Marcello Aliprandi
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Marcello Aliprandi (2 January 1934–26 August 1997) was an Italian
film director A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfillment of that Goal, vision. The director has a key role ...
. In addition to his work in television and the theater, he directed seven feature films, including '' Smiling Maniacs'' (1975) and '' Vatican Conspiracy'' (1982).


Early life

Aliprandi was born in
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
to an
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
father and an
Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...
mother.


Career

In the mid-1950s, Aliprandi left university to enroll at the Silvio D'Amico art academy. After graduating, he became an assistant to
Luchino Visconti Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo (; 2 November 1906 – 17 March 1976) was an Italian filmmaker, theatre and opera director, and screenwriter. He was one of the fathers of Italian neorealism, cinematic neorealism, but later ...
, working with him both in the theater and as assistant director for the 1963 film '' The Leopard''. Later during the 1960s, Aliprandi worked mainly in theater and as a member of the ''Compagnia dei giovani'' (Company of Young People), directing various plays and operas. He returned to film in 1968 as an assistant director for
Alberto Lattuada Mario Alberto Lattuada (; 13 November 1914 – 3 July 2005) was an Italian film director. Career Lattuada was born in Vaprio d'Adda, the son of composer Felice Lattuada. He was initially interested in literature, becoming, while still a studen ...
's ''Fraulein Doktor''. The first feature film directed by Aliprandi was the 1970 science-fiction film ''La ragazza di latta'' (The Tin Girl), for which he also co-wrote the screenplay. Aliprandi received good critical reviews for ''La ragazza'', as well as for his next two films—1974's ''Corruzione al palazzo di giustizia'' (Corruption at the Palace of Justice, released in the United States as '' Smiling Maniacs'') and 1976's ''Un sussurro nel buio'' (A Whisper in the Dark). But only one of the three, ''Smiling Maniacs'', was a commercial success. Aliprandi's last film in the 1970s, ''Senza buccia'' (Skin Deep) (1979), was both a critical and commercial failure. For the entire 1980s, Aliprandi mostly worked in television and the theater. His television work included the three-part musical ''Hollywood Hello, qui, Broadway!'', which featured choreographer
Bob Fosse Robert Louis Fosse (; June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American choreographer, dancer, filmmaker, and stage director. Known for his work on stage and screen, he is arguably the most influential figure in the field of jazz dance in th ...
playing himself (Aliprandi and Fosse had met while Aliprandi was visiting the United States). It also included
Tennessee Williams Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26, 1911 – February 25, 1983), known by his pen name Tennessee Williams, was an American playwright and screenwriter. Along with contemporaries Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller, he is considered among the three ...
' '' The Glass Menagerie''. The only feature film that Aliprandi made during this period was 1982's ''Morte in Vaticano'' (Death in the Vatican). As with his previous feature film, it was a commercial failure. Along with friend Lino Patruno, Aliprandi founded the production company Movietone of Italy in the early 1990s. His final two films were 1992's ''Prova di Memoria'' (Memory Test, released in the United States as ''Crimson Dawn'') and 1994's ''Soldato Ignato'' (Unknown Soldier). The latter film saw little distribution, being screened only at two film festivals— one in Italy and the other at Brazil's
Festival de Gramado The Gramado Film Festival () is an international film festival held annually in the Brazilian city of Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul, since 1973. In 1992, the festival began to award Latin American films produced outside of Brazil. It is the biggest ...
. For the Italian screening, Aliprandi's directing credit was given as "Daniel Ford". In assessing Aliprandi's career, film historian Roberto Curti noted that his early association with Visconti lent Aliprandi a certain level of respect within the Italian film industry. However, he also noted that Aliprandi never achieved great critical success. Curti attributed this largely to Aliprandi's directorial style, which he described as "often too weird and artistically compromised". He added that, except for ''Senza buccia'' (Skin Deep), Aliprandi's films were "personal and technically competent" and dealt with fantasy elements in ways that were "original and idiosyncratic".


Directing credits


Film

*''The Tin Girl'' (1970), a science fiction film starring Sydne Rome. *'' Smiling Maniacs'' (1974), a protest film starring
Franco Nero Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero (born 23 November 1941), known professionally as Franco Nero, is an Italian actor. His breakthrough role was as the title character in the Spaghetti Western film '' Django'' (1966), which made him a pop cul ...
,
Martin Balsam Martin Henry Balsam (November 4, 1919 – February 13, 1996) was an American actor. He had a prolific career in character roles in film, in theatre, and on television. An early member of the Actors Studio, he began his career on the New ...
and Fernando Rey. It was based on the same-named play by Ugo Betti. *'' A Whisper in the Dark'' (''Un sussurro nel buio'', 1976), a psychological thriller starring John Phillip Law and
Joseph Cotten Joseph Cheshire Cotten Jr. (May 15, 1905 – February 6, 1994) was an American film, stage, radio and television actor. Cotten achieved prominence on Broadway, starring in the original stage productions of '' The Philadelphia Story'' (1939) an ...
. *''Skin Deep'' (1979), a comedy about
nudism Naturism is a lifestyle of practicing non-sexual social nudity in private and in public; the word also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends that lifestyle. Both may alternatively be called nudism. Though the two terms ar ...
based on Ugo Liberatore's screenplay. It starred Ilona Staller. *'' Vatican Conspiracy'' (1982), a religious fantasy loosely inspired by the death of
Pope John Paul I Pope John Paul I (born Albino Luciani; 17 October 1912 – 28 September 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 26 August 1978 until his death 33 days later. His reign is among the shortest in papal h ...
. It featured
Terence Stamp Terence Henry Stamp (born 22 July 1938) is an English actor. Known for his sophisticated villain roles, he was named by ''Empire (magazine), Empire'' as one of the 100 Sexiest Film Stars of All Time in 1995. He has received various accolades in ...
and Fabrizio Bentivoglio. *''Crimson Dawn'' (1992), a thriller set in
Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
starring
Franco Nero Francesco Clemente Giuseppe Sparanero (born 23 November 1941), known professionally as Franco Nero, is an Italian actor. His breakthrough role was as the title character in the Spaghetti Western film '' Django'' (1966), which made him a pop cul ...
. *''Unknown Soldier'' (1995), a fantasy drama about
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. Five of these films had their musical scores written by
Pino Donaggio Giuseppe "Pino" Donaggio (born 24 November 1941) is an Italian musician, singer, and composer of film and television scores. A classically-trained violinist, Donaggio is known for his collaborations with director Brian De Palma, and for his work i ...
. The two that did not were the very first (''The Tin Girl'') and 1992's ''Crimson Dawn''.


Television

NOTE: This listing is incomplete. *''Quasi Davvero'' (1978) *''Hello Hollywood, qui Broadway!'' (1981), a musical starring Bob Fosse *''La mano indemoniata'' (The Possessed Hand) (1981), a fantasy by Massimo Bontempelli featuring Cochi Ponzoni *''The Glass Menagerie'' (1983) *''I ragazzi della valle misteriosa'' (Boys of the Mysterious Valley) (1984), starring Kim Rossi Stuart and Alessandro Haber. *''Quando ancora non c'erano i Beatles'' (Even When There Weren't the Beatles) (1988), a musical miniseries featuring Lucrezia Lante della Rovere and Anita Ekberg. Aliprandi co-wrote the screenplay.


Stage

NOTE: This listing is incomplete. *''Caro Bugiardo'' (Dear Liar) (1962), four performances staged at the
Teatro La Fenice Teatro La Fenice (; "The Phoenix (mythology), Phoenix Theatre") is a historic opera house in Venice, Italy. It is one of "the most famous and renowned landmarks in the history of Italian theatre" and in the history of opera as a whole. Especial ...
in Venice. Alliprandi was an assistant director. *''
My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical theatre, musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story, based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play ''Pygmalion (play), Pygmalion'' and on the Pygmalion (1938 film), 1938 film ...
'' (1964), single performance staged at the Teatro La Fenice. Alliprandi was a co-director. *''L'Isola'' (The Island) (1964), staged at the Festival dei due mondi in
Spoleto Spoleto (, also , , ; ) is an ancient city in the Italian province of Perugia in east-central Umbria on a foothill of the Apennines. It is south of Trevi, north of Terni, southeast of Perugia; southeast of Florence; and north of Rome. H ...
.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Aliprandi, Marcello 1934 births 1997 deaths Film directors from Rome Italian people of Armenian descent