Acting

Valentina Cortese

Born January 1, 1923 · Milan, Lombardy, Italy

Died July 10, 2019 · aged 96

Valentina Cortese (January 1, 1923 - July 10, 2019) was an Italian film actress. The Milan-born actress starred in The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) directed by Robert Wise, and costarring Richard Basehart and William Lundigan. Cortese, aged 28, married Basehart in 1951, and had one son with him before they divorced in 1960. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in…

Known For

Appassionata

Appassionata · 1974

Two teenage friends conspire to find out how much their youthful sensuality can disrupt one of their households, headed by a dentist and his mentally-ill wife.

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen · 1988

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

MovieFantasyAdventure

An account of Baron Munchausen's supposed travels and fantastical experiences with his band of misfits.

Barabbas

Barabbas · 1961

MovieHistoryDrama

Epic account of the thief Barabbas, who was pardoned for his crimes and spared crucifixion when Pilate offered the Israelites a choice to pardon Barabbas or Jesus. Struggling with his spirituality, Barabbas goes through many ordeals leading him to the gladiatorial arena, where he tries to win his freedom and confront his inner demons, ultimately becoming a follower of the man who was crucified in his place.

The Barefoot Contessa

The Barefoot Contessa · 1954

The Barefoot Contessa

A washed-up filmmaker gets a second chance at stardom when he discovers stunning peasant Maria Vargas dancing in a Madrid nightclub. Goaded by his producer, the director convinces Maria to screen test for, and then star in, his next big picture. But as the producer's possessive nature and the realities of stardom weigh on Maria, she seeks a genuine lover with whom she can escape.

Day for Night

Day for Night · 1973

MovieComedyDrama

A committed filmmaker struggles to complete his latest project while coping with a myriad of crises, personal and professional, among the cast and crew.

First Love

First Love · 1970

MovieDramaRomance

The story of two young lovers takes a tragic turn as the girl falls in love with the boy's father.

Juliet of the Spirits

Juliet of the Spirits · 1965

Juliet of the Spirits

MovieComedyDrama

Middle-aged Giulietta grows suspicious of her husband, Giorgio, when his behavior grows increasingly questionable. One night when Giorgio initiates a seance amongst his friends, Giulietta gets in touch with spirits and learns more about herself and her painful past. Slightly skeptical, but intrigued, she visits a mystic who gives her more information -- and nudges her toward the realization that her husband is indeed a philanderer.

Black Magic

Black Magic · 1949

MovieDramaHistory

A hypnotist uses his powers for revenge against King Louis XV's court.

Filmography

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Appassionata

Appassionata · 1974

Two teenage friends conspire to find out how much their youthful sensuality can disrupt one of their households, headed by a dentist and his mentally-ill wife.

Elisa Rutelli

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen · 1988

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

MovieFantasyAdventure

An account of Baron Munchausen's supposed travels and fantastical experiences with his band of misfits.

Queen Ariadne / Violet

Barabbas

Barabbas · 1961

MovieHistoryDrama

Epic account of the thief Barabbas, who was pardoned for his crimes and spared crucifixion when Pilate offered the Israelites a choice to pardon Barabbas or Jesus. Struggling with his spirituality, Barabbas goes through many ordeals leading him to the gladiatorial arena, where he tries to win his freedom and confront his inner demons, ultimately becoming a follower of the man who was crucified in his place.

Julia

The Barefoot Contessa

The Barefoot Contessa · 1954

The Barefoot Contessa

A washed-up filmmaker gets a second chance at stardom when he discovers stunning peasant Maria Vargas dancing in a Madrid nightclub. Goaded by his producer, the director convinces Maria to screen test for, and then star in, his next big picture. But as the producer's possessive nature and the realities of stardom weigh on Maria, she seeks a genuine lover with whom she can escape.

Eleanora Torlato-Favrini

Day for Night

Day for Night · 1973

MovieComedyDrama

A committed filmmaker struggles to complete his latest project while coping with a myriad of crises, personal and professional, among the cast and crew.

Séverine

First Love

First Love · 1970

MovieDramaRomance

The story of two young lovers takes a tragic turn as the girl falls in love with the boy's father.

Mutter

Juliet of the Spirits

Juliet of the Spirits · 1965

Juliet of the Spirits

MovieComedyDrama

Middle-aged Giulietta grows suspicious of her husband, Giorgio, when his behavior grows increasingly questionable. One night when Giorgio initiates a seance amongst his friends, Giulietta gets in touch with spirits and learns more about herself and her painful past. Slightly skeptical, but intrigued, she visits a mystic who gives her more information -- and nudges her toward the realization that her husband is indeed a philanderer.

Valentina

Black Magic

Black Magic · 1949

MovieDramaHistory

A hypnotist uses his powers for revenge against King Louis XV's court.

Zoraida

La Classe américaine

La Classe américaine · 1993

La Classe américaine

MovieComedyTV Movie

George Abitbol, the classiest man in the world, dies tragically during a cruise. The director of an American newspaper, wondering about the meaning of these intriguing final words, asks his three best investigators, Dave, Peter and Steven, to solve the mystery. (Sixteen French actors dub scenes from various Warner Bros. films to create a parody of Citizen Kane, 1941.)

The Helicopter Man's Wife (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Visit

The Visit · 1964

Carla Zachanassian had a child by Serge Miller as a teenager. When Serge refused to marry her, she was driven out of town. By her own wit and cunning, she has returned as a multi-millionaire for a visit. The town lays out the red carpet expecting big things from Carla, only to learn that her sole purpose is to see Serge Miller killed...

Mathilda Miller

The Secret of Santa Vittoria

The Secret of Santa Vittoria · 1970

The Secret of Santa Vittoria

MovieComedyDrama

During World War II, Italian villagers hide their wine from the German army.

Gabriella (uncredited)

The Love Mates

The Love Mates · 1970

Julien and Agatha appear to be a great couple, loving, caring and seem to feel complete with each other. Though Julien often gives the impression of being interested in other girls, his lover doesn't care all that much and sometimes even looks like she's encouraging him to do that. It all changes when they meet an American woman who'll change their lives and their perception of love.

Eva

Brother Sun, Sister Moon

Brother Sun, Sister Moon · 1972

Brother Sun, Sister Moon

MovieDramaHistory

In his delirium from his return from war, Francesco Bernardone goes back in his memories to the days when he lived for parties and carnal pleasures. He slowly recovers, but after the illness he is no longer the Francesco that everybody knew. Instead of spending hours in taverns, he meditates on the beauty of God's creatures, soon renouncing his riches and his family with plans to rebuild an abandoned church and his life.

Pica Di Bernardone

The Assassination of Trotsky

The Assassination of Trotsky · 1972

The Assassination of Trotsky

MovieDramaHistory

A Stalinist assassin tracks exiled revolutionary Leon Trotsky to Mexico in 1940.

Natalia Trotsky

When Time Ran Out...

When Time Ran Out... · 1980

When Time Ran Out...

MovieActionAdventure

An active volcano threatens a south Pacific island resort and its guests as a power struggle ensues between the property's developer and a drilling foreman.

Rose Valdez

The Rocket from Calabuch

The Rocket from Calabuch · 1956

The Rocket from Calabuch

Professor Hamilton, a naive Nuclear scientist who once thought bombs were good for humanity, realizes his mistake and runs away from his inventions. He hides in Calabuch, a beautiful seaside town where people still believe in humor and friendship.

Eloísa, la maestra de escuela

The Legend of Lylah Clare

The Legend of Lylah Clare · 1968

The Legend of Lylah Clare

MovieDramaCrime

A dictatorial film director hires an unknown actress to play the lead role in a planned movie biography of a late, great Hollywood star.

Countess Bozo Bedoni

Thieves' Highway

Thieves' Highway · 1949

Thieves' Highway

MovieDramaCrime

Nick Garcos comes back from his tour of duty in World War II planning to settle down with his girlfriend, Polly Faber. He learns, however, that his father was recently beaten and burglarized by mob-connected trucker Mike Figlia, and Nick resolves to get even. He partners with prostitute Rica, and together they go after Mike, all the while getting pulled further into the local crime underworld.

Rica

The House on Telegraph Hill

The House on Telegraph Hill · 1951

The House on Telegraph Hill

MovieThrillerDrama

Concentration camp survivor Victoria Kowelska finds herself involved in mystery, greed, and murder when she assumes the identity of a dead friend in order to gain passage to America.

Victoria Kowelska

The Girl Who Knew Too Much

The Girl Who Knew Too Much · 1963

The Girl Who Knew Too Much

MovieHorrorThriller

A tourist witnesses a murder and finds herself caught up in a series of bloody killings.

Laura Craven-Torrani

Kidnap Syndicate

Kidnap Syndicate · 1975

Kidnap Syndicate

MovieCrimeAction

After his son is kidnapped, a millionaire industrialist seeks revenge, in spite of the potential danger that his rash actions will bring about for his child and another kidnapped boy, the son of a poor mechanic.

Grazia Filippini

The Possessed

The Possessed · 1965

MovieMysteryThriller

While visiting his favorite resort village during winter, a writer investigates the apparent suicide of a woman he was infatuated with.

Irma

Young Toscanini

Young Toscanini · 1988

Young Toscanini

MovieDramaHistory

A fanciful biopic of legendary conductor Arturo Toscanini as a very young man.

Comparsa (uncredited)

Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero Dracula in Brianza

Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero Dracula in Brianza · 1975

Il cav. Costante Nicosia demoniaco, ovvero Dracula in Brianza

MovieComedyHorror

A boorish, snobish toothpaste factory owner, Constantino Nicosia, gives his wife and everyone a hard time having let success and wealth go to his head. But after the superticous Nicosia has an encounter with an elderly gypsy aunt, and a business trip to Romania results in another encounter with a suave vampire, named Count Dragalescu, Nicosia returns with blood-sucking like qualities which makes him re-examine his life and existence.

Olghina Franchetti

Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus of Nazareth · 1977

Jesus of Nazareth

Dramatizes the Birth, Life, Ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, largely according to the Holy Bible's New Testament Gospels.

Herodias

I promessi sposi

I promessi sposi · 1989

I promessi sposi

Set between 1629 and 1631. Renzo Tramaglino and Lucia Mondella are Lombard peasants forced to separate and endure a thousand vicissitudes because of the bullying of the squire Don Rodrigo. However, during their journey they will find various people willing to help them, from Friar Cristoforo to the Innominato, from Federigo Borromeo to Donna Prassede.

Donna Prassede

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars · 1951

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

SeriesDramaComedy

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS. Offering both comedies and drama, the series was sponsored by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company. The title was shortened to Schlitz Playhouse, beginning with the fall 1957 season.

Dr. Bruni

I grandi camaleonti

I grandi camaleonti · 1964

I grandi camaleonti

Giuseppina Bonaparte