TCM remembers Gina Lollobrigida
There was only one Gina Lollobrigida, and expectedly, Turner Classic Movies recognizes it.
That’s why the channel will spend the evening of Tuesday, May 2 (into the following morning), celebrating the Italian actress who died in Rome last January at age 95. She gave her own meaning to the term “sex symbol” throughout the world ... particularly during the 1950s and 1960s, when her work in Europe eventually brought her to America (something she had resisted earlier, angering then-moviemaker Howard Hughes, who had signed her to a contract).
Among the most famous women internationally at the peak of her fame – and even after she and the film industry parted company and she became a photojournalist – Lollobrigida earned accolades for her acting. She was given a Golden Globe for “Come September,” was nominated for that honor again for “Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell,” and got a third nomination for that award for her rare television turn on the serial “Falcon Crest.”
Here’s a look at the attractions included in TCM’s Lollobrigida tribute, in the order they will be shown.
“Come September” (1961): Lollobrigida plays a wealthy man’s (Rock Hudson) girlfriend, who’s getting impatient waiting for him to take their relationship to the next level.
“Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell” (1968): A woman (Lollobrigida) provides well for her daughter (Janet Margolin) by accepting money for her upbringing from three ex-soldiers (Peter Lawford, Telly Savalas, Phil Silvers), all of whom think they’re the father.
“Fanfan la Tulipe” (1952): A gypsy (Lollobrigida) plots to make an 18th-century soldier (Gerard Philipe) her man.
“Woman of Straw” (1964): Lollobrigida and Sean Connery make a hugely photogenic duo in this melodrama about a private nurse (Lollobrigida) who schemes to acquire her rich patient’s (Ralph Richardson) fortune, with help from his nephew (Connery).
“Never So Few” (1959): An OSS captain (Frank Sinatra) finds temporary comfort with a personal-agenda-driven woman (Lollobrigida) while on a World War II mission in Burma.