Ubaldo Arata (23 March 1895 – 7 December 1947) was an Italian

cinematographer The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the recording of a film, television production, music video or other live-action piece. The cinematographer is the chief of the camera ...

. Arata worked on more than a hundred films between 1918 and his death in 1947. Arata entered cinema in the

silent era A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, wh ...

and worked prolifically during the 1920s including on one of the final entries into the long running

Maciste Maciste () is one of the oldest recurring characters of film, cinema, created by Gabriele d'Annunzio and Giovanni Pastrone. He is featured throughout the history of the cinema of Italy from the 1910s to the mid-1960s. He is usually depicted as a ...

series. He was employed on the first Italian

sound film A sound film is a Film, motion picture with synchronization, synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, bu ...

The Song of Love ''The Song of Love'' (also known as ''Le chant d'amour'' or ''Love Song'') is a 1914 painting by Italian Metaphysical art, metaphysical painter Giorgio de Chirico. It is one of the most famous works by Chirico and an early example of his pre-Su ...

'' (1930). Until the

fall of Fascism The Fall of the Fascist regime in Italy, also known in Italy as (, ; ), came as a result of parallel plots led respectively by Count Dino Grandi and King Victor Emmanuel III during the spring and summer of 1943, culminating with a successfu ...

, he was one of the leading Italian cinematographers working on

propaganda films Propaganda Films (stylized as PЯOPAGAИDA FILMS) was a production company founded in Los Angeles in 1986 by American producer Steve Golin, Icelandic producer Sigurjón Sighvatsson, English director Nigel Dick, and American directors David Fi ...

such as ''

Scipione l'africano ''Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal'' (Italian title: is a 1937 Italian historical propaganda film directed by Carmine Gallone about Scipio Africanus from the time of his election as proconsul until his defeat of Hannibal at the Battle of ...

'' (''Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal'', 1937) and ''

Luciano Serra, Pilot ''Luciano Serra, Pilot'' () is a 1938 Italian war drama film directed by Goffredo Alessandrini and starring Amedeo Nazzari, Germana Paolieri and Roberto Villa. It was screened at the Venice Film Festival in August 1938, where it was awarde ...

'' (1938) as well as more straightforward entertainment films. Arata worked with

Roberto Rossellini Roberto Gastone Zeffiro Rossellini (8 May 1906 – 3 June 1977) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and producer. He was one of the most prominent directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing to the movement with films such a ...

on the 1945 neorealist drama ''

Rome, Open City ''Rome, Open City'' (), also released as ''Open City'', is a 1945 Italian Italian neorealism, neorealist war film, war drama film directed by Roberto Rossellini and co-written by Sergio Amidei, Celeste Negarville and Federico Fellini. Set in Rom ...

''. He was instrumental in securing the backing of the

distribution Distribution may refer to: Mathematics *Distribution (mathematics), generalized functions used to formulate solutions of partial differential equations *Probability distribution, the probability of a particular value or value range of a varia ...

company

Minerva Film Minerva Film was an Italian film production and film distribution, distribution company active between 1912 and 1956. It should not be confused with a similarly-named Danish production house. Founded during the silent era, the company was named ...

for the production's release.Liehm p.329 Following the

Second World War 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 ...

, Arata worked on several co-productions with Britain and the United States.

Selected filmography

* ''

Zingari ' (''Gypsies''), also known as ''Gli Zingari'', is an opera in two acts by Ruggero Leoncavallo. The libretto by and is based on '' The Gypsies'', an 1827 narrative poem by Alexander Pushkin. The opera premiered on 16 September 1912 at the H ...

'' (1920) * '' Maciste in Hell'' (1925) * '' The Courier of Moncenisio'' (1927) * ''

The Last Tsars ''The Last Tsars'' () is a 1928 Italian silent film directed by Baldassarre Negroni and starring Bartolomeo Pagano, Elena Lunda and Amilcare Taglienti.Molitnero p.14 Cast * Bartolomeo Pagano as Maciste * Elena Lunda * Amilcare Taglienti * ...

'' (1928) * '' The Carnival of Venice'' (1928) * ''

Rails Rail or rails may refer to: Rail transport *Rail transport and related matters * Railway track or railway lines, the running surface of a railway Arts and media Film * ''Rails'' (film), a 1929 Italian film by Mario Camerini * ''Rail'' (1967 fi ...

'' (1929) * ''

Judith and Holofernes Judith and Holofernes may refer to: * Judith beheading Holofernes, a biblical episode from the deuterocanonical Book of Judith, often shown in art ''Judith and Holofernes'' or ''Judith with the Head of Holofernes'' may also refer to: Artworks 15t ...

'' (1929) * ''

'' (1930) * '' When Naples Sings'' (1930) * ''

Courtyard A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky. Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary a ...

'' (1931) * '' The Doctor in Spite of Himself'' (1931) * ''

Before the Jury ''Before the Jury'' (Italian title: ) is a 1931 Italian crime film directed by Guido Brignone and starring Marcella Albani, Lia Franca and Carlo Ninchi. It was made at the Cines Studios in Rome. The film is a precursor to the later genre of G ...

'' (1931) * '' The Charmer'' (1931) * ''

Paradise In religion and folklore, paradise is a place of everlasting happiness, delight, and bliss. Paradisiacal notions are often laden with pastoral imagery, and may be cosmogonical, eschatological, or both, often contrasted with the miseries of human ...

'' (1932) * ''

La Wally ''La Wally'' is an opera in four acts by composer Alfredo Catalani, to a libretto by Luigi Illica, first performed at La Scala, Milan, on 20 January 1892. It was Catalani's last opera. The libretto is based on a hugely successful ' by Wilhelmin ...

'' (1932) * ''

Pergolesi Pergolesi is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, (1710–1736), Italian composer, violinist, and organist * Michael Angelo Pergolesi, 18th-century Italian decorative artist {{Surname Italian-langu ...

'' (1932) * '' The Last Adventure'' (1932) * ''

Together in the Dark ''Together in the Dark'' (Italian: ''Al buio insieme'') is a 1933 Italian comedy film directed by Gennaro Righelli and starring Sandra Ravel, Maurizio D'Ancora and Lamberto Picasso.Mancini p.216 The film's sets were designed by the art director G ...

'' (1933) * '' I'll Always Love You'' (1933) * ''

Everybody's Woman ''Everybody's Woman'' (Italian: ''La signora di tutti'') is a 1934 Italian drama film directed by Max Ophüls and starring Isa Miranda, Memo Benassi and Tatyana Pavlova. It is the only film Max Ophüls made in Italy. The film was a success and ...

'' (1934) * '' The Little Schoolmistress'' (1934) * ''

Lady of Paradise ''Lady of Paradise'' () is a 1934 Italian comedy film directed by Enrico Guazzoni and starring Elsa De Giorgi, Mino Doro and Memo Benassi.Goble p.69 It was shot at the Tirrenia Studios. The film's sets were designed by the art director Alfredo ...

'' (1934) * ''

Just Married ''Just Married'' is a 2003 romantic comedy film directed by Shawn Levy, written by Sam Harper, and stars Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy as a young newlywed couple from different social classes who take their honeymoon to Europe, where obs ...

'' (1934) * ''

Unripe Fruit ''Unripe Fruit'' (Italian: ''Frutto acerbo'') is a 1934 Italian comedy film directed by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia and starring Lotte Menas, Nino Besozzi and Maria Wronska. A German-language version of the same story was made in Austria as ''A Preco ...

'' (1934) * '' The Wedding March'' (1934) * '' Villafranca'' (1934) * ''

Red Passport ''Red Passport'' () is a 1935 Italian historical drama film directed by Guido Brignone and starring Isa Miranda, Filippo Scelzo and Ugo Ceseri. A group of Italian immigrants to South America join in a revolution. It was shot at the Cines Studios ...

'' (1935) * ''

Ginevra degli Almieri ''Ginevra degli Almieri'' is a 1935 Italian historical drama film directed by Guido Brignone, starring Elsa Merlini and Amedeo Nazzari. Merlini had spotted Nazzari during a stage play, and lobbied for his casting in his film debut.Gundle p.191 Na ...

'' (1935) * ''

Aldebaran Aldebaran () is a star in the zodiac constellation of Taurus. It has the Bayer designation α Tauri, which is Latinized to Alpha Tauri and abbreviated Alpha Tau or α Tau. Aldebaran varies in brightness from an apparent vis ...

'' (1935) * '' King of Diamonds'' (1936) * ''

A Woman Between Two Worlds ''A Woman Between Two Worlds'' () is a 1936 Italian white telephone drama film directed by Goffredo Alessandrini and starring Isa Miranda, Assia Noris and Giulio Donadio. The film's sets were designed by art director Hans Ledersteger. It is the I ...

'' (1936) * ''

The Amnesiac ''The Amnesiac'' () is a 1936 Italian comedy film directed by Gennaro Righelli and starring Angelo Musco, Checco Durante and Franco Coop.Goble p.66 The film's plot is based on a stage play, inspired by the Bruneri-Canella case. It was shot at Ci ...

'' (1936) * ''

The Love of the Maharaja ''The Love of the Maharaja'' () is a 1936 German drama film directed by Arthur Maria Rabenalt and starring Gustav Diessl, Attila Hörbiger and Hilde von Stolz. It was made as a co-production between the Italian Astra Film and the Munich-based Bav ...

'' (1936) * ''

'' (1937) * ''

'' (1938) * '' The Widow'' (1939) * ''

Angelica ''Angelica'' is a genus of about 90 species of tall Biennial plant, biennial and Perennial plant, perennial herbaceous, herbs in the family Apiaceae, native to temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, reaching as far north as ...

'' (1939) * ''

Bridge of Glass A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somet ...

'' (1940) * ''

The King's Jester ''The King's Jester'' () is a 1941 Italian historical drama film directed by Mario Bonnard and starring Michel Simon, María Mercader and Rossano Brazzi. The film is an adaptation of the play '' Le roi s'amuse'' by Victor Hugo and uses elements su ...

'' (1941) * ''

A Woman Has Fallen ''A Woman Has Fallen'' () is a 1941 Italian drama film directed by Alfredo Guarini and starring Isa Miranda, Rossano Brazzi, and Claudio Gora. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Gustav Abel, Paolo Reni, and Amleto Bonetti. Ca ...

'' (1941) * '' The Story of Tosca'' (1941) * '' Girl of the Golden West'' (1942) * ''

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the O ...

'' (1942) * ''

Life Begins Anew ''Life Begins Anew'' () is a 1945 Italian melodrama film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Alida Valli, Fosco Giachetti and Eduardo De Filippo. It was the third most popular Italian film during 1945-46 after Roberto Rossellini's ''Rome, Open ...

'' (1945) * ''

The Innocent Casimiro ''The Innocent Casimiro'' () is a 1945 Italian comedy film directed by Carlo Campogalliani and starring Erminio Macario, Lea Padovani and Olinto Cristina. It is based on a play ''Scandalo al Collegio'' by Mario Amendola, and was mainly shot in 194 ...

'' (1945) * '' The Adulteress'' (1946) * ''

Teheran Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District. With a population of around 9.8 million in the city as of 2025, ...

'' (1946) * '' Fatal Symphony'' (1947) * '' Call of the Blood'' (1948) * ''

Black Magic Black magic (Middle English: ''nigromancy''), sometimes dark magic, traditionally refers to the use of Magic (paranormal), magic or supernatural powers for evil and selfish purposes. The links and interaction between black magic and religi ...

'' (1949)

References

Bibliography

* Liehm, Mira. ''Passion and Defiance: Film in Italy from 1942 to the Present''. University of California Press, 1984. * Wagstaff, Christopher. ''Italian Neorealist Cinema: An Aesthetic Approach''. University of Toronto Press, 2007.

External links

* 1895 births 1947 deaths Italian cinematographers People from Ovada {{Italy-film-bio-stub