gina Lollobrigida film called, Come September (1961). It is a romantic comedy where Gina's costar was the dashing, Rock Hudson. The film was so much fun to watch and I was bedazzled by Gina's performance. Then on January 16, 2023 I learned that Gina Lollobrigida passed away at 95 years old.
Gina was born Luigia Lollobrigida in Subiaco, Italy on July 4, 1927. She came from a humble background and studied art at Rome's academy of Fine Art. One day she was spotted by a talent scout and was offered a small role in an Italian film. Lollobrigida was not keen to be an actress but soon found joy in the profession. She also won many beauty contests and once came in third for the Miss Italia beauty pageant. In 1949, she married a Slovenian doctor named Milko Skofic and had her only child in 1957.
In 1950, Howard Hughes had Lollobrigida sign a seven year contract to make three films a year but she refused because she wanted to work only in Europe. She made films in Europe with American film studios until 1959 when she was finally out of her contract and allowed to work in the States. She made many films with major movie stars like Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart, Anthony Quinn, Yul Brynner, Yves Montand, Sean Connery, Ernest Borgnine, and Shelly Winters just to name a few. She made two films with Rock Hudson, Come September (1961) and Strange Bedfellows (1965). Her career was at its height in the sixties and slowed down in the seventies but she created not only a career to be proud of but a reputation as an undisputed bombshell.
Her beauty and talent helped her create a career and lifestyle that perhaps being a traditional artist may not have allowed her have. I have read quite a few articles about her and she seemed to have lived life big, full, and without regrets. Although I have only seen the one film I mentioned earlier, here are a few of her films that I have heard are a must-watch: Beat the Devil (1953), The World's Most Beautiful Woman (1955), Trapeze (1956), Solomon and Sheba (1959), Venere Imperiale (1963), and Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968).
She leaves behind her son Andrea and her grandson, Dimitri. Gina Lollobrigida seemed to live a life filled with the things and people she loved most. I now feel so lucky to have watched one of her films and plan on exploring her work further. What are your favorite Gina Lollobrigida films? What films of hers do you recommend I see next?
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Wow. That first photo is so so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLovely choice to remember Gina with, Daffny <3 Come, September is such fun and a great introduction to her work!! I need to see more of her films, but I love Trapeze and Woman of Straw. The latter is teriffic and gave her a meaty role to prove to the naysayers she was a serious, dramatic actress. I reviewed it on my blog and will leave the link here if you'd like to check it out :)
https://theclassicmoviemuse.com/2021/12/17/woman-of-straw-1964-a-seamless-blend-of-hitchcock-and-bond/?amp=1
I'm eager to see the other films on your list, especially Solomon and Sheba.
Hope you're having a wonderful weekend, Xo
Oh thank you so much!!! I love getting film recommendations! I will find them and add them to my queue. She was indeed a talent and beauty. We are losing so many stars lately. Thank goodness they left us these amazing movies!!! xox
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