Mario Zampi (1 November 19032 December 1963) was an Italian film producer and director. A co-founder of Two Cities Films, a British production company, he is most closely associated with British comedies of the 1950s. He later formed his own film production companies, Anglofilm and Mario Zampi Productions.

Biography

Zampi began his career as an actor in Italy at the age of 17. By 1930, he was working for

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

as a

film editor Film editing is both a creative and a technical part of the post-production process of filmmaking. The term is derived from the traditional process of working with film stock, film which increasingly involves the use Digital cinema, of digital ...

in London. In 1937, he and compatriot Filippo Del Giudice founded Two Cities Films. While the company was noted for such serious films as ''

In Which We Serve ''In Which We Serve'' is a 1942 British patriotic war film directed by Noël Coward and David Lean, who made his debut as a director. It was made during the Second World War with the assistance of the Ministry of Information. The screenplay ...

'', ''

Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (1216–1281 ...

'', and ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

'', Zampi is most remembered for comedies. He made his mark with such films as ''

Laughter in Paradise ''Laughter in Paradise'' is a 1951 British comedy film directed by Mario Zampi, starring Alastair Sim, Fay Compton, George Cole, and Guy Middleton. It was written by Jack Davies and Michael Pertwee. The film was remade as '' Some Will, S ...

'' (1951), '' The Naked Truth'' (1957), and '' Too Many Crooks'' (1959), often in the dual role of director and producer. He made ''Naked Truth'' and ''Too Many Crooks'' at Rank. Zampi and Del Giudice had a long feud which had its origins in both men being interned during World War II. Zampi became wealthy, while Del Giudice was broke; in 1958, Del Giudice was living in a tiny room in London but neither would say what caused the feud.

Filmography

:''Director and producer unless otherwise indicated.'' *' (1936) producer *'' 13 Men and a Gun'' (1938) *''

French Without Tears ''French Without Tears'' is a comic play written by a 25-year-old Terence Rattigan in 1936. Setting It takes place in a cram school for adults needing to acquire French for business reasons. Scattered throughout are Franglais phrases and sc ...

'' (1940) producer *'' Spy for a Day'' (1940) *'' Freedom Radio'' aka ''A Voice in the Night'' (1941) producer (uncredited) *'' The Phantom Shot'' (1947) *'' Third Time Lucky'' (1948) producer *'' The Fatal Night'' (1948) *'' The Happiest Days of Your Life'' (1950) producer *'' Shadow of the Past'' (1950) *'' Come Dance with Me'' (1950) *''

'' (1951) *''

Top Secret Classified information is confidential material that a government deems to be sensitive information which must be protected from unauthorized disclosure that requires special handling and dissemination controls. Access is restricted by law or ...

'', aka ''Mr. Potts Goes to Moscow'' (1952) * '' I Chose Love'' aka ''Ho scelto l'amore'' (1953) director *'' Happy Ever After'', aka ''Tonight's the Night'' (1954) *'' Now and Forever'' (1956) *'' The Naked Truth'', aka ''Your Past Is Showing'' (1957) *'' Too Many Crooks'' (1959) *'' Bottoms Up'' (1960) *'' Five Golden Hours'', aka ''Cinque ore in contanti'' (1961) director

References

*Kay Weniger. ''Das große Personenlexikon des Films'', Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf Verlag, Berlin 2001,

External links

*
Biography at britmovie.co.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zampi, Mario Italian film directors Italian film producers 1903 births 1963 deaths Italian emigrants to the United Kingdom