Tag: Classic Women

Lessee… win a beauty competition at age 15, get your first starring movie role a year later  — playing the lover of Marcello Mastroianni. no less — and go on to become a legend in Italian comedy during the 1960s.

That’s Stefania Sandrelli for you.  And here she is, first in grainy black & white:

…and then in glorious Technicolor (or whatever they called it in Italy back then):

Have mercy.

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.

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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.

She was so beautiful, she could easily have had a modeling career.

But she didn’t do that, did she?  Instead, she gave us this:

And oh yeah, her color shots were also quite interesting:

She turned 80 this year…

Exquisite, at any age.

To many people born since, say, 1970, Shirley Ross would generate a “Who?” reaction.  But to fans of 1930s-era Hollywood musicals, Shirley Ross would not be unknown at all.  Here she is:

Now let’s see her in action, together with her more well-known co-star (perhaps one of the most poignant “break-up” songs ever performed on screen).  And in earlier, happier times (first video only).

Now can you see why she was so popular?