How Italy Revolutionised Hollywood Through Actors & Film Makers

How italy revolutionised hollywood through actors, film makers, and other forms of art.

“Carpe Diem!” Robin williams exclaimed to his students. His role as an inspiring teacher in the highly coveted “Dead poets society” is remarkable, but his iconic words “carpe diem” in the movie are unforgettable. Now a lesser known fact is that the phrasse was penned by a Roman writer Horace in his work “Odes.” This is just a small example of an Italian’s contribution in the world of cinema. But the impact does not end there.

From battling stereotypes in movies, to creating a whole new set of genre for future films to follow, the Italian contribution rests not only on cuisine and fashion, but in the cinematic industry as well.

In the world of Animation

Although Italians had made a mark in Hollywood with their acting and charm, but behind the scenes some of the voiced iconic and unforgettable characters in Disney. Adriana Caselloti, an unfamiliar name, but provided the voice for Snow White and later The Wizard Of Oz. Another Italian known for their voice is Mary Costa, who provided voice for Aurora, in Sleeping Beauty. Other works include Clito Enrico Gerry Geronim, an Academy award winning director and animator, who helped in creating Cinderella, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, and was the brains behind creating the mad tea party scene in “Alice in Wonderland” and the spaghetti scene in “The Lady and the Tramp.”

Artist Al Taliaferro created the signature style and personality of Donald Duck. Hailing from New York’s Little Italy, Joseph Barbera and William Hanna, are of Italian background. Best known for creating “Tom and Jerry.”Their other notable pieces of work include Flintstones, Scooby Doo, The Jetsons, etc.influenceThe Italianu[image: ]Another Italian Walter Lanz received a position in the US. While on vaction, he came up with the idea of Woody Woodpecker, that has become a children’s phenomenon.•

Making a mark

The earliest casting of Italians in Hollywood was stereotyped, depicting them as inferior, overly emotional, and giving them negative roles. But it was the works of Sophia Loren and Roberto Rossellini, that changed the world’s views of Italians, as actor and film maker. After more than 100 films and five decades in the spotlight, Sophia Loren remains true to her humble Italian roots.Sophia Loren was the only actor to win an Oscar in a leading role solely in Italian until 1997. In 1997, what a glorious year it was for Italy at the Academy Awards.

La vita è bella won three Oscars, including Best Foreign Language Film, Best Music, Original Dramatic Score (Nicola Piovani), and Roberto Benigni became the second actor to win an Oscar for a performance in Italian, winning Best Actor in a Leading Role.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer dolor te diam wisi nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet, wisi ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat.

In the music industry, Frank Sinatra is a noteworthy example. “With his cocked hat, Sinatra possessed an air of confidence that popularized Italian American swagger and sartorial style.”• The ‘Godfather’ effect: Italy, the birthplace of mob films, inspired a string of classics like Little Caesar and Public Enemy. Scarface, showed the real life story of Al Capone, a real life Italian gangster. Suddenly, gangster movies were the talk in Hollywood.

Italian director Francis Ford Capolla shook America, and possibly the world when he released the Godfather, a movie that showcased an Italian American crime family and is regarded as one of the best movies of all time.A lot of movies, music videos, and video games are inspired by the Godfather trilogy. It helped Italianize American culture. All of a sudden, everyone was talking about Don Corleone and making jokes about, “I am going to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”

Behind the lens

There have been directors who have not depicted their Italian culture in their movies, but still have contributed in other ways to express their love for their heritage. The Russo brothers, famously known for directing the Marvel Avengers movie franchise, also come from an Italian American family. To express their love for their ancestor’s home land, they created “The Russo Brothers Italian American Forum.”Two of the four greatest American movies, as judged by the American Film Institute, were not only directed by Italian Americans but narrate stories about the Italian American experience. Martin Scorsese’s “Raging Bull” is an example. And Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather,” is another. Woody allen made his movie “To Rome, with love” in Italy. He said that his affection for Italy and also the country’s proud tradition of cinema inspired him to make personal movies of his own.

Widely regarded as one of the most significant and influential filmmakers in cinema history, Martin Scorsese is an Italian-American director born in New York and raised in the Little Italy section of Manhattan. Although his parents were also American, his grandparents, Teresa and Francesco Scorsese, were Italian immigrants. His most famous works include Taxi driver, Wolf Of Wallstreet, Raging Bull, among others.• A scenic landscape and setting for movies: From exploring its rich history to its modern cafes to providing an aura of romance, Hollywood in numerous movies, showcased the value of this country. Romantic classics like Roman Holiday, with actress Audrey Hepburn and It Started In Naples, with Clark Gable and Sophia Loren.

We not only get immersed in the storyline but in the country itself. One gets the taste of the Italian magic and the aura of the country. Other movies set in Italy include The Talented Mr Ripley, Eat Pray Love, Angel And Demons, The Italian Job, among others.

The 1994 romantic comedy Only You explores the top sights of Rome and Venice, while in Letters to Juliet the whole movie explores warm Italy. Call Me By Your Name, a movie released in 2017 garnered critics and audiences attention alike, not for the performances only, but how the movie managed to capture the beauty of Northern Italy and showcased the grand architecture the country is famous for.

Famous Italian Faces

Some celebrities that you may not know are Italian include Nicholas Cage, Madonna, Jon Bon Jovi, Mark Ruffalo, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, and Al Pacino. The very famous Lady Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, has great grandparents who are Italian. Of her heritage she has to say:“My grandparents came here with nothing. The dream of my family was to have a legacy.”

All in all, Italians affect in Hollywood is tremendous and groundbreaking. It is pleasing to see them being appreciated in their hardwork. They deserve a nod of appreciation for breaking stereotypes and showcasing their country as canvas to the world. The culture and beauty that Italy provides can not be copied. The actors, directors, and musicians, all of their contribution and hardwork in the cinema is remarkable. We often do not realise but thay have made a huge impact in the industry.

If there is an ethnic group who has influenced American lifestyle and culture for more than a century, it is the Italians. Beginning with waves of immigrants in the late nineteenth century, Italians have settled in different parts of America, taking with them their unique style of dealing with life and, of course, their art.