In January, presenting his second directorial work, Tre sorelle (after the 2020 Italian-style Lockdown), Enrico Vanzina – without going around it – he had said: «I take my responsibilities as a man who makes a film about women, but I certainly don’t have the presumption to say anything about them in general. In this case, then, I tell three women. And that’s it (they were Serena Autieri, Chiara Francini, Giulia Bevilacqua plus Rocío Muñoz, ed) ». Many more, however, are those with which Enrico Vanzina and his brother Carlo (who passed away in 2018 at the age of 67) have had to deal with in the course of extraordinary lives – theirs and that of his father, the great Steno – all in the name of the cinema. Names like Faye Dunaway, Daryl Hannah, Laura Antonelli, Stefania Sandrelli, Elsa Martinelli, Lauren Hutton and many others.
Women are spoken of in the room of his Roman office, in Parioli, where he writes and plays the piano among ancient books, paintings with photos in pop art style (Vanzina also met Andy Warhol), a degree in political science hidden among the shelves , two Telegatti (for the 3C boys of 1987). Enrico opens the door barefoot, smiling, with his usual Indian chief hair. Then he sits down, looks at a photo of his brother Carlo, and attacks: «He has always been a great discoverer of beauties. In 1956, my father was shooting My Son Nero with Alberto Sordi, Vittorio De Sica, Gloria Swanson and a very young Brigitte Bardot. One day Swanson invites us home, and she gives us armor from ancient Romans. I was 7 years old, Carlo 5. I am a good boy and I thank you immediately, he is not. Mom tells him to be nice. Anything. Dad scolds him. Mute. Dad gets pissed. And Carlo: I want Bardot! ».
And who did she want?
«At that age I was crazy for Marisa Allasio».
Growing up how many times did you fall in love with an actress?
“I’ve had a few stories, but zero loves. I see them as too self-referential, they believe they are the center of the world. I’m talking about the stars, of course. Let’s say I’m attracted to cashiers, shop assistants, simple women. It is also true, however, that the protagonist of a film must feel considered by those who have chosen her and directed her. Carlo and I have always made the actress of the moment believe that she was the most desirable in the world. Beauty counts on the set ».
How many? More than talent?
“As much as. Alberto Arbasino once, in the 1950s, asked Gary Cooper: what does it take to be a great actor? And he, smiling: “This”, pointing to his face. It’s true. To be successful, talent is not enough, you need presence. Some great actresses have the magical ability to make everyone believe they are beautifully beautiful even if they are not. The real star also manages to do this ».
Who are you referring to?
“Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn, Meryl Streep … They conquered the world while not overwhelming beauties.”
The most beautiful you have worked with?
«Virna Lisi. She always managed to connect the beauty of her face with her heart. And then she was beautiful at all ages. She is a unique woman ».
The most surprising?
“Faye Dunaway. With her in 1988 we shot The Game. She was incredible: she felt the light. When they talk and move, real stars always manage to take the best reflection to be perfect. Monica Vitti was like that too ».
And Isabella Ferrari?
“When we cast her in 1983 as Selvaggia in Sapore di mare, a role she hated for years, we immediately knew on the set that we had chosen the ideal girl for those years. It was enough to look at it. Same thing in 1987 with Sabrina Ferilli, hired for the boys of 3C: the beauty-sympathy mix was impressive. It was clear that she was going to become very popular. ‘
Is it true that in 2000 for “Christmas Holidays” the model Megan Gale was imposed on you, the one of the telephone commercials?
“Yup. And the first time she came to the set, at dawn, without make-up, we stayed a bit like that … ».
As well as?
«Always beautiful, but different. And then very high. The beautiful girls must be like Liz Taylor: little ones ».
In 2001 for the film “South Kensington” you hired the Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson, called The Body, 1 meter and 83 centimeters …
«Oh well, she was to be thrown to the ground. Like Carole Bouquet (star of Mystère in 1983, ed) and Renée Simonsen (star in 1985 of Under the dress nothing, ed): never again saw a look like hers. Carol Alt, on the other hand, hit me for an Irish coffee. “
What does it mean?
«The first lunch together, during the shooting of Via Montenapoleone in 1986, he ordered only an Irish coffe. I asked her why. And she: “As a girl I was fat and ugly, and at school they bullied me. Now I’m beautiful and I want to stay like this forever ».
A little impossible.
“Already. Beauty can often be a rip-off because many, it also applies to men, do not know how to manage it. Greta Garbo, for example, was overwhelmed. A perfect one was Valentina Cortese, or Giovanna Ralli, still fantastic today ».
What does it take to manage actresses with such an important character and beauty on the set?
“Patience. From make-up to jokes they must always feel at ease, otherwise they act badly ».
And during the nude scenes?
“Lots of patience. Unless you work with Monica Bellucci. As a producer in 1991 I worked with Dino Risi on the TV film Vita con i figli, starring Giancarlo Giannini. In Pavia Risi, before a scene in which she had to be naked in bed, he told her to get under the sheets. And she: “If I have to be naked, no problem”. And she with a confidence never seen before she undressed completely in front of everyone, crossed the study, and went to bed. A crazy scene. We were left speechless ».
Are there usually problems?
«There are those who asked for the empty set like Carole Bouquet, the bandages as … In the film with Boldi and De Sica Megan Gale didn’t want to be filmed and for a scene in the shower, we used a double. At the premiere she started yelling “Stop the film!”. She was black. He thought it was her. ‘
The first love?
«Barbara Mastroianni, Marcello’s daughter. We were 16. He really liked having me around in his villa in Castiglioncello, he lived surrounded by the many women of his family ».
When did your wife, the German Federica Burger, meet you?
«In 1975, in a bar in Porto Ercole. I saw her and I immediately spoke to her: she was the great love of my life ».
But years ago you separated and she moved to Milan, right?
“Yes, but it was a mistake. After a while I was lying to my girlfriend to see my wife, so after a year and a half I went home. It was the luck of my life. She never interfered in my work and she always gave me the right advice when I asked her. We got married in 1994 when we realized that under Italian law, not being married made a big difference ».
It wasn’t the first time for her, was it?
“In 1974 I went to Bangkok to work on my father Bigfoot’s film in Hong Kong. I met Tookata, a local girl from a good family, I fell in love and we were married shortly after with a Buddhist rite. At the time I was a vegetarian, I had short hair … ».
And then?
“I tried to live in Bangkok for a few months, but it was a disaster. Then she came to Rome, and it was even worse. We parted without drama. My mother didn’t like it so much. ‘
How were relations with her?
“Difficult. He was bipolar and we experienced great tensions, which fortunately we were able to clear up before his death. He has never loved the world of cinema and he wanted us to be diplomats. We have done something else ».
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