Gina Lollobrigida Musical Shorts Unearthed by Cineteca di Bologna Archives Capture Italian Icon’s Early Career Moves – Watch (EXCLUSIVE)
variety.comNick Vivarelli International Correspondent Italy’s Cineteca di Bologna film archives have unearthed a small treasure trove of shorts documenting the early career of late icon Gina Lollobrigida, who was hailed as a major European sex symbol of the post-World War II era.
The prominent archives, known globally as a prime film preservation entity, have found and restored three vintage clips dated between 1947 and 1948 in which Lollobrigida – who died at 95 in January – sings Italian folk songs billed under the name Diana Lori.
Described by the archives as precursors to MTV-style music videos, the shorts were directed by Pietro Francisci, later known for hit swords-and-sandals titles such as 1958’s “Hercules” starring Steve Reeves as its titular hero.
In the shorts Lollobrigida appears to sing (she may have been dubbed) Italian folk songs “O sole mio!”; “Na sera ‘e maggio”; and “Stornellata Romana.” Lollobrigida, which is her real name, was born on July 4, 1927, in Subiaco, Italy, east of Rome.
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