Another one of those raving Italian beauties from the 1940s and -50s, Gianna Maria Canale first came to prominence as runner-up to Miss Italy in 1947, at age 20. Then she went into the movies, making mainly Italian classics (a.k.a. “swords ‘n sandals” in studio jargon) and horror flicks.








Then, in 50s-vintage color:


..and when color film improved:



She retired from moviemaking at age 37, when this pic was taken.

Now I mentioned above that Gianna Maria was the runner-up in the 1947 Miss Italy competition, leading of course to the question: who was the winner, then?
Here’s Lucia Bosè:


Fair enough. All I can say is that I’d hate to have been sitting on the Giuria back then. What a choice.
As soon as I seen that first pik I was reminded of a Clint Eastwood “man with no name” flik in the mid 60’s. Either Fist, or Few, or TGTBTU.