Fame Amid the Ruins : : Italian Film Stardom in the Age of Neorealism / / Stephen Gundle.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Berghahn Books Complete eBook-Package 2019
• VerfasserIn: Gundle, Stephen,
• Place / Publishing House: New York; , Oxford : : Berghahn Books, , [2019]; ©2019
• Year of Publication: 2019
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (384 p.)

Italian cinema gave rise to a number of the best-known films of the postwar years, from Rome Open City to Bicycle Thieves. Although some neorealist film-makers would have preferred to abolish stars altogether, the public adored them and producers needed their help in relaunching the national film industry. This book explores the many conflicts that arose in Italy between 1945 and 1953 over stars and stardom, offering intimate studies of the careers of both well-known and less familiar figures, shedding new light on the close relationship forged between cinema and society during a time of political transition and shifting national identities.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- List of Illustrations -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- Part I. Italian Cinema and Society, 1945–52 -- 1. Postwar Cinema and the Challenges of Democracy -- 2. The Film Industry from Fascism to the Cold War -- 3. The Transformation of the Star System -- 4. The Public, Film-Going and the Stars -- Part II. Stardom, Anti-Fascism and Neorealism -- Introduction -- 5. Massimo Girotti: Proletarian Apollo -- 6. Clara Calamai: The Suspension of Glamour -- 7. Aldo Fabrizi: Nostalgia and Popular Culture -- 8. Anna Magnani: Authenticity and the Star Persona -- 9. Andrea Checchi: Shadows of Defeat -- Part III. Popular Idols for New Times -- Introduction -- 10. Totò: Jester of the Republic -- 11. Silvana Mangano: Beauty and Stardom -- 12. Amedeo Nazzari: The Hero Domesticated -- 13. Silvana Pampanini: Dream Girl of the Masses -- 14. Raf Vallone: The Physiognomy of Fame -- Part IV. Reconfi gurations of Stardom -- 15. The Non-professional Actor and Low-Defi nition Stardom -- 16. Co-productions and International Stardom -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index