Toth Database - Cinema




Cesare Zavattini

 Luzzara (Prov. Emilia Romagna), 20 September 1902 – Rome, 13 October 1989

 

 

He attended elementary schools first In Luzzara and then In Bergamo where he obtained his gymnasial licence. After Completing his studies he enrolled in the Law Faculty of the University of Parma, but his passion was writing, in 1928 he undertook a journalistic career in Parma, working for the Gazzetta di Parma. 

In 1930 he moved to Milan and began collaborating with various newspapers, began a collaboration with a Roman magazine Marc'Aurelio, holding a column titled Fifty lines about.In 1936 he founded in Milan The Bertoldo, a satirical magazine Published by Rizzoli, of which he was also director, then Passed to Mondadori, where he took the position of editorial director. He Directed the Settebello humorous newspaper. Zavattini was a very critical author towards society, observed in its painful and humorous aspects, was a phenomenon in the Italian literature of the Twentieth century. In addition to the book we talk so much about me, we also remember the poor are crazy, I am the Devil, Toto the Good, StraparoleIn 1939 he meets Vittorio De Sica, with whom he realizes a score of films, among which Sicuscià, Bicycle thieves, Miracle In Milan, Umberto D, Toto the good.

Zavattini was also author of comics and poet, cultural animator in Italy and abroad promoter of cultural cooperatives and film circles, he was also a painter.

 

Cartoonist Zavattini

 

Cesare Zavattini, a cartoonist, starts by chance. In 1936 he worked as editorial director at Disney Mondadori, one day his colleague Federico Pedrocchi asked him why he had never thought of creating a story. Pedrocchi himself offered to write it under dictation. Zavattini declared in an interview that at that time there were no stories and he, that of fantasy had, invented them; If some colleague of hers needed ideas, he was more than happy to give it to her. Zavattini's career includes, among other things, the creation of a cycle dedicated to "Saturn" with the screenplay by Pedrocchi and the drawings entrusted to Giovanni Scolari. In This first cartoonistic work, the author focuses on the sci-fi genre, already explored by American models. The Saturn episode against The Earth comes out for the first time in 1936 on the pages Of the Three Little Pigs, republished The following year on Mickey Mouse; In the following episodes is inserted the figure of Rebo, a ruthless dictator of Saturn, thinking to make it resemble Flash Gordon (character born from the ingenuity of Alex Raymond), but without success. Rebo, aided by fellow traitor Leducq, try to wage war against earth, but will come to grips with the inventions of Marcus and his assistant Cyrus, two scientists. 

The character Rebo was quoted by other cartoonists. Zavattini shows great ability to evade the canons ' patriotic, heroic and romantic» of the regime, hiding behind stories seemingly crude and manifesting at the same time a spirit of pacifism and an invitation to the cooperation of peoples.

But his cartoonistic commitment is not confined to the Star Wars with Saturn: he creates subjects for other stories, always scripted by PedrocchiAirport Z, not written but probably conceived by him, is published In Mickey MouseHere the drawings are entrusted to Kurt Caesar, known in Italy under the nickname of Cesare Avai. In 1937 for Zorro in the Metropolis (16 episodes published All in 1937) The screenwriter is Guido Martina and the illustration is entrusted to Walter Molino; To host the comics are the pages of Donald Duck. This narrative is a critique of the exploitation of work and the dominant alienation in the life of the big cities. Pier Lorenzo De Vita illustrates the red Primrose Of The Risorgimento published in 1938-39 Always on Donald Duck; In the two episodes the company of seven Published in Mickey'S almanac in 1938, Zavattini called the various characters with the names of his children.

In 1947 Zavattini for the first time signed one of his works: sci-fi a man against the world, Scripted By Mario Gentilini (Editor of Mickey Mouse magazine), Designed By Giovanni Scolari.

 

 

Filmography

 

 

1935/ I'll give a million, directed by Mario Camerini 

1940/ St. John Took off, directed by Hamlet palermi

1940/ An impossible family, directed by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia 

1941/ A woman fell, directed by Alfredo Guarini 

1941/ Teresa Friday, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1941/ The school of the timid, directed by Carlo Ludovico bragaglia 

1942/ 4 steps in the Clouds,directed by Alessandro Blaxetti 

1942/ Fourth page,directed by Nicola Manzari 

1943/ Pap's Baker, directed by Raffaello Matarazzo 

1943/ There is always a ma!, directed by Luigi Zampa 

1943/ Novel A Dance Step, directed by Giancarlo Cappelli 

1943/ The children look at usdirected by Vittorio De Sica 

1944/ The door of Heaven, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1945/ Canto, but softly,  directed by Guido brignone 

1945/  The arrow in the side, directed by  Alberto Lattuada 

1946/ Biraghin, directed by Carmine Gallone 

1946/ One day in life, directed by diAlessandro Blasetti

1946/ Sciuscià, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1946/ The poor husband,directed by Gaetano Amata 

1946/ The Angel and the Devil, directed by Mario Camerini 

1946/ The world wants so, directed by Giorgio Bianchi

1946/ Rome Free City, directed by Marcello Pagliero 

1947/ Tragic Hunting, directed by Giuseppe De Santis 

1948/ Bicycle thieves, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1949/ Twenty years, directed by Giorgio Bianchi 

1949/ The Walls Of Malapaga,directed by Renè Clèment 

1950/ The sky is Red, directed by Claudio Gora 

1950/ It's easier than a camel....., directed by Luigi Zampa  

1950/ First Communiondirected by Alessandro Blasetti  

1950/ Miracle In Milan, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1951/ Beautiful, directed by Luchino Visconti 

1951/ My Goodness, what an impression!, directed by Roberto Savarese 

1952/ 5 poor by car,directed by Mario Mattoli 

1952/ The coat, directed by Alberto Lattuada 

1952/ Rome 11 o'clock, directed by Giuseppe De Santis 

1952/ Umberto D, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1952/ Good morning, elephant!,directed by Gianni Franciolini

1953/ A husband For Anna Zaccheo, directed by Giuseppe De Santis 

1953/ Termini Station, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1953/ We are women, various directors 

1953/ The Walk, directed by Renato rascel 

1953/ Love In The city, various directors

1953/ The crooked horse directed by Giulio Morelli 

1953/ Forbidden Women, directed by Giuseppe Amato

1953/ Rained from the Sky, directed by Leonardo De Mitri 

1954/ Alì babà, directed by  Jacques Becker (1954/

1954/ The Gold Of Naples, directed by  Vittorio De Sica 

1955/ The Roof, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1960/ The Ciociara, directed byVittorio De Sica

1960/ Rat (The War), directed by Veljko Bulajić 

1960/ Il hit man, directed by Damiano Damiani 

1961/ The Last Judgement, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1961/ The long green Sock, directed by Roberto Gavioli 

1961/ Italian and Love, various directors 

1962/ Boccaccio ' 70, episode La Raffle, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1962/ The kidnappings Of Altona, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1963/ Il boom,  directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1963/ Yesterday, today, tomorrow, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1964/ Italian Wedding, directed by Vittorio De Sica

1965/ A New World, directed by Vittorio De Sica

1966/ Fox Hunting, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1967/ The Witches, episode one evening like the others, directed by Vittorio De Sica

1967/  Seven Times Woman, directed by Vittorio De Sica 

1968/ Amanti, directed by Vittorio De Sica

1969/ Sunflowers, directed by Vittorio De Sica

1972/ We'll call Him Andrea, directed by Vittorio De Sica

1973/ A short holiday, directed by Vittorio De Sica

1974/ The Journey, directed by Vittorio De Sica

1982/ The truth, directed by Cesare Zavattini 

 

 

Prizes and awards

 

Silver Ribbons

 

The Roof

First Communion

It's spring....

Bicycle Thieves

 

Academy Award Nomination

 

Sciuscià

Bicycle Thieves