Steno, the artistic name of Stefano Vanzina (19 January 1917 – 13 March 1988), was an Italian film director, screenwriter and cinematographer.

Early Life

Steno's father, Alberto Vanzina was a journalist from

Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...

working for ''

Corriere della Sera (; ) is an Italian daily newspaper published in Milan with an average circulation of 246,278 copies in May 2023. First published on 5 March 1876, is one of Italy's oldest newspapers and is Italy's most read newspaper. Its masthead has remain ...

''. He emigrated to

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

in 1930, founding a newspaper in

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

. He met Steno's mother, Giulia Boggio on the ship on the journey over there. Steno 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, ...

, and spent his childhood in Arona. He studied at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome, where he started to draw caricatures and write humorous articles, adopting the pseudonym "Steno", as an homage to the novels of Francesca Steno.

Work

Steno started working with Mario Mattioli in 1939, as set designer and writer. Steno's first film credit was with Mattioli for '' Defendant, Stand Up!'' (Italian: ''Imputato, alzatetvi''). His first credit as director came in 1949 alongside

Mario Monicelli Mario Alberto Ettore Monicelli (; 16 May 1915 – 29 November 2010) was an Italian film director and screenwriter, one of the masters of the ''commedia all'italiana'' ("Italian-style comedy"). He was nominated six times for an Academy Awards, Os ...

, with '' A Night of Fame'' (Italian: ''Al diavolo la celebrità''). From 1952 onwards Steno directed solo. He directed primarily comedy films, working with some of the great names in Italian cinema, such as

Totò Antonio Griffo Focas Flavio Angelo Ducas Comneno Porfirogenito Gagliardi De Curtis di Bisanzio (15 February 1898 – 15 April 1967), best known by his stage name Totò (), or simply as Antonio de Curtis, and nicknamed ''il principe della risat ...

and

Alberto Sordi Alberto Sordi (15 June 1920 – 24 February 2003) was an Italian actor, comedian, voice dubber, director, singer, composer and screenwriter. Sordi is considered one of the most important actors in the history of Italian cinema and one of the b ...

, in films including '' Toto and the King of Rome'' (Italian: ''Totò e I re di Roma'') ''

An American in Rome ''An American in Rome'' (originally ''Un americano a Roma'') is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Steno. The film consists in a satire of Americanization, and it was referred as "a milestone in the evolution of Italian self-identification". ...

'' (Italian: ''Un americano a Roma''). Two of his films, ''

Un giorno in pretura ''A Day in Court'' (Italian: ''Un giorno in pretura'') is a 1954 Italian comedy film directed by Steno and starring Peppino De Filippo, Silvana Pampanini, Sophia Loren, and Alberto Sordi. The film is an anthology, consisting of a day's cases b ...

'' (1954) and ''

Febbre da cavallo ''Febbre da cavallo'' (Horse Fever) is a 1976 Italian comedy film directed by Stefano Vanzina, Steno and starring Gigi Proietti. It was shown as part of a retrospective on Italian comedy at the 67th Venice International Film Festival. Plot Brun ...

'' (1976), were shown in a retrospective section on Italian comedy at the

67th Venice International Film Festival The 67th annual Venice International Film Festival, was held from 1 to 11 September 2010, at Venice Lido in Italy. American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was the jury president for the main competition. The Golden Lion was awarded to ''Somewhere ...

Selected filmography

* '' Abandonment'' (1940) * ''

Fourth Page ''Fourth Page'' () is a 1942 Italian mystery film directed by Nicola Manzari and starring Claudio Gora, Valentina Cortese and Paola Barbara.Curti p.39 It was shot at the FERT Studios in Turin. The film's sets were designed by the art director ...

'' (1942) * '' Sealed Lips'' (1942) * '' In High Places'' (1943) * ''

Two Hearts Among the Beasts ''Two Hearts Among the Beasts'' (Italian: ''Due cuori fra le belve'') is a 1943 Italian comedy film directed by Giorgio Simonelli and starring Totò, Vera Carmi and Enrico Glori.Parish p.139 A dancing master takes part in an expedition to Africa f ...

'' (1943) * '' Annabella's Adventure'' (1943) * ''

Black Eagle The black eagle (''Ictinaetus malaiensis'') is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae, and is the only member of the genus ''Ictinaetus''. They soar over forests in the hilly regions of tropical and subtropical South a ...

'' (1946) * ''

The Courier of the King ''The Courier of the King'' () is a 1947 Italian historical film directed by Gennaro Righelli and starring Rossano Brazzi, Irasema Dilián and Valentina Cortese.Moliterno p.208 It is an adaptation of the 1830 novel ''The Red and the Black'' by St ...

'' (1947) * ''

The Captain's Daughter ''The Captain's Daughter'' () is a historical novel by the Russian writer Alexander Pushkin. It was first published in 1836 in the fourth issue of the literary journal '' Sovremennik'' and is his only completed novel. The novel is a romanticize ...

'' (1947) * ''

Fear and Sand ''Fear and Sand'' () is a 1948 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Totò. The title makes reference to the 1941 Hollywood film '' Blood and Sand'' and its 1908 source novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, which ''Fear and Sand ...

'' (1948) * '' The Wolf of the Sila'' (1949) * ''

Toto Looks for a House ''Toto Looks for a House'' () is a 1949 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli and Steno. The film is stylistically related to Italian neorealism, though it can be seen as a parody. It was a commercial success, being the second most pop ...

'' (1949) * '' A Night of Fame'' (1949) * ''

A Dog's Life '' Dog's Life'' is a 2003 video game for the Sony PlayStation 2. Dog's Life or A Dog's Life may refer to: Music *"A Dog's Life", a song by Nina Nastasia, from the album ''Dogs'' *"Dog's Life", a song by eels from the '' Welcome to Woop Woop'' so ...

'' (with

, 1950) * ''

The Knight Has Arrived! ''The Knight Has Arrived!'' (Italian: ''È arrivato il cavaliere!'') is a 1950 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli and Steno and starring Tino Scotti, Silvana Pampanini and Nyta Dover. The film's sets were designed by the art dir ...

'' (with Mario Monicelli, 1950) * ''

Her Favourite Husband ''Her Favourite Husband'' (also known as ''The Taming of Dorothy'' and ''Quel bandito sono io'') is a 1950 British-Italian comedy film directed by Mario Soldati and starring Jean Kent, Robert Beatty and Margaret Rutherford. The screenplay was ...

'' (1950) * ''

I'm in the Revue I Am or I'm may refer to: Language and literature * "I Am that I Am", a common English translation of the response God used in the Hebrew Bible when Moses asked for His name ** I am (biblical term), a Christian term used in the Bible * "I Am" ( ...

'' (1950) * '' The Elusive Twelve'' (1950) * ''

The Ungrateful Heart ''The Ungrateful Heart'' () is a 1951 Italian melodrama film directed by Guido Brignone and starring Carla Del Poggio, Frank Latimore and Gabriele Ferzetti.Forgacs & Gundle p.29 It takes its name from the Neapolitan song " Core 'ngrato". It was ...

'' (1951) * '' Cops and Robbers'' (with Mario Monicelli, 1951) * ''

Toto in Color ''Toto in Color'' (Italian: ''Totò a colori'') is a 1952 Italian comedy film, the first Italian color film shot with the Ferraniacolor system. It was directed by Steno and starred the comic actor Totò. In 2008, the film was included on the Ita ...

'' (1952) * '' The Unfaithfuls'' (1953) * ''

Man, Beast and Virtue ''L'uomo, la bestia e la virtù'' (), internationally released as ''Man, Beast and Virtue'', is a 1953 Italian comedy film directed by Steno. It starred Italian comedian Totò and famed actor Orson Welles. The film was originally shot in Gevacolo ...

'' (1953) * ''

'' (1954) * '' A Day in Court'' (1954) * ''

Sins of Casanova ''Sins of Casanova'' () is a 1955 Italian comedy film directed by Steno. It stars Gabriele Ferzetti, Corinne Calvet and Irène Galter. Famed horror film director Lucio Fulci wrote the script, one of his earliest projects, while Mario Bava was the ...

'' (1955) * ''

Nero's Weekend ''Mio figlio Nerone'' (literally: ''My Son Nero''), released in the US as ''Nero's Mistress'' is a 1956 Italian historical comedy film directed by Steno and starring Alberto Sordi, Vittorio De Sica, Gloria Swanson and Brigitte Bardot, with cinem ...

'' (1956) * '' Toto in the Moon'' (1958) * ''

The Overtaxed ''I Tartassati'' is an Italian comedy film from 1959, directed by Stefano Vanzina, written by Aldo Fabrizi, starring Totò and Louis de Funès. The film is known under the titles ''The Overtaxed'' (English) and ''Fripouillard et Compagnie'' (Fren ...

'' (1959) * ''

Uncle Was a Vampire ''Uncle Was a Vampire'' () is a 1959 Italian comedy horror film, directed by Steno. A novelty song by Bruno Martino, '' Dracula Cha Cha Cha'', written for this film, later became a widely covered hit. Plot Baron Osvaldo Lambertenghi is forced ...

'' (1959) * '' Toto in Madrid'' (1959) * ''

Letto a tre piazze ''Letto a tre piazze'' (translation: ''The King-Sized Bed'') is a 1960 Italian Totò comedy film directed by Steno. The film marked the last collaboration between Totò and Lucio Fulci, author of the script and initially chosen as director. Cast ...

'' (1960) * ''

The Two Colonels ''The Two Colonels'' ( Italian: ''I due colonnelli'') is a 1963 Italian comedy film directed by Steno and starring Totò and Walter Pidgeon. The character of Totò took inspiration from a similar character he played in '' Totò Diabolicus''. P ...

'' (1962) * ''

Copacabana Palace The Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, is a historic luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, facing Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro#Copacabana Beach, Copacabana beach. Designed by French architect Joseph Gire, it opened on August 13, 1923. It is owne ...

'' (1962) * ''

Totò Diabolicus ''Totò Diabolicus'' is a 1962 Italian black comedy film directed by Steno, in which Totò plays six different characters. It is a parody of the giallo genre, as well as of the noir comic book series ''Diabolik'', which debuted the same year. P ...

'' (1963) * ''

Toto vs. the Four ''Totò contro i quattro'', internationally released as ''Toto vs. the Four'', is a 1963 Italian comedy film directed by Steno. Despite its title, it was not a true fusion between Totò and the four, but the film consists in interwoven episodies ...

'' (1963) * ''

Letti sbagliati ''Letti sbagliati'' is a 1965 Italian comedy film directed by Steno starring the comic duo Franco and Ciccio. Cast *Franco Franchi ... (segment "La seconda moglie") *Ciccio Ingrassia ... (segment "La seconda moglie") *Lando Buzzanca ... (seg ...

'' (1965) * ''

Caprice Italian Style ''Caprice Italian Style'' () is a 1968 Italian comedy film directed by six different directors, including Mario Monicelli and Pier Paolo Pasolini. The film starred both Totò and the comic duo Franco and Ciccio. Plot The film is composed of fiv ...

'' (1968) * ''

Execution Squad ''Execution Squad'' () is a 1972 crime film directed by Steno and starring Enrico Maria Salerno. Set during Italy's tumultuous ''anni di piombo'' ("Years of Lead"), the film obtained a great commercial success. Cast *Enrico Maria Salerno as Co ...

'' (1972) * '' Flatfoot'' (1973) * ''

Policewoman The integration of women into law enforcement positions can be considered a large social change. A century ago, there were few jobs open to women in law enforcement. A small number of women worked as correctional officers, and their assignmen ...

'' (1974) * ''

'' (1976) * ''

Double Murder Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse committed with the necessary intention as defined by the law in a specific jurisdiction. ("The killing of another person without justification or excuse ...

'' (1977) * ''

Amori miei ''Amori miei'' (internationally released as ''My Loves'') is a 1978 Italian comedy film directed by Steno. For this film Monica Vitti was awarded with a David di Donatello for Best Actress. Cast *Monica Vitti: Anna Lisa Bianchi *Johnny Dorell ...

'' (1978) * ''

Hot Potato Hot potato is a party game that involves players gathering in a circle and tossing a small object such as a beanbag or even a real potato to each other while music plays. The player who is holding the object when the music stops is eliminated. Or ...

'' (1979) * '' Dr. Jekyll Likes Them Hot'' (1979) * ''

Quando la coppia scoppia ''Quando la coppia scoppia'' is a 1981 Italian comedy film directed by Steno. It reproposes the couple formed by Enrico Montesano and Claude Brasseur, who had successfully starred in the two years older comedy film '' Aragosta a colazione''. Cas ...

'' (1981) * '' Banana Joe'' (1982) * '' An Ideal Adventure'' (1982)

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1917 births 1988 deaths Film directors from Rome 20th-century Italian screenwriters Italian male screenwriters Italian cinematographers Writers from Rome Poliziotteschi directors Burials at the Cimitero Flaminio 20th-century Italian male writers Italian comedy film directors Italian parodists Parody film directors Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia alumni