Toth Database  - Cinema 

Memo Benassi

21 June 1891 – 24 February 1957 Sorbolo

Memo Benassi actor, real name Domenico, initially became interested in music, studying cello at the Conservatory of Parma. But soon realizes that his interests were another area of art, and enrolled in Milan to acting classes by Teresa Boetti Valvassura, where he was hired in 1915, Ermete Novelli. Alongside the latter on the centenary of the brothers Quintero, Benassi distinguished himself and was called by the then Director of the Stable of Manzoni of Milan, Marco Praga. From now on it will be detected as Memo, and became the first young actor in the company from 1919 to 1921 Carini Gentilli, distinguished by the restless drama. In 1921 he became the first young actor in the company of e. Duse, which learns to love Ibsen. Interprets lor Foreigner will the lady from the sea; Osvaldo talking Spectra. With Duse, formed a company with Gramatica, Irma first and then with Emma, and in 1928, with the two sisters together. In 1933, he participated in the representation of Sant'Uliva, in the cloister of Santa Croce, the direction of Copeau. After a series of interpretations under the direction of Simoni, in 1939 he formed a company with r. Morelli and in 1940 with l. Campbell. Between 1938 and 1940 he ventured into directing, achieving some success. In these years he also took part in theatrical performances, and occasionally in acting for film. He joined the company of the teatro Manzoni in Milan, between 1953 and 1954, afterwards part for South American tour. In these years he prepared silent King Lear, but on 22 December 1956, at rehearsal with the Stabile of Bolzano, was stricken with cerebral thrombosis, and on 24 February 1957 dies at the Hospital of Bologna. Memo Benassi is consecrated as original, unpredictable and eccentric actor, able to vary his own creations in a single representation.

 Filmography

1932/ The Old Lady, by Amleto Palermi 

1933/ The case of Haller, directed by Alessandro Blasetti

1933/ The Treaty passed away, by Mario Bonnard

1933/ The Clerk Papa, directed by Alessandro Blasetti

1934/ Mrs. Paradise, by Enrico Guazzoni

1934/ Everybody's woman, Max Ophuls

1934/ Lisetta, by Carl Boese

1937/ Tonight at eleven, by Oreste Biancoli

1937/ Scipio Africanus, by Carmine Gallone

1938/ The Princess Tarakanova, by Mario Soldati

1940/ The horizon painting, by Guido Salvini

1940/ The conquest of the air, Romolo Marcellini

1941/ Dinner of mockery, directed by Alessandro Blasetti

1941/ The tramp, by Carlo Borghesio

1942/ Fedora, Camillo Mastrocinque

1942/ Les Deux orphelines, by Carmine Gallone

1942/ A tooth for a tooth, by Marco Elter

1942/ The two Foscari, by Enrico Fulchignoni

1943/ The son of the Red Corsair, by Marco Elter

1943/ The country without peace, di Leo Menardi

1943/ The fourth page, Nicola Manzari

1943/ Rossini, by Mario Bonnard

1945/ Sinners, by Flavio Calzavara

1946/ The last dream, by Marcello Albani

1946/ The tyrant of Padua, Max Neufeld

1951/ Messalina, by Carmine Gallone

1953/ Once upon a time Angelo Musco, by Giorgio Walter Chili

1953/ Faust, Wolfgang Goethe, directed by Corrado Pavolini

1954/ The Lark, Jean Anoulih, directed by Mario Ferrero

1955/ Adriana Lecouvreur, by Guido Salvini, 

1955/ Murder in the Cathedral, by Thomas Stearns Eliot, directed by Enzo Ferrieri

RAI television test

1955/ The school for wives, by Molière, directed by Corrado Pavolini

1955/ Hamlet, by William Shakespeare

1956/ The merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare

1956/ Henry IV, by Luigi Pirandello, directed by Claudio Up